Sleep is nearly universal within animals. Though it may present differently between species, everyone needs a rest now and then. Insects are no exception.
Sleep signatures in insects resemble those in other animals. While insects can’t physically get some “shuteye” (hard to do without eyelids), they do enter a state of metabolic rest that science has defined as “sleeping” based on other behavioral cues. The insect will be relatively immobile and difficult to rouse, their temperature may drop, and they will even assume a preferred sleeping posture. I sleep on my side. My dog sleeps on his back. Some insects dangle.
Further investigation into insect sleep revealsthat sleeping is just as necessary for insects as it is for us; it plays an important role in memory acquisition and retention in all animals, insects included. This is especiallytruefor social insects like honeybees.Honeybees aremodel organismsfor invertebratesleep studies, being easy to train and quick to learn,and some of their habits are easily relatable. Caffeine(a morning necessity)is a natural insecticide, but many bees are largely unaffectedby small doses and mayactively seek a mid-morning pick-me-up.Honeybees will take opportunistic naps in between foraging excursions. Sleep deprived honeybees cannot effectively communicate with their hive, and even have trouble navigating. I don’t know about you, but I have (on more than one occasion) accidentally driven in circles trying to get from point A to B without my morning fix.
But do they dream?
For humans and other mammals (and even birds!), dreaming typically occurs during REM sleep. But, relatively speaking, insect brains are far simpler, not to mention the fact that they lack eyes that are capable of performing the rapid eye movements that typify REM sleep. So intuitively, one might assume that they do not dream.
However,in a 2015 study, researchers wanted to explore memory reactivation in honeybees. Honeybees exhibit what is known as the proboscis extension response, reflexively sticking out their bee-tongues when exposed to certain smells. In the study, researchers exposed the bees to an odor that would elicit this response, while simultaneously exposing them to a thermal stimulus. In the same way that Pavlov’s dogs learned to associate the ringing of a bell with food, the bees learned to associate the thermal stimulus with the odor that triggered their proboscis extension response. This process is known as classical conditioning.
Once the bees were conditioned to this response, they were split into two groups. One group, the control, would be exposed to a neutral odor (in this case, paraffin wax) during a deep sleep state. The experimental group was exposed to the context odor during a deep sleep state. The researchers found that the bees that had been exposed to the context odor performed better in memory retention tests the following day.
Is this evidence of honeybee dreams? In their2015 paper,Learning and Memory: Do Bees Dream?Melnatturet al.explain,“The data suggest that the existence of replay in deep-sleep indicates that bees might have dream-like experiences analogous to non-REM dreams in humans… if bees do dream it would certainly provide novel insights into the evolution of dreams.”
FAQs
During torpor, insects remain very still and don't respond much to stimuli around them. Insects in a state of torpor can appear to be sleeping because they aren't moving or responding to the world around them.
Do waterbugs sleep? ›
The short answer is yes, insects sleep. Like all animals with a central nervous system, their bodies require time to rest and restore. But not all bugs sleep the same. An insect's circadian rhythm – or the regular cycle of awake and asleep time – changes based on when it needs to eat.
How do bugs sleep without eyelids? ›
How do we know that insects sleep? Butterflies and other insects cannot close their eyes when they sleep, because they do not have eyelids. However, they do enter a typical “sleep posture”. For example, some native bees spend the night on a plant stem, holding on with just their mouthparts.
Which insects do not sleep? ›
Answer: ant is a insect that never sleeps and works all time.
How many hours do insects sleep? ›
How many hours of sleep are enough for good health?
| Age group | Recommended amount of sleep |
|---|
| 3 to 5 years | 10 to 13 hours per 24 hours, including naps |
| 6 to 12 years | 9 to 12 hours per 24 hours |
| 13 to 18 years | 8 to 10 hours per 24 hours |
| Adults | 7 or more hours a night |
2 more rowsIt only makes sense that insects are equally impacted by their sleep habits. Queen fire ants live longer than worker fire ants, and they receive twice as much sleep. The queen enjoys about nine hours of sleep each day while the workers settle for hundreds of short naps that add up to less than five hours per day.
What kills water bugs instantly? ›
Boric acid is an effective solution for getting rid of waterbugs, as it dehydrates and kills them on contact. This substance works by dehydrating and killing the insects on contact.
What makes water bugs go away? ›
Cleaning rugs and carpets annually with a steam cleaner; Using natural repellents. According to Smith, “Some of the most common natural repellents for water bugs are rosemary and lavender.” Keeping the pool clear of algae to discourage water bugs in the pool.
Where do water bugs hide during the day? ›
They also prey on small fish, salamanders and amphibians, keeping these populations low. Water bugs feed by hiding in plants either in or near water, lying in wait and using a natural breathing tube if necessary until they attack their unsuspecting prey.
Do insects feel pain? ›
Indeed, insects are capable of nociception, so they can detect and respond to injury in some circ*mstances [3]. While observations of insects' unresponsiveness to injury warrant further research, they ultimately cannot rule out insect pain, particularly in other contexts or in response to different noxious stimuli.
They react differently when external stimuli are applied while sleeping and while awake. But the bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus show the same reaction in both situations. This indicates that bullfrogs do not sleep. Lithobates catesbeianus is an animal that cannot sleep.
What is the laziest insect? ›
Eocorythoderus incredibilis is the laziest bug ever. 2. Eocorythoderus incredibilis evolved handles on its defensive layer that allows it to be carried by termites to food sources.
Do fish ever sleep? ›
While fish do not sleep in the same way that land mammals sleep, most fish do rest. Research shows that fish may reduce their activity and metabolism while remaining alert to danger. Some fish float in place, some wedge themselves into a secure spot in the mud or coral, and some even locate a suitable nest.
What animal almost never sleeps? ›
Dolphins. As weird as it sounds, but it's true, newborn dolphins don't sleep for a month. Scientists found that even the mother stays awake during this time. Dolphins can stay alert with at least one eye open at all times.
