Have you ever looked at a tiny, crawling creature and thought, “That’s a bug!”? Well, you’re not alone. But did you know that not all of these creatures are technically “bugs” in the scientific world? Let’s dive into this interesting topic and find out more!
When people talk about bugs, they’re usually thinking of insects. Insects are small creatures with six legs, a hard outer shell called an exoskeleton, and often, wings. But in the world of science, specifically for entomologists (people who study insects), the word “bug” has a much narrower meaning.
True bugs belong to a special group of insects called Hemiptera. There are about 80,000 species in this group, and they have unique straw-shaped mouths. These mouths help them suck up their food by first injecting fluids to turn it into a liquid. Some well-known true bugs include bed bugs, stink bugs, and the scary-sounding assassin bug.
Here’s where it gets tricky: just because an insect has “bug” in its name doesn’t mean it’s a true bug. For example, ladybugs are actually beetles, a different group of insects. And pill bugs aren’t insects at all; they’re isopods, which are more like crabs!
The confusion goes way back to the 1400s. The word “bug” likely came from the Welsh word “bwg,” which meant mysterious or creepy things, like ghosts. This spooky origin is also where we get the word “boogeyman.” The first time “bug” was used to describe an insect was in 1594, when a medical book mentioned a creepy black creature crawling out of a sore. By the 1600s, people used “bug” to describe bedbugs, which were thought to be especially haunting.
In the 1700s, a scientist named Carl Linnaeus started organizing insects into groups. He put bedbugs and similar insects with straw-like mouths into a group called Bugs. Even though scientists tried to keep the term “bug” specific, most people continued to use it for all sorts of creepy crawlies, as well as for things like mechanical problems and illnesses.
So, when I see a ladybug and wonder if I should call it a bug, it’s because of this long history of mixed-up meanings. Even scientists sometimes use “bug” when talking to non-scientists because it’s a word everyone understands, even if it isn’t technically correct.
Now you know why not all bugs are true bugs, and you can impress your friends with your knowledge of creepy crawlies!
Research and create a chart that distinguishes between true bugs and other insects. Include images, scientific names, and key characteristics. Share your chart with the class and explain how you can identify true bugs.
Go on a scavenger hunt in your backyard or local park. Try to find at least five different insects. Take pictures and note their characteristics. Later, determine if any of them are true bugs and present your findings to the class.
Imagine you are an entomologist explaining the difference between true bugs and other insects to a group of younger students. Prepare a short presentation or skit that makes the information fun and easy to understand.
Create a board game or card game that helps players learn about the different types of insects and true bugs. Include fun facts and challenges that reinforce the scientific concepts discussed in the article.
Write a short story from the perspective of a true bug. Describe its daily life, challenges, and interactions with other insects. Share your story with the class and discuss what makes your character a true bug.
I’ve got a pest problem. Every time I’m making a video about a small creepy crawly creature – like this ladybug – a big part of me wants to call it a bug. I mean, it feels like a bug. But there’s also a small part of me that knows that it’s not technically a bug in the scientific sense. What’s up with this disconnect, and why does it bother me so much? Hi, I’m Cameron, and this is MinuteEarth.
Small creepy crawly creatures generally fall into a few different groups. But when someone says, “hey, look at this weird bug!” they’re usually referring to an insect – you know, a six-legged exoskeleton-clad creature that has at least one pair of wings at some point in its life.
To an entomologist – someone who studies insects – bugs are a subgroup of insects; the 8% or so that make up the order Hemiptera. You can tell these 80,000-ish species of so-called “true bugs” apart from other insects by the straw-shaped beaks they use to stab their food, inject fluids to dissolve it into a nutritious liquid, and slurp out the tasty meal. You’re likely familiar with a few of these species, like bed bugs, stink bugs, or the terrifyingly-named assassin bug.
But here’s where it gets confusing – just because a species has “bug” in its common name does not mean it’s a true bug in the scientific sense. For example, our ladybug from earlier is from a different subgroup of insects entirely – beetles – and pill bugs aren’t even insects at all; they’re isopods – more closely related to crabs than true bugs.
So where did all of this confusion come from? Well, for that it’s time for some entomological etymology. In the 1400s, the term bug infested the English language, probably from the Welsh word “bwg”. It was a word for mysterious, creepy things like ghosts. This later appearance in Hamlet is a good example of that usage. And the word “bwg” also serves as the root of the word “boogeyman”. But the first time “bug” appeared in writing to describe an insect was in 1594 when a medical textbook described a creepy black creature crawling out of a sore, which is… gross, and kinda scary, so they called it a “bugge”. By the early 1600s, a particular type of insect was thought to be especially haunting: the ones we now call bedbugs – and people regularly used the word “bugge” to refer to these nocturnal nuisances.
So in the 1700s, when Carl Linnaeus was sorting insects into groups like flies, beetles, and ants, he tossed bed bugs and things like them – anything with straw-like, slurping mouthparts – into a group called Bugs. But even though Linnaeus and other scientists that came after narrowed the meaning of the word “bug” in scientific circles to a specific order of insects, basically everyone else continued expanding on the original meaning, building on the creepy, ghostly part and applying the word bug to all sorts of other stuff, like mechanical glitches, illnesses, and, of course, a wide variety of creepy crawly creatures.
So that’s why I’m torn about whether to call something like a ladybug a bug. And, actually, when talking to non-scientists about pretty much any insect, even entomologists sometimes begrudgingly use the word “bug”. After all, the word “bug” can help them communicate more clearly, even if it bothers them to do it.
Bugs – Small insects or other creeping or crawling invertebrates. – Many bugs, like ants and beetles, play important roles in the ecosystem.
Insects – A class of small arthropods that have three main body parts and six legs. – Insects such as butterflies and bees are crucial for pollinating plants.
Hemiptera – An order of insects known as true bugs, characterized by having mouthparts adapted for piercing and sucking. – Hemiptera includes insects like aphids and cicadas, which can be found in gardens.
Exoskeleton – A rigid external covering that supports and protects the bodies of some invertebrates. – The exoskeleton of a beetle helps protect it from predators and environmental hazards.
Ladybugs – Small beetles known for their round, often red bodies with black spots, beneficial for controlling pests. – Ladybugs are popular in gardens because they eat aphids that harm plants.
Isopods – A group of crustaceans that include species like pillbugs and woodlice, often found in moist environments. – Isopods are fascinating creatures that help decompose organic matter in the soil.
Confusion – A state of being unclear or uncertain, often occurring when trying to identify similar species. – There can be confusion between different species of butterflies due to their similar wing patterns.
Species – A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding. – The cheetah is a species known for its incredible speed and agility.
Carl Linnaeus – A Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist who developed the system of naming organisms known as binomial nomenclature. – Carl Linnaeus is famous for creating a system that classifies and names species, which is still used today.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, or the past development of a particular subject. – The history of biology includes the discovery of cells and the development of the theory of evolution.
