How High Do Fleas Jump?

In order to reproduce, fleas must have blood. They can only lay eggs after a blood meal, and newly-hatched fleas need to feed within a few hours to survive. Thus, fleas’ amazing jump allows them to find a suitable host and a place to live in a host’s fur.

To study the mechanism of flea leaping, researchers at the University of Cambridge have conducted a series of experiments. The researchers observed the jumps of 51 hedgehog fleas using high-speed recording equipment. They found that the fleas’ leaps are mainly accomplished by using their legs to transfer power from one leg to the next.

The average flea can jump between 8 and 15 inches in the air. Its rear legs are large and powerful, so it is no wonder that some species of fleas can jump more than 100 times their height. In addition, some species of fleas can jump as high as one inch. In order to jump so high, fleas need a surface that is at least 12 inches above their host.

Despite their tiny body size, fleas are among the best jumpers in the world. Engineers have even attempted to mimic their jumping abilities. This remarkable ability comes from the catapult-like mechanism built into their bodies. Their jumps are 100 times higher than a 6-foot tall human, and their jumps are up to 200 times longer than their body length.