7 Fast Facts About Bugs: surprising insights into the insect world

7 Fast Facts About Bugs: surprising insights into the insect world

Bugs are everywhere! They zip through gardens, waddle across forest floors and, yes, even reside in our homes. Some consider them creepy, but others note their important environmental function. But did you know that bugs represent around 80% of all known animal species on Earth?
In this article, we’ve uncovered seven fast, fascinating facts about bugs or insects that may surprise you!

Bugs Have Existed for More Than 400 Million Years
These bugs are some of the oldest living creatures on earth. Scientists say insects developed long before dinosaurs, some 400 million years ago, during the Devonian period.
Fossil evidence suggests early bugs were bigger than they are today. The prehistoric dragonfly known as the Meganeura, for example, boasted a wingspan of more than two feet! Picture a raven-sized dragonfly buzzing around today.
Bugs have a long and storied history of survival — far outliving many other species, including the dinosaurs.

More Than 10 Quintillion Bugs Roam the Earth
If you’ve ever wondered how many bugs there are, it’s mind-blowing. At any given moment, science estimates that there are 10 quintillion insects on Earth. That’s a 10 with 18 zeros after it!
To put it into perspective:

There are roughly 1.4 billion bugs for each human.
Insects represent over half of all living beings on the planet.

With such enormous numbers, it’s no wonder that bugs are important for ecosystems around the world.
Some Bugs Can Endure Harsh Conditions

Insects are some of the hardiest species on the planet. Some can freeze solid in the winter and revive when thawed, others survive hellish heat.

Tardigrades, or water bears, are known to withstand the vacuum of space and extreme levels of radiation and boiling temperatures.

Cockroaches can live for a week without their heads!
Saharan silver ant, and many desert insects, can withstand extremely high temperatures up to 158°F (70°C).

These adaptations are awe-inspiring and make bugs among the most resilient creatures on Earth.
Fireflies Create Light With No Heat

Fireflies — sometimes called lightning bugs, especially in the south — are one of the coolest insects. They make light through a phenomenon known as bioluminescence, a chemical reaction within their bodies that generates a soft glow.
The most amazing part? Fireflies are almost 100% efficient, so their light generates no heat. In comparison, up to 90% of the energy used by traditional light bulbs is wasted as heat.
Fireflies help scientists design energy-efficient lights and medical imaging tech

Honey Bees Can Recognize Human Faces
We often consider insects to be rather simple animals, but some bugs, such as honeybees, can show remarkable intelligence. What researchers have discovered is that honeybees can recognize human faces.
Using a process known as configural processing bees can learn to recognize individual faces as we do. They use this ability to navigate and recognize patterns in their environment.
Bees have their own language, too, only it’s in the form of a dance — the waggle dance. This communication is in the form of the “waggle dance,” which tells other bees where to find food sources, demonstrating their complex social intelligence.
Dragonflies Are the Best Predators in the Animal Kingdom

The animals that come to mind when we think of skilled hunters are lions or eagles. But dragonflies win the record for being the most successful predator, with a success (hunting) rate up to 95%.
Their secret?

Phenomenal sight – Dragonflies have almost 360-degree vision, catching even the smallest wiggles.

Lightning speed reflexes – they can re-point their flight mid-flight so can be brilliantly agile.

Precise hunting technique – Other predatory creatures may chase their predatory prey, but dragonflies evaluate where their target is likely to be at any given time and can capture it mid-flight.
These advantages mean that dragonflies almost never miss their prey, making them nature’s most efficient hunters.

We Need Bugs To Survive Bugged Out
Though a bug is small, they do a ton to keep ecosystems balanced. Without them, life as we know it would fall apart.
Here’s what makes bugs so important:

✔️ Pollination: Crops are pollinated by bees, butterflies and other insect powerhouses, which are instrumental in making sure food is produced. Insects are responsible for the pollination of over 75% of flowering plants.
✔️ Decomposition: Ants, beetles, and others break down the dead plants and animals, returning nutrients to the soil.
✔️ Natural Pest Control: Many insects, including ladybugs and praying mantises, are predators that consume harmful pests, and help to reduce the need for chemical pesticides.
✔️ Food Source: Bugs are a key food source for numerous creatures like birds, reptiles, and mammals. You can even find them as an important protein-rich food for some cultures like humans!
Final Thoughts

Bugs can be small and annoying bugs — but they're an essential part of our planet. Be able to endure even the most extreme conditions, insects are among the earliest lifeforms on planet and also juggle between them at times.
Smile next time you see a bug and acknowledge its importance in the ecosystem. From a tireless bee pollinating a flower, to a slick dragonfly hunting its prey, each one has its own story to tell.
Do you want to know more about a certain type of bug? Let us know in the comments!