Bug World: 25 Interesting Facts About Bugs That Will Amaze the Whole Family

Have you ever stopped to watch a bee disappear into a flower? Or wondered what might be living underneath an old log? Perhaps you have spotted a ladybird climbing a stem, an ant carrying something enormous or a butterfly resting its wings in the sunshine.

It is easy to hurry past these tiny creatures without giving them much thought. But look a little closer and you will discover an extraordinary miniature world filled with builders, farmers, hunters, travellers and expert recyclers.

Insects may be small, but they are responsible for some very big jobs. They pollinate plants, provide food for other animals, recycle natural waste and help to keep our gardens healthy. There are also more insect species than any other type of animal on Earth.

So, collect your imaginary magnifying glass and join us as we explore 25 interesting facts about bugs. Some are clever, some are curious and a few might completely change the way you see the insect world outside your window.

What is the difference between a bug and an insect?

We often use the word “bug” to describe almost any tiny creature that crawls, wriggles or flies. In everyday conversation, that is perfectly understandable. Scientifically, however, not every little garden creature is an insect.

All adult insects have three main body sections: a head, a thorax and an abdomen. They also have six legs and a pair of antennae. Many insects have wings, although not all of them do.

Spiders are arachnids rather than insects, which is why they have eight legs. Woodlice are crustaceans and are more closely related to crabs and lobsters. Earthworms belong to another group altogether.

They may not all be insects, but together these fascinating minibeasts help to create the busy bug world found in our gardens, parks and woodlands.

25 interesting facts about bugs and insects

1. There are more than one million known insect species

Scientists have already described well over one million different insect species, and many more are thought to be waiting for discovery. Insects are the most varied group of animals on the planet, appearing in an astonishing collection of shapes, colours and sizes.

2. Every adult insect has six legs

Bees, butterflies, beetles, ants and grasshoppers may look very different, but they all share one important feature: six legs. An insect’s legs are attached to the middle section of its body, called the thorax.

3. Butterflies taste with their feet

Butterflies have taste sensors on their feet. When a female butterfly lands on a leaf, she can “taste” the plant to help decide whether it will provide suitable food for her caterpillars after they hatch.

4. Honeybees have five eyes

A honeybee has two large compound eyes and three much smaller eyes on top of its head. The larger eyes help it to see shapes, colours and movement, while the smaller eyes detect changes in light.

5. Honeybees give one another directions by dancing

When a worker honeybee finds a good source of nectar, she can perform a special movement known as the waggle dance. The direction and length of her dance help other bees work out where the flowers are located.

6. Bees can see colours that humans cannot

Bees can see ultraviolet light, which is invisible to us. Many flowers have ultraviolet markings that act rather like landing lights, guiding visiting bees towards the nectar and pollen hidden inside.

7. Most bee species do not live in hives

Honeybees are famous for living in large colonies, but many other bees lead much more independent lives. Solitary bees usually build individual nests in places such as hollow stems, holes in wood or tunnels in the ground.

8. Some bumblebees sleep inside flowers

Bumblebees occasionally rest inside flowers, especially when the evening becomes cool or wet. A bee tucked into a blossom may simply be sheltering until the temperature rises and it is ready to fly again.

9. Ants can carry objects many times their own weight

An ant’s small body is remarkably strong for its size. Depending on the species, an ant may be able to lift or carry many times its own body weight—rather like a person walking home with a car balanced above their head.

10. Some ants behave like farmers

Certain ant species look after groups of aphids. The ants protect them from predators and, in return, collect the sweet honeydew produced by the aphids. It is a miniature farming partnership taking place right beneath our noses.

11. Ants communicate through scent

Ants release chemical signals called pheromones. These can leave trails leading to food, warn the colony of danger or help ants recognise members of their own nest. Their world is filled with messages that humans cannot smell.

12. Ladybirds are helpful garden hunters

Both adult ladybirds and their larvae eat aphids and other small plant-feeding creatures. This makes many ladybird species valuable garden visitors. Their larvae look very different from the familiar round adults, so take care not to mistake them for pests.

13. Ladybirds can release a yellow defensive liquid

When threatened, a ladybird may release a strong-smelling yellow liquid from its leg joints. Its bright colours also warn predators that it may taste unpleasant, helping to persuade birds and other hungry animals to look elsewhere.

14. Dragonflies are expert aerial hunters

Dragonflies can hover, fly backwards and change direction with remarkable speed. Their huge compound eyes allow them to see across most of the space around them, helping them track smaller flying insects while in the air.

15. Young dragonflies live underwater

A dragonfly spends much of its life as an aquatic nymph, sometimes called a naiad. It hunts beneath the surface of ponds and streams before eventually climbing out of the water and transforming into the winged dragonfly we recognise.

16. Crickets hear through their front legs

A cricket’s hearing organs are located just below the “knees” of its front legs. These small membranes detect sound vibrations, including the calls made by other crickets.

17. Grasshoppers make music by rubbing body parts together

Many grasshoppers create their familiar chirping sounds by rubbing a hind leg against a wing. This method of producing sound is called stridulation and is often used to attract a mate or communicate with other grasshoppers.

18. Dung beetles can navigate using the night sky

Some nocturnal dung beetles use the bright band of the Milky Way to keep themselves travelling in a straight line. This helps them roll their precious ball of dung away from competitors as quickly as possible.

19. Dung beetles are important recyclers

Dung may not seem glamorous, but removing and burying it returns nutrients to the soil. Dung beetles also help reduce the number of flies breeding in animal waste. They are some of the insect world’s most useful—and underappreciated—clean-up experts.

20. Glow-worms are not worms

Despite their name, glow-worms are beetles. In Britain, it is usually the wingless adult female that produces the most noticeable green glow. She uses this light to attract a flying male after darkness falls.

21. Hoverflies are harmless masters of disguise

Many hoverflies have yellow-and-black markings that make them look like bees or wasps, but they cannot sting. Their disguise may discourage predators. Unlike bees and wasps, hoverflies have only one working pair of wings.

22. Stick insects can regrow lost legs

Young stick insects can sometimes replace a lost leg as they grow and shed their outer skin. The new leg may begin smaller than the others but can become more complete after several moults.

23. Moths are important nighttime pollinators

Bees and butterflies receive plenty of praise for pollinating flowers, but moths also perform this important job. While much of the garden is sleeping, moths travel between night-blooming plants carrying pollen on their bodies.

24. Woodlice are related to creatures from the sea

Woodlice are not insects: they are land-living crustaceans related to crabs, prawns and lobsters. They need damp surroundings because their breathing structures work best when kept moist, which is why they often hide beneath logs and stones.

25. Spiders are not insects either

Spiders have eight legs, no antennae and two principal body sections, placing them in the arachnid family. They are valuable garden residents because they catch huge numbers of flies and other small creatures in their webs or while hunting.

A few amazing figures from the insect world

• More than one million insect species have been formally described worldwide.
• Britain is home to more than 24,000 insect species.
• Every adult insect has six legs.
• A honeybee has five eyes.
• Insects have been living on Earth for hundreds of millions of years.

These figures give us only a glimpse of the enormous variety hidden within the insect world. Scientists continue to identify new species and uncover previously unknown behaviours.

Why do bugs matter?

It is easy to admire a colourful butterfly or a stripy bumblebee, but even the less glamorous members of the bug world have an important role to play.

Bees, butterflies, moths, beetles and flies carry pollen between flowers. This allows many plants to create fruits and seeds. Other insects break down dead leaves, wood and animal waste, returning valuable nutrients to the soil.

Predatory insects such as ladybirds and dragonflies help control populations of smaller creatures. Insects themselves also provide food for birds, bats, frogs, hedgehogs and many other animals. Remove the insects and the effects would quickly be felt throughout the food chain.

Even a small garden can support a surprising variety of fascinating insects. Allowing a corner to grow a little wild, planting nectar-rich flowers, avoiding pesticides and leaving some fallen leaves in place can all create useful food and shelter.

How to explore bugs safely

You do not need to travel to a rainforest to discover amazing bug facts. There may already be an entire miniature neighbourhood just beyond your back door.

• Look closely at flowers to spot visiting bees, beetles and hoverflies.
• Use a magnifying glass rather than picking creatures up.
• Gently return logs and stones to their original positions after looking underneath.
• Avoid touching nests, webs or unknown caterpillars.
• Leave wild creatures where you found them.
• Plant flowers and create sheltered spaces where insects can feed and rest.

The best bug explorers are gentle, patient and curious. Sit quietly for a few minutes and you may begin to notice tiny journeys and dramas that were happening around you all along.

A whole world on our doorstep

Once you begin looking closely, a garden never seems quite the same again. Every flower becomes a café, every patch of soil hides a tunnel and every old log might contain a bustling neighbourhood.

That sense of wonder helped inspire Barnabee’s Bug Hotel, the story of a tiny bee with a very big idea. Barnabee may be the smallest bee in the hive, but with a little imagination—and help from his friends—he discovers that even the smallest creature can make an important difference.

We hope these interesting facts about bugs encourage your family to step outside, slow down and take a closer look at the wonderful wildlife living on your doorstep.

Ready to meet Barnabee and his friends? Discover Barnabee’s Bug Hotel, a warm and funny picture book celebrating friendship, teamwork, nature and the extraordinary creatures with whom we share our world.