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.

“Himalayan Dog”. This dog just appeared out of nowhere and followed us for an entire week during our trekking trip in the Himalayan outback. He always used to sleep in front of our tent and guarded us in the nights. When I decided to get up at 4 a.m. to climb the next 5000 m peak for sunrise he accompanied me as well. On the top he was sitting for the entire 30 minutes on this place looking straight into the countryside. Photo location: Ladakh, India. (Photo and caption by Sebastian Wahlhuetter/National Geographic Photo Contest)

A jockey falls from his buffalos during Barapan Kebo or buffalo races as part of the Moyo festival on September 30, 2014 in Sumbawa Island, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. The traditional Buffalo races, known as Barapan Kebo, are held by Samawa tribes in muddy rice fields to celebrate and provide entertainment ahead of the annual planting season. Jockeys secure themselves on a wooden structure attached to the buffalo, and maneuver across the mud in a race to the finish line. The jockeys weild long sticks, in a similar style to jousting, and direct them towards targets called “Saka”. (Photo by Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images)

Allison Crane walks out of her flooded neighborhood after Hurricane Beryl passed in Galveston, Texas, U.S. July 8, 2024. (Photo by Rich Matthews/Reuters)

A group of friends dance the night away at Latitude Festival in Suffolk, United Kingdom on July 22, 2021. Suffolk, returns as a covid test event after a year off due to the pandemic. (Photo by Guy Bell/Alamy Live News)

Colombian-American actress Sofía Vergara in the first decade of November 2022 takes a risqué selfie inside her walk-in closet. (Photo by sofiavergara/Instagram)

Krysten Ritter is seen at Sundance Festival on January 19, 2014 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Alo Ceballos/GC Images)

A high-kicking Parisian can-can dancer. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images). 1895