Written by Alleah
Modified & Updated: 30 Dec 2023
Reviewed by Sherman Smith
The great outdoors is a place where the sun is shining and the flowers are calling. It’s amazing to spend the day outside basking in the sunshine while reading a book or relaxing after a tough week. However, some would prefer to spend their days indoors because of insects and bugs. Some are prone to allergies and the common misconceptions that we have about them are too overwhelming to ignore. Journey with us as we see these creatures in a different light. Get ready to appreciate and learn more about them now in these really cool bug facts.
- According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, there are 1,900 species of edible bugs.
- There are 10 quintillion insects in the world and most of it is bugs.
- A ladybird bug can eat 5,000 insects in its whole lifetime.
- Dragonflies and other bug species have been around for 300 million years!
- A stag beetle bug grows for 12 cm and is the largest insect species in the UK.
- Bugs are small insects that are composed of many species identified through its sucking and piercing abilities.
- A bug is an insect in the family group of Hemiptera and they should have piercing mouth parts.
- In layman’s terms, bugs are land arthropods that have six legs like insects, centipedes, and spiders.
- Bugs found inside houses are ants, fire brats, and cockroaches.
- Caterpillars are bugs that have 12 sets of eyes.
- Bugs species like the water scorpion can breathe underwater through its snorkel-like tubes found in its abdomen.
- Bulldog ants are those bugs that can leap at least 7 times more than their actual body length.
- Butterflies are unique bugs that taste their food using their feet.
- A grasshopper is just a regular kind of bug but it has a special organ in its high legs that are responsible for the energy they use in jumping.
- Bugs eat their cousin insects that’s why bees are a hornet’s favorite meal.
- Honeybees are bugs that can produce 220 jars of honey in a year.
- Ant-eating assassin bugs use their victims to scare incoming predators by piling their bodies together.
- Mosquitoes are one of the few bugs that are attracted to stinky feet!
- Fruit flies were the first bugs and living creatures that were sent to space.
- A dung beetle is one of the strongest bug species as it can drag 1,1000 times its actual weight!
Not all insects are bugs, but all bugs are insects.
It’s a bit confusing, right? So to make things simpler: among the 10 quintillion insects in the world, not all of it are bugs but these bugs are all insects. Although it’s acceptable to interchange the two, true bugs lack teeth and have tough fore wings. They also have a stylet, a straw-like mouth that is intended for sucking. Insects, on the other hand, have three-part bodies and have three pairs of legs.
Bugs also fart.
One of the most interesting bug facts is that they do fart. The most common kind of gas that these bug insects produce is methane and hydrogen. Some of these bug species may have farts that stink but we would not be able to smell it since they give off tiny volumes of it.
Stoneflies are bugs that do push-ups to attract a prospective mate.
Stoneflies prefer to live in streams and waters. In North America alone, there are 500 existing species. They usually mate in swarms but when they do it on the ground, male stoneflies will beat their bodies to the ground or on the vegetation to attract the female. Some of them will mate prolifically and will create multiple offspring.
Bugs have brains.
Most of us might assume that insects and bugs do not have brains but here’s a surprise– they do! Even very tiny insects have it. But you do not expect their brains to be as important as it is for humans. In fact, they can live for a few days without their heads with the consideration that they do not lose high amounts of hemolymph or insect blood. Definitely one of the really brainy bug facts today.
Bugs and insects also feel pain.
Scientists say that most of the insects and bug species that we know to experience some sort of pain. With the recent advancement of technology, new and compelling evidence in research also shows that insects may also feel chronic pain which lasts long after a head injury or trauma.
The smell from your ears attracts bugs.
Although it’s not common, bugs can enter and stay in your ears for a few days. Cockroaches, for example, are attracted to the smell that comes from your ears and so they crawl inside when you are sleeping. Once the bug is inside the ear, you may feel its legs wriggling and you instinctively scratch your ear which pushes the roach or the bug deeper inside the canals of your ears. In most cases, they may eventually die inside after a few days but there’s also a possibility that they can thrive and find its way outside of the ear. This sensation is most often irritating and painful.
Damselflies are bugs that have roamed the earth for 300 million years.
These insects are under the family of Zygoptera. They are cousins to dragonflies. Compared to dragonflies, they have slimmer and smaller frames, with their bodies measuring 1 to 2 in.. These species have been roaming the planet longer than most of the species that we still have these days.
Water boatmen are aquatic bugs that breathe through their bums.
It’s also called a great diving beetle. One of the cool bug facts is that just like other insects, they need to breathe on the surface of the water. But they have this ingenious trick which allows them to stay in the water for long. They hang their bodies upside down and collect air through their abdomen which is like a breathing tube. They rise to the surface once their supply runs out.
Titan beetles are the largest bugs of its kind.
Also known as a neotropical longhorn beetle, their species are from the genus Titanus. They are the largest beetles to date. They can grow for up to seven inches in length. Their powerful jaws are strong, too. It’s strong enough to snap wooden pencils into two! Although their size is terrifying and their bites are fearsome, they are completely harmless to humans.
Not all bug species need to feed in their lifetime.
Titan beetles are the biggest of its kind but they are harmless and gentle giants. Titan larvae usually feed on woods in the ground that decay then they have a few weeks to become adults. The male does not feed during its whole adult life but they need some kind of energy to be able to fly.
Beetles have the largest organism population on the planet.
One of the most interesting bug facts that we know is that among all the species and organisms on the planet, beetles are by far the largest species there is. According to research, there are at least 350,000 species of beetles in the world and many are still yet to be discovered. In the US alone, there are 30,000 known kinds of beetles.
Bugs can live anywhere.
Insects and bugs have a unique way of surviving. The fact that they can live anywhere on the planet proves this so. Bugs can be found in the coldest and hottest parts of the world but they rarely find suitable habitat in the ocean.
Bugs need the sun, too.
Dragonflies are magical insects and they live happily among us with the help of the sun. The sun’s warmth gives them enough energy to fly. When the sun can no longer be seen because it goes behind a clump of clouds, dragonflies also land to rest. They also like to eat their fellow insects, like mosquitos!
Pillbugs are harmless.
Pillbugs, or also called Armadillidiidae, are like shrimps. They also have gills that allow them to breathe. You can usually find them in moist areas. They are harmless bugs as they don’t sting, bite, or carry diseases. They may tend to harm plant roots when they are feeding but they do not damage anything apart from that.
Beetles are bugs that you can pet.
There are beetle species that can be a pet like a stag beetle. They are most popular in Japan. They can be bought in many stores there. As a beetle owner, make sure that their enclosure will have the necessary materials for them to live on. Prepare plastic or glass tanks, soil, and wood. Responsible beetle parenting should also be followed.
Bugs stings may benefit you.
Bees are bugs that use their sting when they feel attacked. More often than not, it’s completely harmless. In fact, it’s the bees that suffer the consequence if they sting us – they die. But research shows that bee venom has been used to help treat diseases like arthritis, sclerosis, and tendonitis.
Termites are bugs that like rock music.
One of the cool bug facts that we want to share is that termites use vibrations to know what kind of wood they have around them. These vibrations allow them to find the best source of food. Whenever they hear heavy metal or rock music, they can chew through the wood faster than their regular pace.
Some bugs look alike.
Cockroaches and beetles look alike in many ways. They may be similar in color, sizes, and shapes. When you see bugs inside your house, we tend to panic and bugs get interchanged most of the time. Cockroaches have longer antennae and legs compared to beetles. Also, a roach’s wings are visible at all times even if they are at rest while beetles fold the wings into an exoskeleton which are their wing cases.
Large cockroaches are dangerous bugs.
The Guinness Book of World Records declared the Megaloblatta Longipennis as the largest winged roach in the world. It measures at least 3-4 inches in length and width of over a half an inch. It’s like a big avocado. You can find them Peru, Panama, and Ecuador. They are dangerous as they may carry asthma triggers and allergen sources. They also carry bacteria that could cause diseases if they land on your food.
Flying beetles are known as June bugs.
Commonly called ladybugs or lightning bugs, flying beetles are the largest Coleoptera or beetle species in the world. It’s uncommon for them to bite and if they do, it’s mostly harmless unless the person affected has an allergy to them. One of the most interesting bug facts is that they fly like superheroes. They may look like they are levitating because they soar high with outstretched legs. This posture allows them to maneuver and make twists and turns.
Ground beetles are harmless bugs.
These species do not harm humans. Scientists say that they do not bring any diseases if in case they find their way into your homes. They may bite but it’s almost rare for them to do so. They also prefer living outside your houses as they feed on insects as their primary diet.
Beetle bugs are attracted to many things.
Beetles are in places where moisture is present. But contrary to the common belief that they are only in these places, beetles are attracted to many things. You may invite large numbers of them if you are habitually doing some of the stuff that they like. They are attracted to white bulbs and to lights that are always on, opened trash bins, uncovered food products, and poor choices when it comes to landscaping.
Ladybugs are luck talismans.
Cross-culturally and historically, ladybugs are symbols of luck and positivity. They say that when a ladybug lands anywhere in your body, you should carefully count the black spots in its body to predict years of good luck that you can have. Many also believe that the spots are the number of months that you need to go through before you can get your greatest wish.
Goliath moths are North America's largest insect moth to date.
Goliath Moths or Cecropia Moth is the largest species of moth in North America. It’s a member of giant silk moths with a wingspan of at least 6-7 inches or 160mm. They feed on plants like tomatoes and tobaccos and insects like larvae. These species hold significant positions in the culture of Native America as they symbolize transformation, power, change, rebirth, and regeneration.
Bugs have strong wings.
Insects may be fragile and small creatures but their body parts including their wings are made from tough materials. Their wings are made of cuticles which is the world’s second most common and strongest natural material. Insects may grow feathers when needed but bugs do not have this luxury. When they get broken wings, they have to live with it for the rest of their lifetime and in most cases, these bugs survive and successfully live with it. Definitely, one of the most amazing bug facts.
Child of the earth bugs do not fly.
The Jerusalem Cricket or also known as the child of the earth bugs are from the genus Stenopelmatus. They do not have their own set of wings that’s why they move around their habitats by hopping and do not chirp like field and house crickets. They are called earth bugs because they are rarely seen since they spend their lifetime in burrows and undergrounds. These bugs only come to the surface during the night to help themselves and look for insects and plant matters to eat.
Jerusalem bus are not natives in Jerusalem.
They come in many names but in reality, these flightless insects are not native in Jerusalem. They come from some part in Mexico and the western area of the United States. In Spanish, they are referred to as “El Niño de la Tierra” which means child of the earth because they spend most of their time underground. One of the fun bug facts about this species is that they are not true bugs or crickets, too.
Devil bugs have powerful jaws.
With all the bug species in the world, it’s hard to differentiate one from the other but devil bugs stand out from the rest. Also known as the Devil’s Coach-Horse beetle, this species is from the family of rove beetles. While most bugs are usually harmless, devil bugs can adopt scorpion-like and aggressive positions when they are disturbed or triggered. They open their powerful jaws and their rear ends are raised to release a foul-smelling liquid that comes from their abdomen. They also have painful bites and they can do it repeatedly.
Earth's rarest bugs are land lobsters.
According to the Academy’s Entomology Collection, there are at least 5 specimens left of the world’s most endangered bug and insect which is the “Dryococelus Australis” or the land lobster. These are stick insects and they were believed to be extinct in the 1920s but in the year 2001, it was rediscovered in Lord Howe Island.
Phylliidae bugs are insects that look like leaves.
Also known as leaf bugs, these walking leaves or extant leaf insects are the most remarkable leaf mimics and camouflages in the whole animal kingdom. They camouflage and take a leaf’s appearance so accurately that lurking predators will identify them as real leaves. Some of these leaf bug species also confuse its predators by rocking back and forth to mimic leaves being blown by the whiff of the wind. Truly, this is one of the most remarkable bug facts we have learned today.
Hercules beetles are the largest flying bug insects in the world.
Hercules beetles are native to Central America rainforests. It’s the world’s largest flying insect and is also the world’s longest extant beetle species. They can stretch for up to 7-8 inches long which may include the horns. The transformation of the beetle happens inside a pupal chamber that is made from its feces. They mostly live off from rotting and fresh fruits like oranges, bananas, apples, and cherries.
Hercules beetles are also pet bugs.
In Asia, Hercules beetles are popular pets. It’s a symbol of status when you have these bugs as they are quite expensive to buy. Although their horns may look scary, these are harmless to humans. What’s fascinating about it is that it can also lift 850 times more than its actual body weight. This is why it’s named Hercules after all. Talk about cool bug facts, right?
Stink bugs are stinky.
Although stink bugs do not sting, bite, or cause any structural damage to your house, vacuuming or killing them may release a bad odor. That’s why before they multiply in number, they should be removed right away. Also called the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, these insects are from the family of Pentatomidae which are native to Japan, Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula, and China. They feed on crops and plant species and they are considered pests in the orchards in the Eastern United States.
Stink bugs can go out of control.
Stink bugs are seasonal pests which means that they go looking for places that they can call its winter quarters. The falling temperature and the shorting days make them scuttle for something to have them covered. They often prefer houses in the winter and they pile into crevices and cracks. Although they are harmless, they are nuisance pests just like termites and ants when they are uncontrolled and in large numbers.
Crickets are equivalent to bug weather forecasters.
In many areas of the world, crickets are a symbol of good luck. Not only that, but their chirps are also thought to predict the weather. You can manually get temperature outside by counting the cricket chirps that they do in a minute and then divide it into 4. The number you get should then be added to 40. That should give you an estimated temperature number. Talk about cool bug facts!
NASA bought ladybugs in space.
NASA Columbia brought 4 ladybugs in space in July 1999. The ladybugs were placed in the space shuttle together with aphids which are the bugs’ favorite food. This was done so that scientists can research how aphids can escape their predators without the help of gravity.
Spiders are silk-making insects.
Spiders are known for their webs and in reality, these webs come out as liquid from the spider’s spinneret. As soon as the liquid comes into contact with the air, it hardens and becomes very strong. Scientists say that it’s five times tougher than steel and is the strongest fiber that humans could ever know. Definitely, one of the coolest bug facts to know.
Insects and bugs rarely have ears in their heads.
Unlike humans and other mammals where the ears are found in the upper portion of the head, it’s very seldom to find it in the insects’ and bugs’ heads. Crickets have their sound membranes on the legs while grasshoppers have it in their abdomens. Parasitic flies like the tachinidae have it in their necks. Indeed, insects and bugs are interesting creatures.
Houseflies eat vomit.
We loathe the sight of houseflies and the cousin species of this insect. One thing you should know is that they do not have mouths to chew or bite food. They use their feet to taste absolutely anything. If they find the food yummy, they vomit on it to help them break the food into tiny particles. The vomit then allows the flies to use their tongues to soak the vomit and eventually get the nutrients that the food contains.
Some ants can explode intentionally when they are attacked.
Exploding ants kill themselves when their colonies are attacked. They do it by splitting their skin and exploding open so that the enemies would be covered by yellow goo. This diverts the enemy’s attention which could hinder the attack or kill the colony intruder. These ants are “the expendables”. They are the minor workers of the ant colony which are self-sacrificing. Definitely, one of the most interesting bug facts.
Praying mantises feed on each other when they mate.
The ritual of these insects when it comes to mating is quite violent. Praying mantises eat their mates! One a male praying mantis impregnates the female insect, its head is cut off. The female will wait for a few hours before she devours its lover’s head. Despite the fate of the male mantis, his spasms will cause more sperm in the female’s abdomen. Once she’s finished feasting on the head, the female begins to eat what’s left of the male mantis to help her feed and sustain the 200 eggs she carries.
Queen bees are bugs that quack.
A beehive must only have one queen bee who will rule all bees in the colony. If two queen bees inhabit the hive, piping occurs. Piping is the sound that a virgin queen makes when in a cell or roaming around in the colony. It’s like a tooting or quacking sound. It signals the worker bees to rally the queen bee that they will be supporting. The two queen bees will fight until one queen survives.
Ladybugs squirt stinky liquids.
When they are frightened, ladybugs will emit a smelly and lingering odor that comes from their knees. It’s a way for them to discourage their predators. According to research, the smell is like a mixture of bell peppers, moldy odors, potatoes, and nuts.
The Asian Giant Hornet is no ordinary bug.
You don’t want to mess around the largest species of hornets on the planet. They are about 2.2 inches in length and they can fly for at least 25 mph. When they sting humans, it can produce a hole in the skin as its venom dissolves and attacks the person’s nervous system. Luckily, they are not common in most places as they live in the temperate and tropical regions of East Asia. This tops as one of the scariest bug facts we know.
Aphids are among the rare bugs that do not need males to reproduce.
These soft-bodied and small insects feed on plants. Aphids produce nymphs that come from eggs in their mother’s bodies. Unlike the usual kind of insects, aphids are unique as they reproduce even without their male counterparts. When they’re 10 days old, they automatically give birth and produce little nymphs.
Ladybugs are beneficial to your garden.
One of the least known bug facts is that not all insects are pests. This may be true when they come in an uncontrollable number. But did you know that ladybugs can do wonders for your garden? They feed on other insects so they protect your property from fruit flies, damaging insects, and mites.
Caterpillars outnumber humans when it comes to muscles
Caterpillars are insects that have at least 248 muscles in their head and a total of 4,000 muscles throughout its body. Humans only have 650 skeletal muscles and it could increase up to 840. But humans cannot outnumber the number of muscles that these caterpillars have. This is because they need all of these muscles to push the blood from their rear segments going to the front segments and all them to move.
June bugs are most abundant in June.
June bugs got its name because they usually emerge in great swarm quantities in June. They hide in trees in the daylight and travel in a swarm in the early summer which is usually at night. These beetles are perfect treats for your pet lizards and toads.
Japanese beetle bugs lift their legs to scare intruders.
These beetles are found across Asia, Canada, the United States, and Europe. They live in backyards. crops, and fields. That’s why they tend to be destructive to crops when they are in large numbers. Japanese bugs are poor fliers but when they are not interrupted by anything, they can finish at least 5 miles in one go. When they feel attacked, they lift their hind legs to intimidate the predator.
Arachnids live in the wings of a Harlequin Beetle bug.
It’s known far and wide that insects and animal species survive through the help of other species. The same goes for Harlequin beetles. They are native in South and Central America where they feed on tree saps. Pseudoscorpions or tiny arachnids live under the beetle’s wing covers and they do it to have free transportation. How interesting is this bug fact, right?
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