Because we are a termite and pest control companywe talk very about bugs, pests, insects and all the creepy crawlies. While it’s great to learn about bed bugs, how to prevent them, and how to get them out of your home, it’s time to get back to the basics and some interesting — and basic — information about these pesky plagues will pass.

Regardless of whether you like bugs or not, insects are everywhere! They are in the soil, gardens, trees, grass, and even in your home. Of course, there are many bugs that are extremely valuable and beneficial in improving the environment, such as bees and other pollinators; however, there are also errors that are incessant and even downright annoying.

Here are five basic (and maybe even fun) facts about insects!

#1. All insects are related

Yip. You heard that right! Insects all fall from the same family tree—that’s why the anatomy of insects is all (relatively) the same. A brief overview of an insect’s body includes the head, the thoracic region (with the prothorax, mesothorax and metathorax) and the abdomen. Oh, and we can’t forget about all the commonly seen wings!

#2. Most mouths are the same

It is common for insects to share a similar head and mouth structure. The top of the head is called the vertex, the cheeks are gena, the frontal face is the frown and the “neck” area is the clypeus. We know these are some interesting words to pronounce, but isn’t it cool that they share characteristics that are even similar to you?

#3. Three pairs of legs

Insects have three pairs of legs, meaning they crawl with six legs in total. They have front, middle and back legs; but depending on the prey size, mating scale and other various factors, the size of bones can vary. Some are big and some are small.

For example, some insects may only walk and run—while others also jump and grab; for this reason, their bones serve different purposes and functions, hence the different sizes of bones.

#4. Digestion and absorption

Have you ever heard your stomach rumble or growl after a big meal? This is called digestion. This means that the food you just ate moves through your body as it absorbs the nutrients it needs to grow big and strong!

Did you know that insects, like you, have a complete digestive system? With tubes that go from the mouth to the anus, their bodies also absorb nutrients through the digestive process.

However, their organs are a little different from ours. Here is one excellent example: Insects do not have kidneys. Instead, insects have tubes that fall off for them—probably without even realizing it. For reference, kidneys remove waste and extra water from your body, which is why you urinate frequently throughout the day.

#5. Short Life Cycle

Have you ever heard of an 87-year-old insect? No, definitely not! The life cycle of insects is extremely short in contrast to the life span of a human. Each insect has a different life cycle length depending on its species, but the average life span for an insect is as little as 90 days – that’s just three months. Heck, it’s only one summer!

Insect basics don’t stop here

We know that basics can get repetitive over time, but it’s valuable to us that people learn something new about insects every time you interact with our content or Contact Us. There’s always something interesting to learn about insects and pests—and that’s part of what we hope to provide you with!