A Flea's Fantastic Jump Takes More Than Muscle | Deep Look
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- Before they can bite your cat or dog, these little "itch hikers" make an amazing leap 100 times faster than the blink of an eye. So how do they do it?
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DEEP LOOK is a ultra-HD (4K) short video series created by KQED San Francisco and presented by PBS Digital Studios. See the unseen at the very edge of our visible world. Explore big scientific mysteries by going incredibly small.
---
Spring is here, and with it, the start of flea season. With the warming weather, people and their pets are spending more time outside - which increases the chances of bringing home a hungry “itch hiker.”
While pet owners curse the tiny insects and look for a way to rid them from their homes, it turns out fleas actually perform some remarkable athletic feats, like jumping 50 times their height - the equivalent of a human jumping 300 feet - or leaping so fast that they take off 100 times faster than the blink of an eye.
No larger than a sesame seed and flattened side to side, fleas can slip through fur with ease. Their jump is so fast they seem to simply vanish and reappear somewhere else.
“It's there and then it's gone,” said Gregory Sutton, a professor of biomechanics at the University of Lincoln in the United Kingdom.
--- What do flea eggs look like?
After feeding on blood, adult fleas mate and lay eggs. The eggs drop out of their host animal’s fur or feathers and into their bedding or nest. The eggs are translucent white and very small. At 0.5mm the eggs are about the size of a grain of salt.
--- Why do fleas bite me?
Blood is a protein-rich food for fleas. Adult fleas feed on blood before they can procreate.
--- Why does my dog/cat keep getting fleas?
Fleas are nest parasites. Their eggs fall from the host animal into its bedding where they hatch. The worm-like larvae feed on organic debris (including the adult fleas’ feces) in the bedding. They then curl up into a cocoon and undergo metamorphosis into their adult form. Flea baths tend to kill the fleas currently on the pet, but there may still be flea eggs and larvae in the pet’s bedding. When those young fleas mature they may reinfest the pet.
---+ Read the entire article on KQED Science:
www.kqed.org/s...
---+ For more information:
Why do Large Animals Never Actuate Their Jumps with Latch-Mediated Springs? Because They can Jump Higher Without Them.
(Gregory P Sutton, Elizabeth Mendoza, Emanuel Azizi, Sarah J Longo, Jeffrey P Olberding, Mark Ilton, Sheila N Patek)
academic.oup.c...
---+ Shoutout!
🏆Congratulations 🏆to the following fans on our TH-cam community tab who identified the colorful crustacean that stores energy and releases a powerful punch using the same mechanism that fleas use to jumpstart their jump: the mantis shrimp!
The Chicken Wizard
Skunky H
Shin M.
Soren Rohrbach
kick Blade
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Lauren will be missed her voice is so iconic and it is a part of deep look's soul
Edit: guys she didn't die she just changed jobs, stop spreading false rumours
Amy Standon has a very very nice voice indeed
yep
Wait she's leaving?
@@stupidloser I think they wrote a community post abt it
Lauren I will came to you now.😍
When you actually take the time to look and admire the flea, you'll realise they're just as if not even more annoying than before.
With a satisfying pop
Thank you for that 🤣
You successfully made my skin crawl for 4 minutes straight. I hope you’re proud of yourself
Lol🤣😂🤣😂🤣
Me too.
Why do all tiny annoying insects have the most disturbing reproduction methods, Im not sleeping tonight
Even the ones hiding inside bed mattresses.
@@weirdboyrox don't do him like that 😂
Bed bugs too check out what they do
because without them, nothing in the eco-system works
@@Adventures_EC like?
2:50 That mustache on the flea from A Bug's Life makes sense now.
Right?
That was the first thing I thought of too haha.
@@DallasJacksonTV ME TOO!
Haha, flea mustaches are so cute!
That structure is known as the genal comb.
I feel itchy watching this
Yaa gotchaa
yep and it just makes me more paranoid
Yuh
Never seen your comment before Saturday...people where saying how you are everywhere...since then 😳
Yes u wont get enough LIKES
Clean cat: *Exists*
Fleas: It's free real estate
SPAGETT!!!!
Spooked ya. Spookie spookett.
It’s *Flea real estate
It's flee real estate
underrated... but quality talk... impressive
Trivago
I hope I’m not the only one who got itchy while watching this vid.
No, not just you
When I think about lice, my head and legs get itchy
Harry Pottering Myself no no I was Itching the Whole Time
Definitely not. I finished this and I'm still itching.
I did too
@Ibrahim Abid I blame the brain... Lol 😂big time!!!
Quick tip: Original dawn soap kills fleas instantly.
So bath cat in original dawn soap??
@@P_steez you could if they don't mind water. I think there is also dry flea and tick shampoo which they might prefer, make sure they don't lick at it.
@@drea6717 thank you so much, I knew about the oil clean up stuff but I wasn’t aware dawn soap could easily kill the fleas, is it through suffocation?
@@P_steez you’re more then welcome🙂 not through suffocating but the soap coats the fleas otherwise buoyant body and causes them to sink and drown
Works every time if you let it sit
1:10 wonder why fleas are so slippery they have a mustache
So that means the next logical step in their evolution would be a grabbing hand with an opposable thumb so that they can twirl their mustache.
@@unclekanethetiberiummain1994 they use the mustache agaisnt our thumbs
@@unclekanethetiberiummain1994 yes
yes, nice pfp, m4a1-s is the best weapon
@@megablademe4930 yes comrade thank you for compliment ill be using this weapon for -robbery- protecting citizens nice pfp too
“They lay eggs on the cats bedding”.. wait so my bed? Noooo
😲😲
Larva is already in your ear 😁
@@falconfurry6432 SON OF A
Guess your cat isn't the only one gettin sucked! 😐
@@MistaMaine. that sounded wrong
"Their fly ancestors lost the wings millions of years ago..."
*Cats:* "You can fly?!"
*Fleas:* "No! Jump good!"
HWACHA
I got that reference
Jack Jack Jack
Would that make cats shapeshifting masters of darkness?
+1 for reminding me of my childhood
Lauren's loss was covered with new cgi and laura's deeper octave
We'll all gonna miss her
What happened?
@@cheesybelt new job
Awww that’s sad
They really do sound similar.
I couldn’t tell the difference
Watching fleas in 4k, exactly what I needed in my life at 2 a.m.
Mi 28 I used to wake up at 2am with at least 10 or 15 on one leg
Why am I reading that at 2 a.m.?
Same lol
Why is it 2:30 rn and im reading this also? O_o
dats me
Fleas are actually really fascinating creatures. It's hilarious how they ragdoll when they jump X3.
We agree!
“Ragdoll” *roblox ragdoll game flashbacks*
They've been living off me for years. I've gotten very good at killing them. I just put them in between my fingernails and pop them, they are still alive but that gets them to stop moving long enough for me to use the tip of my fingernail to split them in half. Also got a bowl of 🧼 soapy water and caught over 100 of them yesterday and 25 so far today
@@OverRule2 ☹️
@@OverRule2 you may use a twizer. I did. And helped alot my 🐈
1:11 so apparently... my sleep paralysis demon is a microscopic pest...
That thumbnail is is just a nightmare
@Ash Bomjan
And it will suck Ultraman and Mothra's blood.
@@ac_fauzan2805 toho fan xd
@@birch3 degenerates...
This is the type of video that suddenly will get 10 million views after 10 years.
Daniel S. Yea lol
Its starting now. Its on my reccommended and i clicked so . Yh
April 18th, 2020
Cool, no one asked tho
@@imselfaware419 "☝️🤓"
Never knew fleas literally just Yeet their selves onto something. I always thought they had guided jumps until i saw this video lol
Me: "Do you prefer cat blood, dog blood, or Human blood?"
Flea: *Yes*
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
keep talking to fleas bro
@Adam Czerniewski You still play roblox?
@@eazy.y what is wrong with playing roblox
That's it i'm going to space
"Now who could turn that down?"
I laughed harder than I should have.
2:39 basically making a Minecraft house
Nobody:
Flees: *Y E E T*
Collins keyy
New host! (: I've only been here since Amy, so Laura is technically new to me. I'll miss Lauren, but I'm so excited for her 💕
Thanks Stephanie!
Who
They grow up so fast... 🥺
Try to squish them?
Me with a hammer: *YES*
i do that to
🤣
What really impresses me is how good this video is edited
"Who could turn that down" everyone. The answer is everyone.
I definitely couldn’t 🥵😍😍
Such a small organic life that's taken millions of years to evolve!
Fascinating, but also a pain in the ass to ignore the itch when bitten!
Gah this is so interesting, I’ve never actually seen a living flee move
Ugh my grandparents cats once had them. One jumped on my arm. The second I saw it I went into a bath with a face mask that covers my eyes and nose. I also had that mouth piece so I could breath. I was in the tub of hot water for 3 whole hours.
I leapt into this video as fast as I could * ba dum tss *
Mom's "take a gigantic leap of faith" suddenly gets a whole new meaning.
Flea: *jumps*
People in 1300's Europe: THOU UNLEASED A PLAGUE UPON OUR HOUSES
No they thought it was "bad air"
@@hayosiko9119 What did they do? Try to cut the air to release the bad spirit?
@@onelonelypotato7204 the doctors wore those beak suits and there were herb's inside they thought it will make the air for the doctor "good" but actually it was their sealed suits that kept the fleas out
@@hayosiko9119 Yeah ik. I just wanted to poke fun at them bc when ppl were sick they barbers would cut them open and “release the bad spirit”
1:40 "This catflea preffers cat blood"
So dogflea for dog blood 😂😂
Amazing.
*BUBONIC PLAGUE OCCUR*
FLEAS: HEY VIRUS WANNA RIDE?
Virus: Why not!
*bacteria
"OOooh, fleas on rats, fleas on rats!"
Exactly how it spread too.
@@jasper3706 Both still microscopic creature though.
@@diamondbrony8550 Fleas are definitely not microscopic.
Mom: I’m pregnant
Dad: 3:41
you got me bro 🤣
Imma bout to hed out imma bout to hed out
I shouldn't be laughing
@Sam Smith not funny just racist
Dog fleas use to tear me up ,I’m thankful I haven’t seen any since
Shoutout to the kitty model for this video. Very professional, how can I book her?
_Furry animal just casually minding its own business_
Flea:
It's free real estate
Mya you missed the perfect opportunity to say “It’s Flea Real estate”
@@angelayala3027 was gonna say the same thing
On closeup the flea looks like the final boss of a zombie horror game.
Can we just take a moment and admire how scary a flea look like.
I like how they just blink out of existence so fast. It's like they teleport.
God I wish I could grow a mustache like that flea
*Plot twist:* *“The flea was a paid actor!”*
oh that PLOAT twist was awesome... I wouldn't have GOAT it if you never mentioned it 😆
Already missing Lauren :(
Carlos in 4k is sick
Ngl this is actually kinda interesting
Jordyn Paige as annoying as something can be, it’s still nice to understand how it works.
Why would you even need to lie about that?
One look at the thumbnail,
I wasn’t ready
I like how flea rotates through the jumping
*michael Jordan dunks from the free throw line*
Flea: “pff amateurs”
I am almost irritated by how happily you explain the existence of these plagues. Almost irritated
" They feast on flea poop, which is partially digested blood" *thank christ I already vomited before watching this.*
Wait are you actually good? Were you Ill?
2:46 “A few days later...voila. All grown up.”😆
"... like a little sesame seed with legs." Something to ponder next time you eat a burger with sesame seeds 😆
This made me laugh 😂 thanks buddy
Extra protein, yum
Don't eat the "burnt" seeds
“Well…I’ll remember that in my nightmares”
Man! I know that this channel makes very high quality content and it's been said a hundred times, but this one was just astonishingly good. The footage, the Audio, the narrating and the script just go all go together so well. You guys just keep getting better and better. 100% worth the wait for these amazing videos!
Thank you!
3:40 my dad bringing home the milk for 18 years
Can we just take a moment and appreciate the editing in this vid? 🤩
Me after watching this with my cat next to me
*grabs cat*
*YAYEET!*
Edit: why is everyone making a big deal out of a joke? Are yall apart of peta or something? And thanks for the likes
No
NO
Not even funny
Just wash cat and cat bed every 3 days
eatan111
wash cat bed, yes. for cat, washing every 3 days is excessive. if you pet your cat often and pay close attention, you'll notice the flea dirt long before you even see any fleas. it's very easy to see. so as soon as your cat has even just one or two fleas on her, you should already know about it if you're paying attention. then a flea comb can get rid of them if the problem hasn't gotten out of hand yet, and if it has, you'll need frontline for cats. my current cat is almost 2 and has never had a flea before. my last cat lived to be 22, and in his life, he did get fleas a few times. but after frontline, they were gone for years until another came along.
if you have an outside cat in an area with lots of other cats and creepy crawlies, you might need to switch to a proper flea medication regimen. but i like to keep medication like that to a minimum if it isn't needed.
Everything is itching now… gotta keep scratching myself and keep watching. 🤩
Thanks for the great work and good luck in your new gig, Lauren!
Do you have a premium
If a Flea was the size of a Human, they can jump over a 10 storey building easily
Just A Dio Who's A Hero For Fun but then it’d weight about 150-200 which would make it heavy so flying so high wouldn’t be a option
I did not have to know that but will take in mind
This made me itchy but I couldn't stop watching
Fleas: hello!
My finger nails: you went in the wrong house,fool!
You use nails? Hmm I usually use shotguns might miss afew shot but its a small price to pay
@@OVERLORDCLOWN might break the whole house but a few hundred dollars is not close enough on the dangers of fleas
@@Cyan_thicc exactly
@@OVERLORDCLOWN I see we're on the same page
@@Cyan_thicc "its a small price to pay for salvation"
I love the jump sound effects 🤣
The flea remind me of old cartoons that were drawn as fleas. They always had that mustache.
thank you, youtube algorithm, this is exactly what i wanted to see 😃👍!
This channel deserves more subs it’s vey educational and very high quality
Most people think this is boring is the problem and dont care about this which is kinda annoying
1:22
A sigh came out of my mouth inevitable
I WAS BORED A.F UNTILL THIS CAME UP AND EVERYTHING CHANGED 😆
1:53
My heart melted😍
then the larvae drank the result...
Rip
Yey another knowledgeable from my favorite channel.
Ihre Stimme ist einfach so angenehm..
I love these types of videos ! Keep it up ❤️
Dang deep look really knows how to make me scared of walking in my own house
i had a flea infistation a week ago thye dont look to sacry since they are small but seeing this video makes me terrified of these pests
Me being bitten up by my cat's fleas while watching this to cope 👁💧👄💧👁
The devilish beast made my floor basically LAVA, we had war with them before.
I think everyone has
Can I ask you how did you defeat them and how much time did it take?
The cocoon stage is really neat.
I love how fleas look like they have a mustache.
This gives me anxiety.
And i don’t need to see that, thank you. I’ll take your word for it.
Nobody:
Me: screaming and hitting my birthmark thinking it’s a flea
Fleas are horrible yet utterly fascinating.
Is it just me or did the thumbnail looked like a bird for a second there?
Edit: Actually the more i look at it the more it does look like a flea
It looked like a dead fish to me.
It look like an alien to me 😂
Congrats on being the new climate science reporter on NPR Lauren! I look forward to hearing you over there :D
Man, fleas are terrifying up close. I love insects, but this guy is creepy. I do love how they wind up for that jump though! It's kind of adorable
RIP Lauren, always be in our memories 🥺
I never knew.. flea look so good at close up
Rip Laura, replacing Lauren means they have a lot to live up to.
You say RIP only to people who have passed away...
@@MalaysianTropikfusion its slang
@@iramak4195 It really is not, my dear.
@@MalaysianTropikfusion I mean I feel you I use it when playing games but depends on how you view
@@iramak4195 nah u kinda uses it wrong lol
1:50 is someone going to explain that blood splatter?
I think the flea ejected it 🤔
This narration is just savage.
Im SO glad they lost their wings millions of years ago, cuz if fleas could fly 💀. Its bad enough they jump.
Human: (crushhhhh)
Flea: BOING!!! SHINGGGG!
My dad friend lost all of his hair because of them 😂😂😂
Thats his excuse.in reality he has the bald gene
0:56 thank god
Imagine flying fleas
Literally mosquitos
That's called mosquitoes and they are worse nowadays than fleas💀
3:30 in the am and here I sit...learning about fleas. Ugh...lol
human - "flea, how do u jump so fast?"
flea - "yes"
My head is itching just watching this
One time I couldn't squish a flea so I grabbed it and cut it in half
Yesssssssss
based
2:04 okay the larva are actually kinda cute
I've been suffering this for a month what should i do now? My hands and legs are dead almost by itching and red spots.
Here’s what I did:
1. Get the fleas off of any animals you have by getting them flea treatments
2. Fill some shallow containers with water and soap, and put a light source on them. This has worked wonders for me before at one place, but didn’t work as well in another. If they aren’t jumping in and drowning in droves, buy some sticky traps. They really helped me get rid of the last our fleas.
3. Buy some flea killer just to be on the safe side
This is why its important to vacuum your pets bed. Like all the time!!😅
This fleas is like a ninja