Flying and Jumping Pests
What Bugs Jump?
By the Clark Pest Entomology Team
Last updated: October 28, 2026
Quick answer: Watch how it moves. A wingless speck that jumps is a flea or a springtail. Fleas bite and springtails do not. A bug that stays in the air could be a fly, gnat, mosquito, moth, bee or wasp. Note where you found it and whether it bit or stung, then pick a guide below.
What Did You See?
Nine groups of jumping and flying pests turn up in homes and yards across California and Northwestern Nevada. Tap the one that sounds closest.
Fleas
Wingless and no larger than 1/8 inch. UC IPM says they jump onto pets, and onto white socks if you walk around where a pet rests. They bite.
Springtails
About 1/16 inch long with no wings. A tail-like part snaps them several inches into the air. They live in damp spots and do not bite.
Crickets
Large back legs built for jumping or hopping. Clark's guide sorts field, house, camel and Jerusalem crickets by color, wings and sound.
Flies and Gnats
House flies, drain flies, fruit flies and fungus gnats. UC IPM says adult fungus gnats are weak fliers that do not bite people.
Mosquitoes
Small, two-winged flies. Only the females feed on blood, and the young grow up in standing water.
Moths
Gold clothes moths near the closet and coppery Indian meal moths in the pantry. The damage comes from their larvae.
Bees
Honey bees sting. UC IPM says European and Africanized honey bees look the same, and the Africanized type is more defensive.
Wasps, Hornets and Yellowjackets
Check the stripes and the nest. Yellowjackets, paper wasps and bald-faced hornets each build a different kind.
Birds
Not insects, but they fly onto roofs and ledges in the same search. Rock pigeons are the pest bird in Clark's guide.
Does It Jump, Fly or Both?
People search for what jumps, so here is what the university pages say. Where a source is silent, the table says so. The UC IPM fruit fly page covers fruit flies that infest fruit and nuts, including vinegar flies. The sources are UC IPM on fleas, UC IPM on springtails, University of Minnesota Extension on crickets, UC IPM on grasshoppers, UC IPM on fruit flies, UC IPM on fungus gnats, UC IPM on mosquitoes and Mississippi State University Extension.
| Bug | Does it jump? | Does it fly? | Does it bite? |
|---|
| Flea | Yes. Fleas jump onto animals and onto socks | No. Adults are wingless | Yes. Cat fleas bite people too |
|---|
| Springtail | Yes. Up to several inches high | No. They have no wings | No. They do not bite people or pets |
|---|
| Cricket | Yes. The back legs are used for jumping or hopping. The source does not say this about camel crickets | Camel crickets have no wings. The page describes wings on field and house crickets but does not mention flying | The sources do not say |
|---|
| Grasshopper | Yes. The hind legs are well adapted for jumping | Many are good flyers and a few species cannot fly | The source does not say |
|---|
| Fruit fly | The UC IPM page does not mention jumping | Yes. The page describes adults flying | The page does not mention biting |
|---|
| Fungus gnat | The UC IPM page does not mention jumping | Yes, but they are relatively weak fliers. Adults also run across plant soil and leaves | No. Adults do not bite people |
|---|
| Termite | The source does not mention jumping | Winged swarmers fly, then shed their wings | The source does not say |
|---|
| Mosquito | The UC IPM page does not mention jumping | Yes. Some can fly several miles from where they grew up | Only females feed on blood |
|---|
Where You Found It Points to the Bug
Near sinks, tubs and potted plants
Clark's springtail guide says these tiny jumpers gather where it stays wet, such as sinks, tubs, damp basements and overwatered houseplants. Fungus gnat adults rest on the soil of potted plants, and their larvae live in that soil. Both point to water. Dry the spot out and let plant soil dry between waterings.
On the pet, the carpet or your ankles
Walk around the pet's resting areas in white knee socks. Fleas, if present, jump onto the socks and show up. The pet is only half the problem. Flea eggs fall off the pet into bedding and carpet, so the room needs the same attention as the animal.
On the patio, porch or yard
Crickets and grasshoppers hop through the yard. According to UC IPM, grasshoppers can build up in nearby foothills and rangelands, then move into gardens, so check your plants in early summer. Mosquitoes are different. They breed in standing water such as ponds, bird baths and other containers, so tip out anything that holds water.
In the closet, pantry or kitchen
Small moths that flutter near stored goods are a pantry or closet matter, not a yard matter. Open the moths guide above to tell the fabric eaters from the food eaters.
Did It Bite or Sting?
Bites from jumpers and flyers
UC IPM describes a flea bite as a small red spot with a red halo. Some people react more strongly, and the itch can last several days. Springtails and adult fungus gnats do not bite people, which helps rule them out when you have bites. Only female mosquitoes feed on blood.
Stings from bees and wasps
The UC IPM guide to bee and wasp stings says only females can sting. If a honey bee stinger stays in the skin, scrape it out with a fingernail or the edge of a credit card. Removing it within 15 seconds lowers the severity. Get medical help right away for trouble breathing, dizziness, throat swelling or a sting on the neck or mouth.
Winged Insects at a Window
A cloud of winged insects on a sill raises the same worry every time. Is it a flying ant or a termite? Mississippi State University Extension says termites and ants both shed their wings shortly after swarming, so loose wings do not settle it. Compare the waist, antennae and wings instead. Our termite guide and ant guide show how.
Clark's Expert Insight
Ask two questions before you buy anything. Does it have wings, and is it near water or near a pet? A wingless speck that jumps near a pet points to fleas. The same speck near a drain or a wet plant points to springtails. Wings plus a plant pot point to gnats. The answers send you to different fixes.
Jumping and Flying Bug Questions Homeowners Ask
What bugs jump?
Fleas, springtails, crickets and grasshoppers all jump, according to UC IPM and the University of Minnesota Extension. Fleas and springtails are the two tiny ones that people find indoors. Springtails can launch several inches into the air.
Do fruit flies jump?
The UC IPM page covers fruit flies that infest fruit and nuts, including vinegar flies. It describes adults flying and says nothing about jumping or hopping. A tiny bug that pops straight up when touched is more likely a springtail or a flea. Check the size and where you found it.
Do gnats jump?
The UC IPM page on fungus gnats does not mention jumping. It calls adults relatively weak fliers and says they run across plant soil and leaves. It also says adults do not bite people.
Do termites jump?
The sources we checked do not describe termites jumping. They describe winged swarmers that fly and then shed their wings. A wingless speck that jumps is more likely a flea or a springtail.
What tiny bugs jump and bite?
Fleas bite people and pets. UC IPM says springtails do not bite. If you have bites and jumping specks together, look at pet areas and carpet for fleas first.
What should I do first about flying pests?
Name the bug before you treat. Flies, gnats, mosquitoes, moths, bees and wasps each have a different cause and a different fix. Open the matching guide above, then fix the source, such as standing water, a wet plant or stored food.