The food of flea larvae is primarily composed of what substance?

Flea larvae primarily feed on organic matter found in their environment, which predominantly consists of dried blood from adult fleas, as it is a rich source of protein. Adult fleas consume blood but also excrete bits of it, which the larvae then scavenge. This specialized diet allows them to thrive in areas where adult fleas are present, as they rely heavily on this nutrient source during their development.

While leaf litter and plant material may provide some general organic matter, they do not supply the specific nutrients that flea larvae require for optimal growth and development. Other insect excrement, although it might be encountered in their environment, does not serve as the primary food source and lacks the nutritional value that dried blood provides. Thus, the consumption of dried blood is essential for flea larvae to successfully develop into adults.