How can rabbit fleas survive for months without feeding?

The rabbit flea (Spilopsyllus cuniculi) is capable of surviving for up to nine months without feeding, provided that it remains in an environment with temperatures near the freezing point.1

While adult fleas generally feed on blood to survive, this specific adaptation allows the rabbit flea to endure extended periods away from its host under cold conditions. Additionally, some flea species can enter an arrested state of development at the end of the pupa stage, delaying their emergence as adults until a suitable host is detected in their environment.12