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.

Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Hezly Rivera does a flip before throwing out a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees, Wednesday, September 4, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Jeffrey McWhorter/AP Photo)

Gold medalist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica celebrates after the Women's 100m Final during the 18th edition of the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, United States on July 17, 2022. (Photo by Aleksandra Szmigiel/Reuters)

Russian servicemen look on as a Mi-24 helicopter fly overhead during the Open Water competition for pontoon bridge units, as part of the International Army Games 2018, outside Murom, Russia August 3, 2018. (Photo by Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)

A camel wearing a hat amid a heatwave, looks on, in front of the Great Pyramids of Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt on July 19, 2023. (Photo by Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)

A pitch invader tries to get through to Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League A Group A1 match between Portugal and Scotland at Estadio do SL Benfica on September 8, 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Pedro Nunes/Reuters)

Competitors bounce off the wall following their Men's 60m Heat on day one of the World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 2025 at Nanjing Youth Olympic Games Sports Park on March 21, 2025 in Nanjing, China. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Millonarios' midfielder David Silva controls the ball during the Copa Sudamericana group stage second leg football match between Colombia's Millonarios and Uruguay's PeÒarol at the Nemesio Camacho “El CampÌn” stadium in Bogota, on May 23, 2023. (Photo by Juan Barreto/AFP Photo)