Bugs may be annoying to some, but to others they’re truly fascinating creatures. From Madagascar hissing cockroaches to ladybugs that paint spots – here are some little-known insect facts you might not know before!
A praying mantis’ remarkable ability to turn its head 180 degrees allows it to see all around. That makes it an impressively capable creature for such a tiny organism.
Grasshoppers Have Ears on Their Bellies
Although many people assume insects to have limited hearing capabilities, insects actually have some of the best hearing in animal kingdom. They use sound as a navigation aid when traversing jungle or urban environments, and some species even use hearing to locate fellow bugs from miles away!
One of the more interesting bug facts is that grasshoppers possess ears on their bellies. Their “ears,” made up of membranes which vibrate in response to soundwaves, are situated either side of their first abdominal segment and tucked under their wings – this simple ear drum allows grasshoppers to hear both their own songs as well as those belonging to other members of their species.
Grasshoppers are Orthopterans insects belonging to the order Caelifera, alongside locusts. These strikingly beautiful insects feature short-horned bodies with more narrow antennae than crickets or katydids; and can leap 20 times their body length! In just one leap! Grasshoppers can cover an entire basketball court distance!
Some people mistakenly think grasshoppers and locusts share similar features, but these two insects actually differ significantly. Both belong to the order Orthoptera but locusts tend to have longer antennae than grasshoppers and can often be found in desert environments.
One fascinating insect fact is that some types of bugs produce gas that resembles farts, used both to attract mates and warn off potential predators. Stoneflies in particular use this ability to attract mates by beating their bodies against vegetation or the ground to release small volumes of methane and hydrogen gas that smell just like farts!
Other fascinating bug facts you might not be aware of include how some insects can gain entry to your ears. Although rare, this can happen if a bug becomes trapped between your eardrum and outer part of the canal – however this usually poses no harm since the bug will eventually die from within its confines.
Though uncommon, some insects can sometimes enter and remain inside your head for several days. Cockroaches and spiders tend to do this most commonly; grasshoppers and other flies have also been known to do this. Although not dangerous or painful, it can still be extremely uncomfortable.
Mosquitoes Have Been Around for 100 Million Years
Bugs are incredible creatures to consider – these fascinating organisms bring so many qualities that make them both fascinating and integral parts of our daily lives.
Cricket chirps can actually help forecast the weather; by counting and dividing by 40, one can estimate an approximate outdoor temperature estimate.
Insects are highly resilient creatures; for example, it takes much to kill a mosquito; these pests have survived freezing temperatures, extreme heat waves, drought and other environmental challenges to survive and transmit dangerous diseases like malaria, dengue fever and West Nile virus which cause serious illness if left unchecked.
Mosquitoes are among the oldest insects known to humans. Fossil records reveal that these pesky flies have plagued us for over 100 million years – infuriatingly long enough to adapt and survive on an Earth ruled by dinosaurs and intense heat! Indeed, their resilience stands as proof.
Parasitic fleas have evolved to feed on people, animals, and plants alike. Their specialized mouthparts can pierce skin to drink blood and take in nutrients; in doing so they also transmit serious diseases like malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever and encephalitis.
Another fascinating insect fact is that mosquitoes produce and release a special pheromone to attract potential mates. This pheromone is produced in their salivary glands and released when male mosquitoes bite female mosquitoes; its release mimics testosterone’s signal and attracts potential partners by mimicking it.
One of the more fascinating insect facts is the discovery of a new species of mosquito. According to scientists who made this discovery, fossil evidence shows a male mosquito with long sucking and piercing mouthparts has been identified in South American fossil beds dating back 130 million years. They claim this subfamily belongs to Culicidae family which dates back over 130 million years ago.
Although mosquitoes may seem annoying, it’s important to remember their essential role in our ecosystem. So the next time you see one, remember it as part of the world’s most diverse and complex organism. Furthermore, its species has survived millions of years and remains one of the most adaptive organisms ever.
Flying Beetles Fly Like Superheroes
Fans of Marvel movies might know Jaime Reyes (aka Blue Beetle) has incredible powers. But did you know real bugs possess incredible survival capabilities that rival even those of superheroes? For example, Iron Clad Beetles have exoskeletons designed to protect them against being run over by cars while Red Flour Beetles thrive even under extreme drought conditions by “drinking” water vapor from their environment via butts on their body.
And when it comes to flying, beetle wings beat at an astonishing rate: 11,400 times per minute or 190 times every second – faster than any helicopter blades! Also notable is Queen Alexandra’s birdwing, an incredible butterfly with wingspan exceeding one whole foot that reigns supreme as one of nature’s royalty and can outfly even hawks!
Be wary if you come across an Asian Giant Hornet; these monsters have the fastest flying insect speed and can bite at speeds of 25 miles per hour! Also be wary if encountering dragonflies as their six legs are best used for flying through the air rather than walking on solid surfaces.
If dragonflies could drive, they’d speed straight to the race track and leave even the fastest bees behind them! In fact, their speeds have been measured up to 30mph!
Honeybees use their waggles and wiggles to communicate between colonies about where to find the best nectar sources; don’t even dare mess with an Asian Giant Hornet; its sting is five times stronger than that of even deadly scorpions!
Harlequin Beetles Have Pseudoscorpions Under Their Wings
Harlequin beetles (Acrocinus longimanus) are tropical longhorn beetles distinguished by intricate swirls of black, red and greenish yellow on their wings. Although dainty in size, these striking insects make an impactful statement in any insect garden. In addition to their striking wings covers, however, harlequin beetles also carry passengers in the form of pseudoscorpions or “false scorpions.”
Pseudoscorpions, native to Central and South America, are small hairless arachnids genetically more closely related to spiders than true scorpions. Though lacking tails, pseudoscorpions do possess stinging pincers capable of discharging venom that can stun predators; similar to true scorpions they make their living preying upon other insects – and aren’t afraid of larger beetles like Acrocinus beetles!
These beetles enjoy a mutualistic relationship with small arachnids that reside under their wings and provide free transportation. Pseudoscorpions climb aboard by pinching them on their backsides until their wings flex open sufficiently to allow entry; once on board they use silk safety harnesses attached to their mouthparts to wrap around its neck and abdomen for safe landings.
Once at its destination, female pseudoscorpions will disembark to locate new fig trees to colonize, while the male pseudoscorpions stay behind to fight off any other males that might wish to mate with them. Like something out of The Real Housewives, this fierce rivalry among macho males will see each one fighting off any rivals for dominance of alpha male status, ultimately with one winning an entire harem of female pseudoscorpions to himself!
Experience what life of a Harlequin Beetle passenger must be like without movies and an overcrowded cargo hold full of attractive strangers!