10 Common Misconceptions About Insects Explained

Insects come in a remarkable variety of forms and can be fascinating pets that provide educational opportunities for people of all ages. Keeping a terrarium or tank of the right insect species can help children learn about nature and animal biology. However, many people have only a basic understanding of insects, leading to widespread misconceptions. Here, we explore and correct ten of the most common myths about insects to deepen your knowledge and help you answer questions accurately.

1. All insects only live on land

Although many insects are terrestrial, it is a misconception that they only live on land. Various insect species have life stages or adults that live in water or near aquatic environments. For example, the rove beetle lives on seashores, and sea skaters are found on the surface of the sea. Other insects like midges, damselflies, dragonflies, and mayflies breed near water, laying larvae on or near water bodies before they mature into adults.

2. Insects are not animals

Some people mistakenly believe insects are something other than animals. In reality, insects belong to the animal kingdom as members of the class Insecta. The confusion may arise because insects are not mammals or vertebrates, but they are indeed animals just like dogs, cats, birds, and fish.

3. The daddy longlegs is a type of flying spider

Despite their spider-like appearance and long legs, daddy longlegs are neither spiders nor giant mosquitoes. They are crane flies, a different group of insects entirely. This distinction is important as spiders are arachnids with different biology and behaviour.

4. You can tell the age of a ladybird by counting its spots

A popular myth is that a ladybird’s age can be determined by the number of spots on its body. This is not true; ladybirds have their spots from adulthood onwards and live for about one year at most. The number of spots is a characteristic of the species, not an indicator of age.

5. Spiders are insects

Many people include spiders among insects because they are small and have multiple legs. However, spiders are classified as arachnids, distinct from insects. Spiders have eight legs and two body segments, whereas insects have six legs and three body segments.

6. Everything with eight legs is a spider

Not all eight-legged creatures are spiders. While all spiders have eight legs, other arachnids like crabs, scorpions, ticks, and harvestmen also have eight legs but differ from spiders in many biological aspects. The arachnid family is diverse and includes many species beyond spiders.

7. Insects have six legs attached at the stomach

It is true that adult insects have six legs, but these legs are attached to the thorax, which is the middle section of their three-part bodies, not the abdomen (often called the stomach). This is a key feature distinguishing insects from other multi-legged animals like centipedes or millipedes, which are not insects.

8. All insects are bugs

The terms "bug" and "insect" are often confused. In entomology, "bug" refers specifically to insects of the Hemiptera order, such as cicadas and aphids, which have a particular mouthpart structure. Other insects like beetles are not true bugs, even if casually called so.

9. Spiders and bugs crawl out of plugholes in baths and sinks

People often believe that spiders or insects found in sinks originate from the drainage system. However, this is very unlikely. Most often, spiders and insects enter the plughole by crawling or dropping in from walls or ceilings. Bathrooms provide the humidity these creatures prefer, so they may be found near water but do not typically come up through drains.

10. Small winged insects are the babies of the species

Another misconception is that small flying insects with wings are juvenile forms that will grow larger. In fact, once an insect has wings, it is usually fully adult and has completed its metamorphosis. For many species, wings develop during the final moulting stage from larva or nymph to adult.

Understanding the biology and behaviour of insects helps to clear up these common myths. Having accurate knowledge not only enriches our appreciation for these creatures but also aids in responsible pet ownership and fostering respect for nature.