Once upon a time a myth was born that insects, unlike animals, are just a machines that not capable of learning and survive only based on their instincts. That myth has become the widespread opinion. Of course, this opinion is indeed erroneous, like many other widespread opinions. Let us try to find out which part is a myth and which part is true.

A spiritual leader (R) of the Huni Kui Indian tribe blows an herbal powder into the nose of a tribal member during a ceremony outside the village of Novo Segredo along the Envira river of Brazil's northwestern Acre state, March 9, 2014. Many indigenous groups, including the Huni Kui, Ashaninka, and Madija, live in villages in the Brazilian rainforest near the border with Peru. (Photo by Lunae Parracho/Reuters)

Metropolitan Police patrol as people party at the Soho district, as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions ease, in London, United Kingdom on April 16, 2021. Pubs and Restaurants are expecting good business tonight being the first Friday night after Coronavirus lockdown rules were relaxed to allow outside dining and drinking. (Photo by Henry Nicholls/Reuters)

A Land Rover Discovery has been crashed and abandoned inside a canal lock in Tipton, United Kingdom on Monday morning, November 14, 2022. There were no reported injuries and the car is expected to be removed on Tuesday. (Photo by Katie Stewart/Alamy Live News)

Fishmongers cut and clean fish at the Soumbedioune fish market in Dakar, Senegal, May 31, 2022. In Senegal, fish and seafood represent more than 40% of the animal protein intake in the diet. According to a U.S. report, one in six people work in the fisheries sector. (Photo by Grace Ekpu/AP Photo)

A woman holds-up a white T-shirt trying to prevent being shot, as Palestinians flee Gaza City to the southern Gaza Strip on Salah al-Din street in Bureij, Tuesday, November 7, 2023. (Photo by Mohammed Dahman/AP Photo)

Cybermen patrol the National Museum of Scotland before the opening of the Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition in Edinburgh, Scotland on Wednesday, December 7, 2022. (Photo by Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian)

Giant bamboo cones, used to protect rice from overnight moisture during its drying process, in the Brahmanbaria district of Bangladesh in the second decade of April 2025. (Photo by Bipul Ahmed/Solent News & Photo Agency)