Word: resilin
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...site of the wing-hinge ligaments, the place where the wings are attached to the exoskeleton, hard outer covering. In fleas, as well as in dragonflies, locusts and certain other insects, the arch serves another purpose: as a repository for an extraordinary elastic-like clump of protein called resilin that can be stretched, and contracted back to its original shape, faster than any known rubber...
...flea prepares to jump, it crouches like a runner in the starting block, lowering it's head and contracting its body. Thes actions compress the resilin and engage hooklike "catches" in the flea's exoskeleton that prevent the resilin from expanding prematurely. In effect, the flea has "cocked" itself for the leap. Then, at the right moment, it releases the catches. The resilin snaps back to its original size, like an uncoiling spring, and exerts a sharp downward force on tendons connected to the upper part of the hind legs. That launches the flea into...
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