15 Facts About Bugs That Will Change How You View Them

Bugs crawl, creep, and fly through the air. Those tiny, often maligned creatures are hiding a world of incredible secrets. Their world is teeming with fascinating facts that will blow your mind, and we’re ready to discover 15 facts about them today.

They Crawled Before Dinosaurs

Invertebrates like insects ruled the Earth about 480 million years ago, long before the reign of the dinosaurs. They were the first land dwellers, adapting and evolving over countless millennia to thrive in various environments.

Chameleons of the Insect World

Some insects are masters of disguise. The orchid mantis perfectly resembles a colorful orchid flower, luring unsuspecting prey within striking distance. Stick insects mimic twigs with their slender bodies and stillness. Leaf insects take things a step further, replicating the intricate details of leaves, complete with veins and blemishes. 

Secret Gardens of Leafcutters

These fascinating insects grow fungus gardens within their nests. They tirelessly forage for leaves, which they then shred and grow a specific type of fungus on. This fungus becomes their primary food source, evidence of the incredible ingenuity of the insect world.

Melodies of the Insect World

Crickets use their chirping to attract mates and defend territory. Katydids produce their signature rhythmic calls by rubbing their wings together. The next time you’re outdoors, listen closely – you might be surprised by the hidden musicality of the bug world.

Lifetime of Honey Production

A worker bee, throughout her entire life, will only produce a 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey. That might seem insignificant, but consider the collective effort of the hive. Millions of bees working together create the honey we enjoy, proof of the power of collaboration in the animal kingdom.

Fruit Flies – The Original Astronauts

Back in 1947, fruit flies became the first living creatures to experience the weightlessness of spaceflight. These tiny travelers were aboard a V-2 rocket launched by the United States, paving the way for future biological research in space.

Dazzling World of Jewel Scarabs

Jewel scarabs have exoskeletons that shimmer with metallic greens, blues, and reds. Their dazzling appearance has captivated humans for centuries, and in some cultures, they’ve even been prized as gemstones. Ancient Egyptians thought of them as a symbol of resurrection, and they’re quite rare.

Bugs Who Hear in Unexpected Places

Grasshoppers, locusts, and crickets possess an auditory superpower – they can hear with their knees! The knees house special organs called tympana that detect and translate vibrations into sound. Ogre-faced spiders hear with their legs, too.

Curious Case of Caterpillar Vision

Caterpillars look like simple creatures, but their visual system is surprisingly complex. Unlike their butterfly counterparts, caterpillars have twelve tiny eyes called ocelli. They’re arranged in a horseshoe shape on the caterpillar’s head to detect light and movement, explore their environment, and avoid enemies.

Dung Beetle’s Herculean Strength

Dung beetles are nature’s clean-up crew, tirelessly breaking down and burying animal waste. But what truly sets them apart is their incredible strength. One particular species, the Onthophagus taurus, can pull a load 1,141 times its weight – like a human dragging over 100 tons.

Masters of Manipulation – Ants and Their Farmed Friends

Domestication seems like a human invention, but ants take it to a new level. Specific ant species protect aphid herds from predators in exchange for a sugary substance they produce. It’s an example of a mutually beneficial partnership to show the complex social structures in the ant world.

Synchronous Flash of Fireflies

Fireflies are captivating insects known for their ability to produce light. However, some species engage in a spectacular phenomenon called synchronous flashing. In these displays, thousands flash their lights in unison, creating a mesmerizing wave of light to confuse enemies.

Picasso Moth’s Masters of Disguise

The Picasso moth might be named after a famous artist, but its artistic talents lie in deception. Each wing has a unique design, and the colors and markings allow the moth to blend seamlessly into its surroundings, confusing predators and ensuring its survival. 

The Giant Wētā – New Zealand’s Enormous Bug

New Zealand is home to the Giant wētā, wingless crickets with a length of 4 inches, without wings and antennas. Despite their size, they are herbivores, feeding on leaves and fruit. Sadly, they are vulnerable due to introduced predators, and conservation efforts are underway to ensure their continued existence.

Sacrificial Embrace of Male Spiders

Some male spiders prefer to be eaten by their mates after mating. A male spider’s body provides a nutritional boost, which the female needs to produce healthy eggs. By doing so, the male indirectly guarantees the survival of his offspring.