Sign-in to Account
Call Us

(855) 948-5816

aptive-registered-logo-white

Find Service Area

Bug Brain: Are Insects Smart?

Written by Aptive Environmental June 1, 2019

Updated August 8, 2024

You know what’s small? An insect. You know what’s even smaller? An insect’s brain. However, despite the miniscule size of the insect’s mind, some insects are actually quite smart. In fact, some insects have more in common with humans than you might even realize.

Insect Intelligence

Much like our own brains, there is a lot of mystery regarding insect intelligence. As humans, we tend to think of intelligence as it relates to our own cognitive ability. When we think of intelligent animals, the usual suspects come to mind – apes, dolphins, elephants, and octopi. That’s because these animals demonstrate human-like aptitude such as the ability to solve problems, socialize, and form memories. But, what if we were to tell you that certain insects possess these capabilities as well? Below are two insects that have seriously impressive intelligence.

Honey Bees

With a brain about the size of a sesame seed, you may think that there is simply not enough room for a honey bee to be smart. You’d be wrong. What their brains lack in size, honey bees make up for in intellect.

The tiny brain of a honey bee is jam packed with learning circuits. Perhaps their most impressive faculty is their “waggle dance.” While it sounds like a funky dance move, the waggle dance actually tells other bees within the hive where a promising food source is located. When a bee dances straight up, it is telling other bees to fly in the direction of the sun. If a bee dances straight down, it is telling other bees to fly away from the sun. If a bee waggles to the right or left, it is telling bees to fly to the left or right of the sun. In addition to direction, a bee’s waggle dance tells other bees how far away from the hive the food source is. Additionally, the more the bee repeats the dance, the better the food source is. Pretty cool, right?

In addition to their waggle dance, honey bees can:

  • Recognize faces using configural processing (the same way humans do)
  • Can perform simple addition and subtraction
  • Mimic behavior of other bees
  • Train other bees to carry out tasks
  • Understand the concept of zero

Exploring Further: The Smartest Bugs in the World

While honey bees and ants are surely impressive, they’re not the only arthropods with surprising levels of intelligence. Spiders, often considered outside the traditional insect category, showcase cognitive abilities that can rival the smartest bugs. The Portia spider, for instance, exhibits problem-solving skills that are quite remarkable. This spider can devise complex strategies for hunting other spiders, often involving tactics of deception and patience. But when discussing the most intelligent insects, one cannot overlook creatures like the praying mantis or certain beetles, each of which exhibits unique cognitive behaviors that leave scientists amazed. As research advances, who knows what other astonishing facts we might discover about the smartest arthropods and their capabilities?

Ants

When it comes to ants, the intelligence of the colony is much greater than that of an individual ant. In other words, teamwork makes the colonization dreamwork.

Ants have been around for millions of years and can be found on every continent except Antarctica. In short, they are one of the most successful and resilient species on earth. However, as humans, it’s easy to overlook these creatures due to their small stature. This is unwise on our part. Just because ants are teeny-tiny, doesn’t mean they are dumb. In fact, ants are masters of many different skills.

Everyone knows that ants are experts at establishing nests and colonies. However, did you know that ants are expert cultivators and domesticators as well? In fact, ants started farming millions of years before the first humans ever did. Take the leaf cutter ant for example. These ants cut leaves and foliage into pieces then bring the leaves back to their nest in order to break them down and inoculate them with a fungus. They then harvest the fungus and use it as food. In addition to farming fungi, some ants farm insects as well.

If you’re a gardener, then you’ve probably clashed with aphids at one point or another. While you may hate aphids, some ant species love them. You see, ants and aphids coexist in a symbiotic relationship – ants protect aphids from predators, such as wasps, and aphids secrete honeydew for ants to eat. Much like farmers herd and tend to livestock, ants tend to aphids. Because aphid honeydew is such a quality source of food, ants will introduce aphids to new plants, safeguard aphid eggs through winter, and remove an aphid’s wings so it can’t fly away in order to maintain their food supply.

In addition to their human-like foresight and diligence to cultivate plants and domesticate animals, ants can:

  • Wage war on other ant colonies to take over new territory and food sources
  • Capture and enslave other ants for work
  • Teach other ants how to find food
  • Rescue injured ants and return them safely to the colony

If you’re dealing with smart pests, you need a pest control service that’s even smarter. Aptive’s pest control experts are trained to outsmart even the most intelligent insects. Start protecting your home by calling your local Aptive Environmental branch today.

Curated articles for you, from our pest experts.

A Cozy Living Room Decorated For Christmas, Featuring A Stone Fireplace Adorned With Stockings And A Brightly Lit Christmas Tree Surrounded By Neatly Wrapped Presents.

How to Keep Pests Out of Your Holiday Decorations

The holiday season is a time of joy, warmth, and festive décor. But as you deck the halls, unwelcome pests can find your decorations just as inviting. Whether your ornaments are on display or tucked away in storage, these tips will help you enjoy your holidays...

Nov 25, 2024
A Snow-Covered Suburban Landscape Featuring A Two-Story White House With A Red Front Door And A Wreath. Snow-Laden Evergreen Trees Frame The Scene, Creating A Picturesque Winter Setting.

How to Protect Your Home With These Winter Pest Control Tips

As temperatures drop, your home becomes a prime target for cold-weather pests looking for warmth. Common intruders like rodents, spiders, and cockroaches seek shelter inside houses during winter. Effective winter pest control is essential to keep these pests out...

Nov 22, 2024
Modern Basement Interior With Light Beige Walls, Dark Wood Flooring, And A Cozy Seating Area Featuring A White Armchair And A Patterned Rug Next To A Stylish Staircase With Wooden Railings.

5 Common Insects in the Basement and How to Handle Them

If you feel like your basement is being overrun by bugs or insects, you're not alone. Common insects such as spiders, centipedes, and beetles are frequently found in these spaces. The insects found here are attracted to dark, humid environments and away from the...

Nov 22, 2024
Four Outdoor Garbage Bins In Blue, Brown, Gray, And Green Placed Side By Side, Marked With The Number 23. The Bins Are Against A Red Wooden Fence With Gardening Tools Resting Inside One Of The Bins.

What Attracts Pests to Your Garbage and How to Keep Them Away

If you’ve ever struggled with cockroaches, flies, or rats, you know how frustrating it can feel when they seem to have a secret invitation to your garbage. These pests are often drawn to food residue, moisture, and even strong odors emanating from your trash....

Nov 22, 2024
A Modern, Two-Story House With A Gray And White Exterior, Illuminated By Warm Interior Lights At Dusk, Showcasing A Clean Driveway And A Small Front Yard.

Household Pests That Thrive During Rainy Seasons

When the weather turns wet, it’s not just humans who seek shelter—many pests take advantage of the moisture and humidity. Rainy season pests can cause serious problems for homeowners, from mosquitoes breeding in standing water to ants invading kitchens in search of...

Nov 20, 2024
Brown Rat Perched On A Stone Ledge, Surrounded By Green Foliage, With A Focused Expression And Vibrant Background.

3 Reasons Why it’s Important to Act Fast to Get Rid of Pests

You've spotted pests in your home—maybe a trail of ants, a mouse in the garage, or a few cockroaches in the kitchen. Your first reaction might be to ignore it, hoping the problem will go away on its own. But that's a mistake. In this article, we'll explore three...

Nov 19, 2024
Modern Basement Interior With Light Beige Walls, Dark Wood Flooring, And A Cozy Seating Area Featuring A White Armchair And A Patterned Rug Next To A Stylish Staircase With Wooden Railings.

How to Keep Pests Out of Your Home

There’s nothing quite like the peace of a well-maintained home. But that peace can be disrupted when pests find their way indoors. Whether it’s ants marching through the kitchen, spiders taking up residence in your home, or mice scurrying in the attic, pests are...

Nov 18, 2024
A Warm Evening View Of A Modern Home, Looking Through Large Windows Into A Kitchen Where A Family Of Four Is Gathered Around A Kitchen Island. Outside, The Patio Area Is Surrounded By Lush Greenery And Outdoor Furniture.

Top 10 Move-In Checklist Items for New Homeowners

Moving into a new home is an exciting milestone, marking the start of a fresh chapter in life. However, once the thrill of unpacking subsides, the reality of settling in and organizing your new space kicks in. To ensure a smooth transition and establish a...

Nov 15, 2024

Take back your home with pest control today.