If all bugs are insects, are all insects bugs?
Answer: Nope. All bugs are insects, but not all insects are bugs.
This may seem a little confusing, especially considering many people use bug to describe anything creepy and crawly, but there actually are some very interesting differences.
The Mouth
The mouth is the key to determining the difference between insects and bugs. Bugs suck, literally. True bugs have a stylet or a mouth shaped like a straw called a proboscis. A true bug’s mouth parts allow it to pierce and suck fluids from plants and animals. Insects that are not bugs do not have this particular mouth feature. Another unique distinction centers around metamorphosis. Bugs go through what is called an incomplete metamorphosis, with egg, nymph and adult stages. The nymph hatches from the egg and then a miniature version of the adult bug appears. This process is different from the butterfly’s metamorphosis process. The butterfly is an insect and undergoes a complete four-stage metamorphosis: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa and adult.
Classification
Examples of bugs:
Spittle bug, lace bug, assassin bug, Maori bug, stink bug, water bug, water skater, water boatman, water scorpion, kissing bug, bed bug, leaf hopper, mealy bug, chinch, cicada, frog hopper, and harlequin bug.
Conclusion
If a bug is an insect, and many insects are also bugs….they all can certainly be pests. At Terminix, we understand bugs, insects, arachnids and we can take care of mosquitoes, cockroaches, termites, bed bugs and more. If you need pest control, call Terminix today at 504-834-7330, and we will take care of the pests whether they are bugs or insects.