Insects inspire more myths, misconceptions, and urban legends than perhaps any other animal group. Many of these beliefs are deeply embedded in popular culture, passed down through generations, and repeated so often they are assumed to be fact. Here we examine some of the most common insect myths and reveal what science actually tells us.
Myth 1: Earwigs Crawl into Your Ears
The very name “earwig” (from the Old English eare wicga, meaning “ear creature”) perpetuates this ancient belief. The myth suggests that earwigs deliberately seek out human ears to lay eggs or burrow into the brain.
The truth: There is no scientific evidence that earwigs are attracted to human ears or that they lay eggs there. While an earwig might occasionally wander into an ear canal by accident — just as any small insect might — they have no biological inclination to do so. Earwigs prefer damp, dark crevices under stones, bark, and leaf litter. They cannot burrow through the eardrum or into the brain.
Myth 2: Daddy-Long-Legs Are the Most Venomous Spiders
This myth exists in two forms, depending on the country. In the UK, “daddy-long-legs” refers to crane flies (Tipulidae), which are insects and possess no venom whatsoever. In other countries, the term refers to cellar spiders (Pholcidae) or harvestmen (Opiliones).
| Animal | Class | Venomous? | Dangerous to Humans? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crane fly (Tipulidae) | Insect | No — no venom glands | Completely harmless |
| Cellar spider (Pholcidae) | Arachnid | Yes — mild venom | Can bite but venom is not medically significant |
| Harvestman (Opiliones) | Arachnid | No — no venom glands | Completely harmless |
The truth: None of the animals called “daddy-long-legs” are dangerous to humans. The claim that they possess powerful venom but cannot deliver it is entirely false.
Myth 3: You Swallow Eight Spiders a Year in Your Sleep
The truth: This “fact” has no basis in science. Spiders are sensitive to vibrations and are unlikely to approach a sleeping human who is breathing, snoring, and generating vibrations. The statistic appears to have been fabricated in a 1993 magazine article to demonstrate how easily false facts spread. Furthermore, spiders are arachnids, not insects — but this myth is so commonly associated with entomology that it bears debunking here.
Did you know? The “eight spiders per year” myth has been traced to a 1993 column by journalist Lisa Holst in PC Professional magazine, who listed it as an example of ridiculous claims people accept as true. Ironically, the myth she debunked became even more widespread.
Myth 4: All Bees Die After Stinging
The truth: This is only true of honeybee workers (Apis mellifera). When a honeybee worker stings a mammal, its barbed sting becomes lodged in the elastic skin and tears free from the bee’s body, killing it. However, bumblebees, solitary bees, and honeybee queens all have smooth stings that can be withdrawn and used repeatedly. The vast majority of the world’s 20,000+ bee species can sting multiple times without dying.
Myth 5: Moths Eat Clothes
The truth: Adult clothes moths do not eat at all — they have no functional mouthparts. It is the larvae that feed on natural fibres such as wool, silk, and fur. The two main culprits in the UK are the common clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella) and the case-bearing clothes moth (Tinea pellionella). The larvae require the protein keratin, found in animal-derived fabrics.
Myth 6: Insects Are Dirty and Carry Disease
The truth: While some insects are genuine disease vectors — mosquitoes transmit malaria, houseflies can transfer bacteria — the vast majority of insect species are not associated with disease. Of the estimated 5.5 million insect species on Earth, only a tiny fraction interact with humans in ways that affect health. Many insects, such as pollinators and decomposers, provide essential services to ecosystems and human agriculture.
More Myths Busted
- “Insects are attracted to light because they think it is the moon.” The exact mechanism is debated, but recent research suggests insects may become trapped in orbits around artificial lights rather than navigating by moonlight.
- “Butterflies live for only one day.” Most adult butterflies live for two to four weeks, and some species (such as the monarch and brimstone) live for several months.
- “All wasps are aggressive.” Only a handful of social wasp species are defensive near their nests. The vast majority of wasp species are solitary and ignore humans entirely.
- “Cockroaches would survive a nuclear war.” While cockroaches can tolerate radiation doses 6–15 times higher than humans, they would not survive the temperatures and blast forces of a nuclear detonation at close range.
How to Check if an Insect “Fact” Is True
- Identify the source. Is the claim from a peer-reviewed journal, a reputable natural history organisation, or an anonymous social media post?
- Check for specifics. Genuine facts cite species names, quantities, and research. Vague claims (“scientists say”) are often unreliable.
- Consult an expert resource. Websites of the Royal Entomological Society, the Natural History Museum, or university entomology departments are trustworthy.
- Consider plausibility. Does the claim make biological sense? Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.
- Beware of repetition bias. A claim repeated millions of times online is not necessarily true — as the spider-swallowing myth demonstrates.
Key Takeaway
Many popular beliefs about insects are myths that have been repeated so often they are accepted as fact. Earwigs do not target ears, daddy-long-legs are not dangerously venomous, and most bees can sting without dying. Critical thinking and scientific evidence are the best tools for separating insect fact from fiction.