The World’s Highest Jumper Is An Insect

The Philaenus spumarius, or the Froghopper Bug, is capable of jumping a greater distance than all other animals. As far as insects go both fleas and grasshoppers are impressive jumpers, but the Froghopper Bug is capable of jumping as far as 28 inches. Twenty eight inches may not seem like a lot, but when you take into account that Froghoppers are only six millimeters long, this feat seems a little more impressive.

These bugs are found in grasslands, but adults often look for food out in the open. The adults do not mind exposing themselves to predators out in the open since they can simply jump well over thirty times their length into obscure territory.

Compared to humans the froghoppers can withstand 400 G’s when jumping, while we humans pass out at five G’s. This bug is currently being studied in order to determine how insects use a single cell to generate complex movements.

How could such a small insect physically generate the energy necessary to jump such a far distance?