What are the jumping fleas called? - briefly
The insects renowned for their extraordinary leaps are fleas, classified in the order Siphonaptera.
What are the jumping fleas called? - in detail
Fleas belong to the order Siphonaptera. They are the only insects commonly referred to as jumping fleas because of their extraordinary leaping ability, which can exceed 100 times their body length.
These parasites are wingless, laterally compressed, and possess thickened hind‑leg coxae that store elastic energy. When the coxa releases, the femur snaps forward, propelling the flea into the air. This mechanism enables rapid host transfer and evasion of predators.
Key characteristics of Siphonaptera:
- Small size (1–4 mm), laterally flattened body.
- Strong, enlarged hind legs specialized for jumping.
- Mouthparts adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood.
- Life cycle: egg → larva → pupa → adult, with the adult stage responsible for jumping.
- Cosmopolitan distribution; common species include Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea) and Pulex irritans (human flea).
In addition to true fleas, the hexapod group Collembola (springtails) is sometimes colloquially called “jumping fleas” because of their furcula‑driven spring action. However, taxonomically springtails belong to a separate class and are not true insects.
Thus, the proper scientific designation for jumping fleas is Siphonaptera, with the common name “flea” applied to individual species within this order.