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Questions and Answers
How does a flea's exoskeleton contribute to its survival?
How does a flea's exoskeleton contribute to its survival?
- It protects them from being crushed and resists water and chemicals. (correct)
- It allows them to change color to camouflage.
- It makes them lightweight for jumping.
- It helps them regulate their body temperature.
What is the primary function of the spines found on a flea's body?
What is the primary function of the spines found on a flea's body?
- To assist in movement across smooth surfaces.
- To aid in digestion by grinding ingested blood.
- To grip onto an animal's fur, acting like Velcro. (correct)
- To help them swim through water more efficiently.
How does the jumping ability of a flea compare to that of a human, relative to their size?
How does the jumping ability of a flea compare to that of a human, relative to their size?
- A flea's jump is equivalent to a human jumping the height of a skyscraper.
- A flea can jump five times its own height, similar to a human.
- A flea's jump is equivalent to a human jumping the height of a tall building such as the Washington Monument. (correct)
- A flea can jump proportionally the same height as a human can jump over a small object.
What structural feature enables fleas to jump with such incredible power and acceleration?
What structural feature enables fleas to jump with such incredible power and acceleration?
What role does the protein resilin play in a flea's jumping mechanism?
What role does the protein resilin play in a flea's jumping mechanism?
After a female flea's first blood meal, how quickly can she begin producing eggs?
After a female flea's first blood meal, how quickly can she begin producing eggs?
Approximately how many eggs can a female flea lay during her lifetime?
Approximately how many eggs can a female flea lay during her lifetime?
What environmental factors stimulate fleas to emerge from their cocoons as adults?
What environmental factors stimulate fleas to emerge from their cocoons as adults?
What happens if a flea in the cocoon state does not detect favorable conditions for emergence?
What happens if a flea in the cocoon state does not detect favorable conditions for emergence?
Under ideal circumstances, approximately how long can the entire life cycle of a flea take?
Under ideal circumstances, approximately how long can the entire life cycle of a flea take?
What is the most effective strategy for controlling fleas, based on their characteristics?
What is the most effective strategy for controlling fleas, based on their characteristics?
How does the shape of a flea's body contribute to its ability to move through animal fur?
How does the shape of a flea's body contribute to its ability to move through animal fur?
What material are flea exoskeletons made of that makes them difficult to squish?
What material are flea exoskeletons made of that makes them difficult to squish?
How do fleas accelerate through the air when jumping?
How do fleas accelerate through the air when jumping?
How many times can a flea jump in a row without stopping?
How many times can a flea jump in a row without stopping?
What do fleas use to grip the surface when they land?
What do fleas use to grip the surface when they land?
What three things stimulate fleas to emerge as new adults?
What three things stimulate fleas to emerge as new adults?
When fleas are in the cocoon stages, what state are they in?
When fleas are in the cocoon stages, what state are they in?
Why are fleas so hard to eliminate?
Why are fleas so hard to eliminate?
What does a flea use for food?
What does a flea use for food?
Flashcards
Flea Survival
Flea Survival
Fleas survive on blood and are difficult to defeat due to their adaptations.
Sclerite
Sclerite
A tough, tile-like plate covering the flea's body, making it hard to squish.
Flea Exoskeleton
Flea Exoskeleton
Fleas have waterproof and shock-resistant exoskeletons, making them difficult to kill with sprays.
Flea Spines
Flea Spines
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Flea Jumping Ability
Flea Jumping Ability
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Resilin
Resilin
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Flea Cocoon Triggers
Flea Cocoon Triggers
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Flea Life Cycle
Flea Life Cycle
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Flea Egg Production
Flea Egg Production
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Study Notes
- Fleas are designed by nature to survive on blood and are very difficult to defeat.
Flea Body
- The flea body is hardy and well-suited for its lifestyle.
- Fleas have a hard exoskeleton covered by a tough, tile-like plate called a sclerite.
- Sclerites make fleas almost impossible to squish.
- Flea exoskeletons are waterproof and shock-resistant, making them resistant to sprays and chemicals.
- Little spines attached to the flea body lie flat, aiding movement through animal fur while searching for food.
- These spines extend and stick to fur like Velcro if something tries to pull the flea off.
Flea Jumping
- Fleas are among the best jumpers in the natural world.
- They can jump seven inches, which is 150 times their own length, vertically or horizontally.
- A comparable jump for a person would be 555 feet, equal to the height of the Washington Monument.
- Fleas can jump 30,000 times in a row without stopping.
- They accelerate through the air at a rate ten times higher than what humans can withstand in an airplane.
- Fleas have long rear legs with huge thigh muscles and multiple joints.
- To jump, they fold their long legs and crouch, similar to a runner on a starting block.
- Joints contain resilin, a protein that catapults fleas into the air like a slingshot.
- Outward-facing claws on their legs grip surfaces upon landing.
Flea Reproduction
- Adult female fleas mate after their first blood meal and begin producing eggs in 1-2 days.
- A flea can lay up to 50 eggs in one day and over 2,000 in its lifetime.
- Flea eggs are visible to the naked eye but are about the size of a grain of salt.
- Eggs transform into cocoons and fully develop into adults.
- Fleas hatch immediately in favorable conditions by detecting warmth, movement, and carbon dioxide.
- If conditions are not appropriate, fleas can remain dormant in the cocoon for extended periods.
- Under ideal conditions, the entire life cycle may only take 3 weeks.
- Fleas are intimidating opponents; therefore, prevention is the best strategy to prevent infestation.
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