Jumping

Guides

Cercopoidea
froghoppers, spittlebugs
The superfamily Cercopoidea comprises hemipteran insects commonly known as froghoppers or spittlebugs. Adults possess powerful hind legs enabling jumps up to 70 cm vertically and 100 times their body length. Nymphs are renowned for producing foam shelters ("cuckoo spit") from excreted xylem sap, within which they develop concealed from predators and environmental extremes. The group exhibits xylem-feeding, an unusual trait among sap-feeding insects requiring symbiotic bacteria to supplement nutrient-poor diet.
xylem-feeding foam-production jumping symbiotic-bacteria climate-change-indicator agricultural-pest invasive-species hemiptera auchenorrhyncha
Dicyrtomina
globular springtails
Dicyrtomina is a genus of globular springtails (order Symphypleona) characterized by a rounded, compact body form distinct from elongate springtail lineages. Members exhibit latch-mediated spring-actuated (LaMSA) jumping powered by the furca, a modified fourth abdominal segment. The genus includes species such as D. minuta, which has been extensively studied for its extraordinary jumping kinematics, and D. saundersi, which displays neustonic (surface-floating) behavior. Species occur primarily in moist leaf litter habitats across Europe, North America, and other regions, with some populations adapted to aquatic surface microlayer environments.
springtail Collembola Symphypleona globular-springtail biomechanics jumping soil-fauna leaf-litter genome-sequenced neustonic
Echidnophaga gallinacea
hen flea, sticktight flea, stickfast flea
Echidnophaga gallinacea is a small, dark brown flea that parasitizes a broad range of bird and mammal hosts including poultry, dogs, cats, and occasionally humans. Adult females embed permanently into host skin—typically on bare areas of the head and face—using a serrated mouthpart to feed on blood, while males remain mobile. Heavy infestations cause ulceration, dermatitis, anemia, and can be fatal to young or small hosts. The species has spread globally through poultry farming and is now established across tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions.
flea ectoparasite poultry-pest vector invasive cosmopolitan integrated-pest-management cage-free-poultry backyard-chickens hematophagy permanent-attachment sessile-female resilin jumping ctenidia-absent anaemia dermatitis ulceration Rickettsia Bartonella plague diatomaceous-earth maldison pesticide-resistance organic-farming animal-welfare economic-entomology veterinary-entomology host-generalist urban-wildlife-interface synanthropic
Hydrophorus
Hydrophorus is a genus of long-legged flies in the family Dolichopodidae, distinguished by their ability to move across and jump from water surfaces without penetrating the surface film. These small predatory flies exhibit specialized locomotor adaptations for aquatic surface environments, including elongated middle and hind legs used for propulsion during jumping. They are part of a diverse family of metallic, predatory flies that occupy varied habitats from terrestrial foliage to aquatic margins.
aquatic-surface-locomotion biomechanics predator mosquito-control water-surface jumping Dolichopodidae
Membracoidea
Leafhoppers and Treehoppers
Membracoidea is a superfamily of sap-sucking true bugs (Hemiptera) comprising approximately 25,000 described species across several families. The group is dominated by two large families: Cicadellidae (leafhoppers) and Membracidae (treehoppers), with additional smaller families including Aetalionidae, Melizoderidae, and the relictual Myerslopiidae. Members share distinctive anatomical features including an incomplete tentorium, enlarged midcoxae, and rows of setae on the mid and hind tibiae. The superfamily exhibits its greatest diversity in the Neotropics, suggesting a New World origin.
phloem-feeding jumping ant-mutualism plant-pathogen-vector adaptive-radiation Neotropical-diversity-center
Neotridactylus
Pygmy mole crickets, Pygmy sand crickets, Pygmy mole grasshoppers
Neotridactylus is a genus of pygmy mole crickets in the family Tridactylidae, containing approximately 16 described species distributed across the Americas. These insects are small, fossorial orthopterans that inhabit sandy margins of aquatic habitats. Despite their common name, they are more closely related to short-horned grasshoppers than to true mole crickets. The genus was established by Günther in 1972.
fossorial riparian sand-dwelling jumping cryptic
Neotridactylus apicialis
larger pygmy mole grasshopper, larger pygmy locust, larger sand cricket, larger pygmy mole cricket
Neotridactylus apicialis is a minute orthopteran in the family Tridactylidae, one of only two species currently recognized in North America. Adults measure 5.5–10 mm and possess disproportionately enlarged hind legs adapted for powerful jumping. The species inhabits sandy margins of freshwater bodies, where it constructs shallow burrows and exhibits fossorial behavior. Despite their common name, pygmy mole crickets are more closely related to short-horned grasshoppers than to true mole crickets (Gryllotalpidae).
fossorial riparian jumping minute sand-dwelling
Oreoneta
A genus of dwarf spiders (family Linyphiidae) established in 1894, comprising approximately 30 species distributed across cold-temperate and Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Most species inhabit high-latitude or high-altitude environments. The genus was revised extensively by Saaristo & Marusik in 2004, resulting in numerous new species descriptions.
Arachnida Araneae Linyphiidae dwarf-spider Arctic boreal Holarctic tundra montane predator cold-adapted ground-dwelling high-latitude high-altitude Saaristo Marusik Chyzer Kulczyński 1894 2004-revision genitalic-characters epigynum embolus conductor palaearctic nearctic Eurasia North-America Scandinavia Siberia Alaska Canada Greenland Kazakhstan Mongolia China Kurile-Islands Finland Sweden Norway Germany Switzerland Italy Slovakia Bulgaria Central-Europe type-species:-Oreoneta-frigida thirty-species 30-species small-spider sheet-web-weaver money-spider Linyphiinae Erigoninae microhabitat litter-dwelling cryptic understudied taxonomic-revision morphological-taxonomy light-microscopy species-description biogeography glacial-refugia post-glacial-colonization endemic regional-endemic alpine-endemic Arctic-endemic boreal-forest taiga rocky-habitat meadow wetland stream-margin snowbed fellfield heath moss lichen vegetation soil-surface stone rock boulder scree talus debris humus organic-layer permafrost polar subpolar cold-stenotherm stenotherm stenotopic habitat-specialist conservation rare data-deficient IUCN red-list natural-history systematics phylogeny molecular-systematics DNA-barcoding COI cytochrome-oxidase 28S 18S ITS morphology taxonomy alpha-taxonomy revision monograph faunistics chorology zoogeography dispersal vicariance speciation cryptic-species species-complex species-group species-aggregate subspecies infraspecific variation polymorphism sexual-dimorphism male female juvenile instar ecdysis molting development growth reproduction mating courtship sperm-transfer spermatophore pedipalp palpal-organ copulatory-organ genitalia epigyne vulva spermatheca fertilization-duct copulatory-duct atrium scape maceration dissection microscope stereomicroscope compound-microscope illustration drawing photography SEM scanning-electron-microscopy habitus dorsal ventral lateral prosoma opisthosoma abdomen cephalothorax carapace sternum chelicera fang leg tarsus metatarsus tibia patella femur coxa trochanter spinneret colulus tracheal-spiracle book-lung cuticle seta hair spine macroseta sensillum chaetotaxy eye oculus ocelli anterior-median-eye posterior-median-eye anterior-lateral-eye posterior-lateral-eye eye-tubercle clypeus fovea pedicel waist constriction color pattern pigmentation melanism albinism size measurement total-length carapace-length carapace-width abdomen-length leg-length leg-formula index ratio proportion allometry ontogeny subadult adult maturity sexual-maturity reproductive-maturity longevity life-span generation-time voltinism univoltine semivoltine biennial perennial overwintering diapause quiescence cold-hardiness freeze-tolerance freeze-avoidance supercooling cryoprotectant glycerol sorbitol trehalose thermal-biology thermoregulation behavioral-thermoregulation postural-thermoregulation activity diurnal nocturnal crepuscular matutinal vespertine circadian rhythm seasonal phenology calendar date month activity-period breeding-season oviposition egg egg-sac cocoon silk web sheet-web tangle-web space-web platform-web dome-web bowl-web funnel retreat signal-line dragline attachment-disc ampullate-gland cylindriform-gland aciniform-gland aggregate-gland flagelliform-gland tubuliform-gland piriform-gland major-ampullate minor-ampullate silk-protein spidroin fibroin sericin glue viscid dry capture-silk dragline-silk safety-line anchor-line frame-line radial-line spiral-line sticky-spiral non-sticky-spiral hub perimeter substrate niche guild functional-group trophic-level carnivore zoophage arthropodivore insectivore prey capture attack subdue immobilize kill feed digest extraoral-digestion sucking-stomach gut midgut hindgut Malpighian-tubule excretion osmoregulation metabolism respiration trachea spiracle gas-exchange circulation hemolymph heart aorta sinus nervous-system brain ganglion nerve sensory-organ mechanoreceptor chemoreceptor thermoreceptor hygroreceptor photoreceptor proprioceptor trichobothrium tarsal-organ slit-sensillum lyriform-organ pedipalp-organ Haller's-organ contact-chemoreceptor gustatory olfactory pheromone semiochemical kairomone allomone synomone communication signal vibration seismic airborne visual chemical tactile copulation insemination sperm spermatozoon median-apophysis terminal-apophysis paracymbium cymbium bulbus tegulum subtegulum radix lamella process apophysis flange hook coil spiral duct reservoir sclerite plate field fossa pocket receptaculum spermathecae gland insemination-duct uterus uterus-externus uterus-internus vagina gonopore ovipositor ovary oviduct follicle vitellogenesis oogenesis spermatogenesis testis vas-deferens ejaculatory-duct seminal-vesicle fecundity fertility clutch-size egg-number hatching emergence ballooning aerial-dispersal silk-dragline gossamer migration movement walking running jumping climbing burrowing hiding refuge shelter defense predation predator-avoidance antipredator crypsis camouflage mimicry aposematism deimatic thanatosis autotomy leg-loss regeneration injury wound healing immune-response hemocyte melanization encapsulation nodule parasite parasitoid pathogen fungus bacterium virus nematode mite grooming cleaning hygiene self-maintenance silk-use web-use prey-capture foraging hunting ambush sit-and-wait active-hunting searching probing testing exploration learning memory cognition behavior ethology ecology population community ecosystem biome biosphere habitat environment abiotic biotic factor temperature humidity moisture precipitation rain snow wind light photoperiod day-length radiation UV soil cover complexity heterogeneity productivity energy nutrient carbon nitrogen phosphorus food-web trophic-interaction predator-prey competition intraspecific interspecific resource partitioning coexistence diversity richness evenness abundance density frequency occurrence presence absence detection sampling collection pitfall-trap quadrat transect hand-collecting beating sifting extraction Berlese Tullgren Winkler flotation sorting preservation ethanol formalin mount slide label catalog database repository museum voucher type holotype paratype syntype lectotype paralectotype neotype topotype original data locality georeference coordinate latitude longitude elevation altitude depth collector determination identification expert specialist literature publication journal article paper book thesis dissertation report checklist online digital archive bibliography reference citation author year volume page figure map table appendix supplementary material methods results discussion conclusion abstract keyword index-term subject topic discipline science biology zoology arachnology entomology evolution phylogenetics biological nature protection management policy legislation restoration monitoring assessment indicator flagship umbrella keystone engineer service function dynamics stability resilience resistance recovery succession disturbance climate change warming glacier range shift expansion contraction fragmentation isolation connectivity corridor network reserve park protected area wilderness urban rural agricultural forestry mining impact threat risk vulnerability sensitivity exposure adaptive capacity mitigation adaptation sustainable use harvest trade economy medicine research education outreach citizen engagement awareness appreciation aesthetic cultural spiritual existence value intrinsic instrumental utilitarian anthropocentric biocentric ecocentric ethic philosophy history discovery expedition voyage survey inventory fauna biota biodiversity life earth planet wildlife animal invertebrate arthropod chelicerate arachnid spider araneomorph entelegyne micryphantid Oreoneta 2004 frigida type-species alpine feeding type-specimen climate-change protected-area
Pulicidae
Common Fleas
Pulicidae is a family of fleas (Siphonaptera) containing 181 species in 27 genera. Members are wingless, laterally compressed ectoparasites of mammals with exceptional jumping ability enabled by the elastic protein resilin. The family includes significant pests such as the cat flea (*Ctenocephalides felis*), dog flea (*C. canis*), and human flea (*Pulex irritans*), which are vectors of disease and parasites.
ectoparasite vector pest jumping resilin
Siphonaptera
fleas, pireler (Turkish)
Siphonaptera (fleas) are small, wingless, holometabolous insects that are obligate ectoparasites of mammals and birds. Adults are 2–5 mm long, bilaterally flattened, and possess enlarged hind legs adapted for jumping. Larvae are legless, worm-like, and feed on organic debris including blood clots and adult flea feces. The order comprises approximately 2,500 described species, with roughly 94% parasitizing mammals and 6% specializing on birds. Some species are significant vectors of human and animal pathogens, including plague, typhus, and tularemia.
ectoparasite hematophage vector holometabolous wingless jumping veterinary-pest medical-entomology urban-entomology integrated-pest-management
Sminthuridae
globular springtails
Sminthuridae is a family of globular springtails (order Symphypleona) characterized by a rounded body shape, four-segmented antennae with successively lengthening segments, and an exceptionally long ventral tube with eversible vesicles. Members possess well-developed tracheae and a furcula for jumping. The family includes 13 genera and is distinguished from the similar Sminthurididae by antennal structure and dens setation. Some species are notable agricultural pests, while others are common in forest litter and snow habitats.
springtails Collembola globular decomposers jumping snow-fleas agricultural-pest biological-control ventral-tube eversible-vesicles
Tridactylidae
Pygmy Mole Crickets, Pygmy Sand Crickets, Pygmy Mole Grasshoppers
Tridactylidae are a family of minute orthopterans commonly called pygmy mole crickets, though they are not closely related to true mole crickets (Gryllotalpidae). Adults typically measure 5–10 mm, with some species reaching 20 mm. They inhabit moist sandy soils near water bodies, where they construct shallow burrows 2–3 cm deep. The family is distinguished by extraordinary jumping abilities powered by enlarged hind femora, and by unique natatory lamellae on the hind tibiae that function as swimming paddles. Some species can jump from water surfaces and even dive. Despite their common name, they are basal grasshoppers (Caelifera), not crickets.
Orthoptera Caelifera burrowing jumping swimming riparian sand-dwelling detritivore pygmy-mole-cricket