“Don’t sit so close to the TV! You’ll ruin your eyes!”…”Don’t crack your knuckles! You’ll get arthritis.” Chances are we’ve heard these old wives’ tales at least once from our mothers. We grow up hearing these phrases and take them as facts, but in reality, neither will cause much harm (shhh! Don’t tell mom we said this)…
So what do knuckle-cracking and having your eyes glued to the TV has to do with bugs? Just as these old wives’ tales can be misconstrued, there are just as many misconceptions about bugs! Is there any truth to these tales?
At Clark Exterminating, we are a trusted source when it comes to bug knowledge. We not only know how to get rid of them from your Bryant, Hot Springs, or Jacksonville home, but we can also help educate you between myth and fact. So here are ten of the most common misconceptions about bugs and insects:
1. Small winged insects are the babies of the species.
We often see small insects and assume they’re still growing or they are just baby insects. However, believe it or not, a distinguishing feature of many adult insects is the presence of wings. Wings develop during the last molt in insects that show gradual metamorphosis. In those insects, wing pads develop outside the body. Only when the insect becomes an adult do the wing pads become truly functional wings. Just because an insect is small doesn’t mean it’s not full-grown.
We often see small insects and assume they’re still growing or they are just baby insects. However, believe it or not, a distinguishing feature of many adult insects is the presence of wings. Wings develop during the last molt in insects that show gradual metamorphosis. In those insects, wing pads develop outside the body. Only when the insect becomes an adult do the wing pads become truly functional wings. Just because an insect is small doesn’t mean it’s not full-grown.
2. Praying mantises are endangered and cannot be killed.
There is no legal protection for the praying mantis. They are not listed as threatened or endangered in the U.S. These insects are actually good for the ecosystem and eat other bugs that are considered pests. While there’s no truth to the idea that praying mantis is endangered, that’s no reason to kill this bug if you see it outside or around your house.
There is no legal protection for the praying mantis. They are not listed as threatened or endangered in the U.S. These insects are actually good for the ecosystem and eat other bugs that are considered pests. While there’s no truth to the idea that praying mantis is endangered, that’s no reason to kill this bug if you see it outside or around your house.
3. Cockroaches can live a long life without their heads.
Cockroaches can survive a remarkably long time without food and, yes, even without their heads. They have open circulatory systems, so they are not prone to bleeding out. They breathe through spiracles along their sides. However, eventually, the cockroach will dehydrate and die. So technically this myth is partially factual.
Cockroaches can survive a remarkably long time without food and, yes, even without their heads. They have open circulatory systems, so they are not prone to bleeding out. They breathe through spiracles along their sides. However, eventually, the cockroach will dehydrate and die. So technically this myth is partially factual.
4. Daddy longlegs are spiders.
Daddy longlegs is arachnids, but they are not spiders. In fact, they are more closely related to scorpions than spiders. They don’t produce silk, they have just one pair of eyes, and they have a fused body.
Daddy longlegs is arachnids, but they are not spiders. In fact, they are more closely related to scorpions than spiders. They don’t produce silk, they have just one pair of eyes, and they have a fused body.
5. You can tell how old a ladybug is by the number of spots on its wings.
These bugs can have up to 13 spots on their wings, but don’t think that the bug is 13 years old. Once a lady beetle reaches adulthood and has wings, it is no longer growing and molting; therefore, the number of spots stays the same. In fact, it’s rare to encounter a ladybug that is older than a few years.
These bugs can have up to 13 spots on their wings, but don’t think that the bug is 13 years old. Once a lady beetle reaches adulthood and has wings, it is no longer growing and molting; therefore, the number of spots stays the same. In fact, it’s rare to encounter a ladybug that is older than a few years.
6. Insects produce sound by singing with their voices.
The sounds you hear coming from insects don’t come from their voices. The male cricket rubs its wings together as part of a mating ritual and to defend his territory. The wings have special structures known as a file and scraper so that when they rub together, they’ll make a chirping sound. In the summertime, cicadas make loud buzz noises via vibrating membranes, or tymbal, organs.
The sounds you hear coming from insects don’t come from their voices. The male cricket rubs its wings together as part of a mating ritual and to defend his territory. The wings have special structures known as a file and scraper so that when they rub together, they’ll make a chirping sound. In the summertime, cicadas make loud buzz noises via vibrating membranes, or tymbal, organs.
7. People swallow spiders in their sleep.
The average person does not swallow eight spiders a year while they sleep or really any. First, most people don’t sleep with their mouth open. Second, the spiders have to be in your bed in order to get to your mouth. Lastly, the spider would have to crawl on your body to get where to your mouth.
The next time you see a spider, blow on it. What happens? How does the spider react? It doesn’t charge toward you, does it? The odds are stacked against you swallowing even one spider in your lifetime.
The average person does not swallow eight spiders a year while they sleep or really any. First, most people don’t sleep with their mouth open. Second, the spiders have to be in your bed in order to get to your mouth. Lastly, the spider would have to crawl on your body to get where to your mouth.
The next time you see a spider, blow on it. What happens? How does the spider react? It doesn’t charge toward you, does it? The odds are stacked against you swallowing even one spider in your lifetime.
8. All spiders make webs.
Of course, many spiders do make webs, but it’s not true of all the species. All spiders do produce silk, but they might not use it to build webs. The hunting spiders, which include wolf spiders, jumping spiders and trapdoor spiders pursue their prey rather than entrap them in a web.
Of course, many spiders do make webs, but it’s not true of all the species. All spiders do produce silk, but they might not use it to build webs. The hunting spiders, which include wolf spiders, jumping spiders and trapdoor spiders pursue their prey rather than entrap them in a web.
9. Spiders and bugs crawl out of plugholes in baths and sinks.
The truth is most bugs aren’t coming up through your bathtub or sink. Most likely, the spider or insect dropped down there from the celling or wall. Bugs and spiders require some degree of humidity to thrive, which they can often find in a bathroom or near water. The sinks and tubs can cause them to fall and not be able to get back out.
The truth is most bugs aren’t coming up through your bathtub or sink. Most likely, the spider or insect dropped down there from the celling or wall. Bugs and spiders require some degree of humidity to thrive, which they can often find in a bathroom or near water. The sinks and tubs can cause them to fall and not be able to get back out.
10. Insects see thousands of identical images through their compound eyes.
Only mother insects can see multiple images…just kidding! That’s another myth for another day… Insects can’t see thousands of images with their compound eyes. Instead, they see a facet (hexagonal in shape) of an image. Therefore, they see a mosaic of the object at which they are looking. Some insects have as many as 30,000 lenses per eyeball.Our team at Clark Exterminating can help you separate fact from fiction when it comes to bugs, pests and rodents in central Arkansas. Our number one goal is to make sure whatever type of pest you have leaves your home – for good! We will be happy to come look at your house to solve your bug problem. Call us today at 501-758-0322 if you’re in the Greater Little Rock area or 501-776-1388 in the Benton area.
Only mother insects can see multiple images…just kidding! That’s another myth for another day… Insects can’t see thousands of images with their compound eyes. Instead, they see a facet (hexagonal in shape) of an image. Therefore, they see a mosaic of the object at which they are looking. Some insects have as many as 30,000 lenses per eyeball.Our team at Clark Exterminating can help you separate fact from fiction when it comes to bugs, pests and rodents in central Arkansas. Our number one goal is to make sure whatever type of pest you have leaves your home – for good! We will be happy to come look at your house to solve your bug problem. Call us today at 501-758-0322 if you’re in the Greater Little Rock area or 501-776-1388 in the Benton area.
