Things You Thought Were True About Bugs But Aren't

When it comes to pests, you just can’t believe everything you hear or read. Bug myths abound, fueled by our fears and our very human tendency to sensationalize, embellish, and exaggerate. Let’s take a few minutes to exterminate some of the most often-heard yet false beliefs still being repeated today:

Insects Can Spread COVID-19

It’s understandable why this might be a concern, as we know that many insects (as well as other pests such as rodents) do spread various diseases to humans. But in this case? Nope. According to the CDC, there is no data to suggest that bugs have played a part in the COVID pandemic. It’s not the creepy crawlies that are to blame.

Ultrasonic Devices Will Keep Pests Away

While these devices were all the rage for a while, you’ll have to file this one under “too good to be true.” The fact is most bugs don’t hear anything at all. While there is some evidence that these gadgets may work to some extent on crickets and other members of the Acrididae family that do have ears, the bugs that typically bother us the most—roaches, ants, bed bugs, spiders, and the like—do not have ears and are completely unaffected by those gadgets.

We Swallow As Many As Eight Spiders Annually When We Are Sleeping

Most of us have probably heard this one. Although we cannot say for sure that it has never happened, it is not true according to experts. This myth began as a rumor that a journalist intentionally started in the early 1990s for the express purpose of proving that people will often believe anything they read. (Looks like they might have been right, eh?!)

Bed Bugs And Cockroaches Are Caused By Poor Housekeeping

Totally false. These bugs are simple opportunists and will find their way into immaculately clean homes just as well as dirty ones. They are both known to be adept “hitchhikers” and often get in by grabbing a ride on your clothing, luggage, bags, and boxes. (Although it is true that cleanliness, when you are dealing with an infestation, can be helpful towards controlling them.)

Earwigs Crawl Into People’s Ears, Eat Their Brains, And Make Them Crazy

This one is an oldie but a goodie, dating back to the Middle Ages. The myth is even reflected in how we’ve named this repulsive-looking insect, not just in English but around the globe. For example, in France, it’s perce-oreille, meaning ear piercer. In Germany, it’s ohrwurm, meaning earworm. In Russia, it’s ukhovertka, meaning ear-turner. But no matter how you say it, it’s still not true. While an earwig could conceivably get into a person’s ear, it is no more likely to do so than other crawling insects in your home. And we promise it won’t eat your brain or make you crazy.

Bees Die After They Sting You

The only bee that this is true of is the Honeybee. Honeybees have a barbed stinger that they cannot pull out, leaving their stinger behind and part of their digestive tract. It is only fatal for the bee when they sting mammals due to the thickness of the skin. They can sting other insects and still survive because their skin is thin enough to allow them to pull their stinger back out.

Daddy Longlegs Are Poisonous

According to scientists, true Daddy Longlegs are opilionids arachnids, which are not even true spiders. They have eight long legs, yes, but they have no venom glands and are not poisonous at all. This myth stems from the fact that opilionids closely resemble pholcids, often called cellar spiders, which do have venom but have such short fangs that they cannot bite people. You can easily tell them apart by their torso shape. Pholcids have segmented bodies with a distinctly detached abdomen and thorax. Opilionids have pill-shaped, fused torsos.

Ants And Termites Are Related

Not true. Although they look similar in some ways and have some nesting and feeding habits in common, they are distinctly different. In fact, these two bugs are natural enemies and often wage war with each other. Ants are from the order Hymenoptera, whereas termites are a member of the order Blattodea.

Chances are you’ve heard these bug myths and many other false statements about insects as well. But one thing is certainly not a myth—pests are worse than ever these days. Climate change and global warming have caused insect populations to rise alarmingly in recent years, and scientists say they will continue to do so—and that means more and more trouble for homeowners. If you are experiencing pest issues, ignore the rumors and give At Ease Pest Solutions a call. We’re the leading pest control experts in your community, and we have the right answers.

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