Do Fleas Make Sounds?
WouterOne way to test whether fleas make sounds is to place a piece of plastic next to their mouths. When fleas bite the plastic, they make sounds that sound like tapping. As the charge on the plastic depletes, the rate of the tapping decreases. This echoes the sound of a Geiger counter, which measures the decay of a radioactive source.
Fleas are small, wingless insects that live on mammals. They are one-eighth of an inch long and are a dark red or black color. Their hind legs are modified for jumping. Fleas can jump up to eight inches vertically, and up to sixteen inches horizontally. Fleas have thin, wingless bodies, and their legs and faces are covered in spines. The spines on their bodies allow them to easily move through the host’s hair, and they help them resist pulling during grooming.
Fleas live in warm, moist environments. They pass through a complete life cycle in between two weeks and eight months, depending on the environment. During this time, they lay from two to six hundred eggs. Fleas lay their eggs in a host’s fur or skin and usually drop them in places where the pet spends most of its time.
Some fleas make sounds that are similar to those made by a Swiss cable car. Some fleas use the sound to propel themselves. Others do this to avoid predators.
