An alien-shaped hot air balloon flies during a mass launch at the annual Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, near Bristol, Britain, on August 8, 2025. (Photo by Toby Melville/Reuters)

A horse buggy is headed for the stables on a foggy night in New Orleans, Monday, December 18, 2017. (Photo by David Grunfeld/NOLA.com The Times-Picayune via AP Photo)

Composer, harpist and singer Esther Swift alongside her Italian Salvi pedal harp during a photocall ahead of her upcoming tour, at the Forth Bridge in North Queensferry, Scotland on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. Ms Swift will tour across Scotland solo this month with a programme of original compositions and traditional works. (Photo by Jane Barlow/PA Images via Getty Images)

A woman poses for a photo at Hitchin Lavender farm in Ickleford, Britain, August 4, 2020. (Photo by Peter Cziborra/Reuters)

FC Barcelona's fans celebrate winning the Spanish LaLiga soccer championship at Canaletas Square in Barcelona, Spain, 15 May 2025, after the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona at the RCDE Stadium in Cornella de Llobregat. (Photo by Quique Garcia/EPA/EFE)

Pedestrians fight wind and rain as they cross Hollywood Boulevard during Tropical Storm Hilary, Sunday, August 20, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/AP Photo)

People attend the second day of the Lollapalooza Chile Music festival, in the commune of Cerrillos, Santiago, Chile, 22 March 2025. (Photo by Ailen Diaz/EPA)

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.