How Far Can Fleas Hop?

Fleas perform a remarkable feat when they jump. The mechanics of their leaps have long been a subject of debate, but recent research may have settled a major question. Fleas jump by pushing off the ground with their shins and feet. This allows them to catapult themselves off surfaces very quickly.

Fleas have spiny structures on their shins and toes. They also have smooth knees. These features may make it difficult for them to jump very far, but they probably play a role in launching themselves from their host. Until now, researchers have not found a single mechanism that explains how fleas jump, and they have not figured out where their legs get the energy to do so.

A flea’s jump is amazing considering that they have no wings. Their mighty jumps allow them to reach a distance equivalent to fifty or 100 times their body length. This makes it possible for fleas to jump for long distances in order to feed and reproduce. Their jump is equivalent to hundreds of meters for a human.

Fleas use an elastic protein called resilin to store energy. It stores the energy when compressed and releases it when it recoils, propelling them into the air. Scientists have puzzled over how this is done for decades.