How High Fleas Jump

If you’ve ever wondered how fleas jump, you’re not alone. The insects can jump as high as 50 times their own height, and they can do it in the blink of an eye. In addition, their tiny bodies can slip through fur with surprising ease. They can also jump up to 100 times faster than the speed of sound!

Researchers have been studying fleas’ ability to jump for more than a thousand years. The latest study, by Drs. Gregory Sutton and Malcolm Burrows of the University of Cambridge, has finally put the question to rest. The researchers used high-speed video recording equipment to capture the action of 51 hedgehog fleas.

The new study also sheds light on the mechanism of flea jumping. The insects’ jumps are powered by energy stored in a protein called resilin. This protein allows them to jump extremely high distances with only a small amount of energy. The study also highlights the importance of fleas’ resilin pads, which help them store energy and move forward.

Fleas can jump an amazing distance, as they can travel 50 centimeters in just one leap. The mechanisms behind this ability to jump so high have confounded scientists for decades, but new research from the University of Cambridge has solved the mystery.