32 Crazy Bug Facts

While we at Spidexx Pest Control understand the frustration that comes with having insects and bugs in your home, there are some crazy and fascinating bugs out there in the world.

We treat your home or business for your typical insects like spiders, ants, wasps, etc., but there are insects that we don’t handle that are either protected, outside of our location, or very rare.

So, if you're looking for some fun facts about bugs, here are some cool bug facts that you might find interesting.

Here are 32 crazy bug facts that you might not have already known:

Julia butterflies, from the western Amazon, drink turtle tears.

These butterflies feed on flower nectar, and more interestingly turtle tears. Yes, you read that right…turtle tears. They ride on the backs of turtles and irritate their eyes which produce the tears. This act is called lachryphagy.

Ants down under are not to be messed with!

The bulldog ant is the most dangerous ant on the planet and there have been multiple fatalities associated with this species. They are also called Jumper Ants, due to being known to jump towards intruders on their colony – up to seven times the length of their body. They are very aggressive and territorial.

House flies regurgitate their food and then eat it again.

They do this because they don’t have teeth, so when they throw up they're mixing the food with enzymes, helping break down the food for digestion the second time around.

Bugs make up 90% of life on Earth.

There are around 9 million species of insects that exist. That’s a lot of bugs!

Beetles are the most common species of insects.

There are around 380,000 species of beetles and they make up around 40% of all insect life on Earth.

There is only one species of insect living in Antarctica.

The Antarctic Midge is the only known insect species living in Antarctica. Its life span is only about a week.

Termites eat more when listening to rock music.

Okay, we weren’t able to confirm 100% on this one. But it appears that vibrational frequencies affect termites eating habits, and that frequencies similar to rock music (just under 3000 kHz) increase those habits. This was made popular by Snapple, and found under one of their caps around 2002.

Heads aren’t that important…if you’re a cockroach.

Cockroaches can live up to 9 days without a head!

What’s in your bed?

A single used mattress can contain up to 10 million dust mites, which feed off dead skin cells. It’s important to change those mattresses at least every 10 years.

Mites are also the oldest insects believed to still be alive.

While technically classified as arthropods, which are slightly different than insects, mites' beginnings can be traced back to 500+ million years ago.

What do ants, humans, and crows have in common?

They are the only 3 species that fight battle in formations.

Sadly, there’s another common similarity between ants and humans – slavery.

Certain species, called Slave Ants, capture ants from other colonies to increase their worker force.

Fruit flies are out of this world!

Fruit flies were the first species of insects to be sent into outer space.

The largest species of insects existed 290 to 250 million years ago.

The ancient dragonfly, called the Griffinfly, had a wingspan up to 2 ½ feet.

Male horseflies can fly up to 90 mph.

A professor at the University of Florida shot a pellet out of an air gun and the horse fly was able to catch it around 90 mph.

The Art of Camouflage

Stick insects, often called walking sticks or phasmids, are masters of camouflage. They mimic twigs or branches so convincingly that they can easily blend into their surroundings, making them virtually invisible to predators.

Bioluminescent Fireflies

Fireflies are known for their mesmerizing bioluminescent displays. They produce light through a chemical reaction to attract mates, and different species have distinct flashing patterns unique to their kind.

Insect Migration

The monarch butterfly is renowned for its remarkable long-distance migration. These butterflies can travel thousands of miles from North America to Mexico to escape winter's harsh conditions.

Silent Buzzing of Hoverflies

Hoverflies, also known as flower flies, are excellent mimics of bees and wasps. While they look like stinging insects, they are harmless and do not possess stingers. They often hover in mid-air, which gives them their name.

A Cricket's Thermometer

Crickets are known for their chirping sounds, which are created by rubbing their wings together. Interestingly, the rate at which crickets chirp can be used as a rough temperature gauge, as it increases with rising temperatures.

Praying Mantises' Deadly Precision

Praying mantises are voracious predators that can turn their heads 180 degrees. Their unique ability to rotate their heads helps them spot prey with incredible precision.

Silken Tripwires of Bolas Spiders

Bolas spiders, found in the Americas, use a fascinating hunting technique. They spin a single silk thread with a sticky "bolas" at the end, which they swing to capture flying insects like moths. It's a remarkable example of nature's ingenuity.

Nature's Decomposers: Dung Beetles

Dung beetles play a vital role in ecosystems by recycling animal waste. They roll dung into balls, which they use for food or as breeding chambers. Some species navigate by the Milky Way, making them one of the few animals known to use the night sky for orientation.

The Marvel of Antlions

Antlions are insects that dig funnel-shaped pits in loose sand to trap ants and other small prey. They wait at the bottom of the pit, ready to seize any unsuspecting victims that tumble in.

Fleas: Super Jumpers

Fleas are tiny insects with incredible jumping abilities. They can leap up to 350 times their body length, thanks to a special structure in their hind legs that acts like a spring.

Dragonflies: Aerial Acrobats

Dragonflies are agile and swift fliers, capable of flying in all directions, including hovering and even flying backward. Their aerial acrobatics make them formidable predators of other flying insects.

Termite Eusociality

Termites are eusocial insects, much like ants and bees, with a highly organized social structure. Within termite colonies, there are distinct roles, including workers, soldiers, and the king and queen, all working together to maintain the colony.

Goliath Beetles: Giant Insects

Goliath beetles are among the largest insects on Earth, with some species reaching lengths of up to 4.5 inches. Their immense size and striking appearance have made them popular among insect enthusiasts.

Velvet Worms: Ancient Creatures

Velvet worms are ancient arthropods that have changed little over hundreds of millions of years. They use a sticky, web-like secretion to capture prey, injecting digestive enzymes to liquefy their victims from the inside.

Mantis Shrimp: Color Vision Wonders

Mantis shrimp have some of the most complex color vision systems in the animal kingdom, with up to 16 types of photoreceptor cells. They can perceive a wide range of colors, including ultraviolet and polarized light.

Water Striders: Walking on Water

Water striders, also known as pond skaters, have specialized legs that allow them to walk on the surface of water without sinking. They use the surface tension of the water to stay afloat while hunting for prey.

Assassin Bugs: Stealthy Predators

Assassin bugs are expert predators known for their stealthy hunting techniques. They use their long, slender proboscis to inject enzymes into their prey, liquefying their insides for easy consumption.

These facts highlight the remarkable diversity and adaptability of bugs in the natural world. From bioluminescence to precision hunting tactics, bugs continue to amaze and intrigue scientists and nature enthusiasts alike.

Share Your Bug Facts With Us

We hope you learned something new about the crazy world of insects. Please share any unique bug facts you might know with us in the comments below, and look out for part 2 coming next month [Edit: Part 2 of the Crazy Bug Facts series is out].