Bugs That Jump Like Fleas

There are many kinds of flying insects. Some live on the ground and hop like fleas, some fly and perch on plants, and some even look like fleas and jump around when they crawl. Have you ever had a flea infestation? I say it like that not because fleas are tiny (they are) but because they’re super annoying. Not only do they jump and bite, some of them look like other bugs! But the most amazing thing is that some spiders have an uncanny resemblance to fleas. Don’t believe me? Tell you what – let’s stop talking and start looking at these cool photos instead, shall we?Nobody likes fleas jumping in their hair, so it’s understandable if you want to get rid of your pets — fleas do cause a lot of discomfort and can be just plain gross. There are many ways to kill fleas, which I’ll go into later, but there are also a lot of insects that like to look like them.

Bugs That Jump Like Fleas

If you suspect the presence of fleas in your home, checking is the first step to apply intervention. Because chances are, they might not be fleas at all. As such, here are some of the most common flea look alikes or bugs that look like fleas and jump.

1. Bat bugs

These ones are very comparable to bed bugs and fleas. They have the same reddish-brown color, tiny, wingless, and could jump but with more hair.

Their native niche is caves because they generally feed on bat blood. But if they make it into your home, they will gladly turn on your or your pets for food source.

Like bed bugs and fleas, they are most likely in floorboards, boxes, mattresses, blankets, carpets, and wooly textiles.

They share the same spreading habit as that of bed bugs. Unlike fleas, they may bite, causing itchy blisters on the skin but they do not transmit any harmful diseases.

2. Bed bugs

They are the ones that are often mistaken for many pests and insects and not just fleas. They share the same flat body, tininess, absence of wings and dark to light brown colors of fleas.

Like fleas, they also bite humans for their blood and their bites could cause itchy blisters on your skin.

Their main difference is that bed bugs are not high jumpers. As a matter of fact, they may not even jump at all. You can also tell them apart with their eggs.

Flea eggs are white while bed bug eggs are black or dark brown. When it comes to bites, flea bites would look like mosquito bites while bed bug bits are more of red, swollen welts.

Related: 10 Bugs That Look Like Bed Bugs But Aren’t

3. Black carpet beetles

As the name suggests, these bugs are shiny black in color and could be a source of serious pestering in the household especially that they feed on the fibers of carpets, textiles, and fabric covers of furniture.

Like fleas, they have a flat body, wingless, and are jumpers (although not as high as fleas).

They also have six legs, but they are usually hairier and more hunchbacked than fleas. Aside from fabric, clothing, and textiles, they could also infiltrate pantries, feeding and contaminating your dry goods there.

Look for black carpet beetle eggs along the dark areas of your home and make the necessary interventions.

4. Confused Flour Beetle

This is considered as one of the peskiest bugs for stored products in barns, silos, as well as in kitchens and pantries.

They were named as such because they were originally just feeding on grains but now, they have become a concern because they now destroy goods in groceries and homes.

While they are not biters and bloodsuckers like fleas, they share the same color, size, absence of wings and are flat bodied.

They are also pesky for the home because they leave a pungent odor and could contaminate the taste of your dry goods.

List of Bugs That Jump Like Fleas