The Bizarre World of Six-Legged Wonders: Insects

Insects comprise approximately 70-90% of all animal species on Earth with over a million discovered species and an estimated over 10 million more awaiting discovery (Royal Entomological Society). Given their vast diversity, it is no surprise that they have evolved some of the most specialized and bizarre survival strategies in the animal kingdom.

From "zombie" mind control to reproductive organs that defy the laws of proportion, the following facts highlight the extraordinary biology of insects backed by research from leading entomologists and educational institutions.

1. The Parasitic Puppet Masters

One of the most unsettling phenomena in entomology is the relationship between the fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis and tropical ants. Often referred to as "Zombie Ant Fungus", this parasite infects an ant and literally hijacks its central nervous system.

Research published in Frontiers in Psychology and documented by the University of Exeter shows that the fungus compels the ant to leave its colony climbing to a specific height on a plant (where temperature and humidity are ideal for fungal growth), and perform a "death grip" on a leaf vein before dying. The fungus then sprouts a fruiting body from the ant's head to rain spores down on the colony below.

2. Record-Breaking Reproductive Biology

In the world of biological extremes, the tiny fruit fly Drosophila bifurca holds a record that seems physically impossible. While the fly itself is only a few millimetres long, its sperm cells can reach lengths of almost 5.8 centimetres — up to 20 times the length of its own body.

According to research cited by the University of Zurich and the Syracuse University Department of Biology, this "giant sperm" is an evolutionary result of intense sexual selection and sperm competition. If humans had sperm proportional to their body size in the same way, they would be over 35 metres long.

3. The Chemist of the Undergrowth

The Bombardier Beetle (Brachinus) possesses a defensive mechanism that resembles a high-tech steam weapon. When threatened, these beetles mix two chemical compounds— hydroquinone and hydrogen peroxide — stored in separate chambers of their abdomen.

As noted by Cornell University researchers, a catalytic reaction occurs that heats the liquid to nearly 100°C (212°F). The beetle then ejects this boiling, caustic spray at predators with incredible precision. This mechanism has been a focal point of study for engineers looking to improve fuel injection systems due to the beetle's "pulsed" delivery method.

4. Living Without a Head

It is a common "weird fact" that cockroaches can live for weeks without a head but the entomological reason is fascinating. Unlike vertebrates, insects do not have a centralized "command centre" for all bodily functions. Instead they have a distributed nervous system consisting of ganglia (mini-brains) located in each body segment.

According to the Iowa State University, insects breathe through small holes in their sides called spiracles and not through their mouths. Therefore, a headless insect can continue to breathe and even move for days or weeks until it eventually dies of dehydration or starvation as it can no longer eat or drink.

5. Farming and "Cattle" Herding

Humans aren't the only species to practice agriculture. Several species of ants, most notably in the formicine ants genus Lasius have been observed "farming" aphids. The ants protect the aphids from predators and even carry them to better feeding grounds on plants.

In return, the ants "milk" the aphids for honeydew, a sugary waste product. Research from the joint news release from Imperial College London, Royal Holloway University of London, and the University of Reading highlights that ants may even bite the wings off aphids to prevent them from flying away effectively keeping them as "sugar cattle".