A roundup of insect trivia: fun facts you'll want to share
Insects are a group of arthropods characterized by having six legs, bodies divided into head, thorax, and abdomen, and features such as wings and antennae.
Some insects, like rhinoceros beetles and stag beetles, are popular with children, while others are considered pests.
In this article, we’ll introduce a collection of fun facts about insects all at once!
We’ve gathered many tidbits that most people probably don’t know, so please enjoy reading along.
You’re sure to find some fun facts you’ll want to share with someone once you know them!
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Insect trivia roundup: fun facts you’ll want to share (11–20)
Flies have sensory neurons in their legs that can taste.
Humans put food in their mouths to taste it.
The tongue has organs called taste buds that detect flavors.
Flies, however, have gustatory nerve cells in their feet.
By landing on objects with their feet, they can determine whether something is food.
It’s said that the frequent foot-rubbing motion flies make is to keep these organs clean.
They may be keeping them clean to be ready for finding food.
Incidentally, it seems their feet can also secrete liquid, which helps them land on all kinds of surfaces.
“Ladybug,” the English word for tentōmushi, means “Mary’s bug” (i.e., the Virgin Mary’s bug).
Ladybugs are insects that are popular with children, and you often see them flying around in spring.
Because they eat aphids, they’re also known as beneficial insects.
In English, ladybug is written “ladybug,” which carries the meaning “Our Lady’s bug.” It’s said to come from the fact that the Virgin Mary is often depicted wearing a red cloak.
Ladybugs are popular insects in Japan, and they’re also cherished in Western countries as symbols of good luck.
Male mantises can sometimes be eaten by the female during mating.
Female mantises are known for eating their male partners during mating.
To humans, this may seem like a terrifying habit, but in fact, eating the male plays an important role in reproduction.
Research has shown that females who consume the male after mating lay more eggs than those who do not.
In other words, cannibalism is necessary to leave more offspring.
Incidentally, when the female eats the male, she is said to start with the head.
Neutral detergent is effective for removing the smell of stink bugs.
When it comes to stink bugs, many people probably shy away because of their smell.
Even kids say, “I don’t like stink bugs because they stink.” When stink bugs feel threatened, they release a pungent odor to drive away predators.
They also have a habit of being attracted to white, so they land on laundry.
That can make your clothes smell, which is a real hassle.
To remove the stink bug odor, it’s said that using a neutral detergent works well.
Since the smell is similar to oily grime, a neutral detergent is effective.
Long ago in China, there was a form of gambling called cricket fighting.
‘Fighting crickets’ is a uniquely Chinese pastime said to have a tradition spanning over a thousand years.
It’s also known as cricket sumo or douxi.
It seems to have begun as a form of gambling among the nobility, but later spread to commoners, and even today national tournaments are reportedly held in China.
The game involves pitting two crickets against each other.
The crickets are provoked into fighting, and the one that flees from or falls out of the arena loses.
There’s even a game themed around cricket fighting called ‘The Silent Cricket’ (Chenmo de Xishuai).