10 Surprising Insect Facts from Exterminators

In this article, IPM Pest & Termite – conveniently located in Lexington, Kentucky (KY) – is here to tell you about some surprising insect facts. Contact us today for all of your exterminator needs.

Insects can be found all around us, but each variety is unique in their own way. Here are some surprising insect facts that you may not know about.

Honey bees have incredible eyesight, as they are able to rely on five eyes to see. The eyes of these bees are truly special, but weirdly enough they also have hair. Fine hairs on the surface of their eyes allow them to pick up additional pollen and transfer it where they want. The hairs also allow them to tell which direction the wind is blowing and to detect the amount of humidity in the air.

There is only one type of insect on the entire continent of Antarctica, the wingless midge named Belgica Antarctica. The fly only grows to be 0.08 to 0.23 inches long. The insect is able to withstand the harsh conditions due to their dark, purple-black complexion which absorbs as much visible sunlight as it can to keep their body worm.

Assassin bugs earned their name by sneaking up on other insects and stabbing them using their straw-like mouth. They inject their toxic saliva into their prey, which liquefies the insides of the insect. The assassin bug then sucks out the liquid.

Some army ants possess strong mandibles that can cause bad puncture wounds. However, in East Africa and regions of the Amazon, they use the powerful jaws of army ants to close wounds. This method is used as an alternative to stitches.

Female praying mantises on occasion eat their mates. This can occur if the female is stronger and bigger than the male. Sometimes, they even eat the heads of the mates before the mating has begun. The reason this happens is simply due to hunger.

Female twisted-wing parasites find a host and stay inside of it forever. However, they are still able to mate. When the larvae are ready to come out, they eat their mother from the inside out and erupt out of her.

Caterpillars are a popular snack for birds. To survive, they have adapted by changing their appearance. Some cloak themselves by looking like bird poop. This is an effective approach, as they are three times less likely to be eaten than regular caterpillars.

Voodoo wasps lay their eggs inside the body of a caterpillar. When the pupae hatch, they merely crawl out of the caterpillar.

Insects do not use their mouth to breath; they instead do so via holes on their exoskeleton called spiracles. They are able to inhale and exhale through the sides of their bodies.

Insects can have ears anywhere on their body, but rarely are they located on their head. Crickets have ears on their legs. The ears of grasshoppers are found on the abdomen.

IPM Pest & Termite provides effective pest control solutions that are completely harmless for your family, pets, and the environment. Our approach to each situation is unique, as we tailor our treatment plans to solve your pest issues. Not only do we offer treatments to remove pests, but we can also prevent them as well. We are a certified pest control company dedicated to meeting your pest management needs. We are located in Lexington, KY to provide our pest control solutions to the surrounding area including Richmond, Nicholasville, Georgetown, Winchester, and Versailles, as well as these neighborhoods: Equestrian Woods, Pinnacle, Cumberland Hills, Masterson Station, Copperfield, Waterford, Palomar, and Firebrook.