Photo: Getty Images
Ordinary flies “smell” their food with their feet, some butterflies can produce a piercing squeak to protect themselves, and cockroaches might actually survive a “nuclear blast.”
Scientist Vitalii Kavurka from the I.I. Shmalhausen Institute of Zoology shared these surprising insect facts.
Key points:
Sensory feet: flies taste and smell food with their feet, constantly cleaning them to keep receptors working properly.
Butterflies with voices: some butterflies have a special organ to scare off predators with a squeak.
Radiation resilience: cockroaches can adapt to post-nuclear conditions, being among the oldest and most resilient creatures on the planet.
Winter protection: for insects, cold, snowy winters are better than warm ones, as snow acts like a “thermos,” protecting them from disease and freezing.
Natural deception: eye-like patterns on butterfly wings confuse predators, allowing insects to escape even after a bird attack.
1. Sense organs on their feet
Flies have smell and taste sensors on their feet. They sense food when they touch it and constantly rub their feet to clean the receptors and keep them working.
2. Butterflies can make sounds
Some butterflies can produce specific sounds. For example, the death’s-head hawkmoth has a special organ that lets it squeak.
3. Cockroaches and radiation survival
Cockroaches can adapt and survive even in areas exposed to nuclear tests. They are among the oldest insects, having endured many catastrophes in their history.
4. Mosquito wintering and the “thermos effect”
Adult mosquitoes usually die in winter, leaving eggs or larvae behind. These wait for spring in water or soil, while some flies can overwinter as adults in tree bark.
A thick layer of snow creates a protective barrier, letting insects survive temperatures down to -20°C. Winters without snow or unusually warm, damp winters with fungal diseases are more dangerous.
5. Protective wing patterns
Eye-like patterns on butterfly wings help them hide and scare predators. Birds often peck at the “eye,” giving the butterfly a chance to escape and survive.
