Can Fleas Fly Or Just Jump?

The answer to the question of can fleas fly or just jump is a resounding “no”. Fleas do not actually fly, but rather leap from one point to another. They do so by using a catapult-like mechanism built into their bodies. When they jump, they propel themselves over 100 times their body length.

Although fleas are tiny, they have impressive jumping ability for their class. This is because fleas are able to jump longer and higher than other insects of their class. Their legs are long and strong and they propel themselves with resilin, an elastomeric protein. This enables fleas to jump high enough to reach a distance of approximately nineteen inches.

In the past, fleas possessed functional wings, but they lost them as they evolved. They still do not fly, but they can jump high enough to go from host to host. As they evolved, they learned that wings were useless and a hindrance, so they lost them.

Fleas can jump up to 13 inches, which is about 150 to 330 times their own height. They do not have wings, but they can jump high enough to reach their host’s hair. Some types of fleas don’t have wings, and instead use flea dirt to attach themselves to an animal.