Flea Jumping Mechanics
WouterFleas have been known for centuries for their remarkable jumping abilities. A research fellow at the University of Cambridge in England recently looked at the mechanics of fleas’ jumps and discovered that they can jump 50 to 100 times their body length. Rather than relying on muscle to propel themselves off a surface, they rely on the elasticity of a protein called resilin.
The mechanics of flea jumping have long puzzled researchers. Researchers had previously thought that they pushed off the ground with their legs and shins. This would explain the high jumps, but scientists found that fleas are unlikely to use wings when jumping. Instead, they use spiny structures on their legs to brace themselves and push off. The bracing mechanism is what helps fleas achieve a consistent success rate on every jump.
The mechanism that fleas use to jump is unique to each species. Although they don’t have wings, fleas can jump 50 times their body length and 100 times their body width. This helps them to fly and move quickly from place to place. But despite their agility, they never appear to be very attractive to us. Understanding the mechanics of flea movement can help us fight these pesky parasites and keep our homes clean and flea-free.
The average flea is only eight inches long, but it can jump up to 20 inches horizontally. However, this is not a true estimate, since fleas can leap as far as 19 inches in some cases. However, this is still a relatively short distance for an insect, whose body weighs just a few milligrams.
