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.

Cats gather in front of a house damaged by shelling in the town of Dokuchayevsk, south of Donetsk, February 12, 2015. (Photo by Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)

In this photo provided by The Daily Free Press and Kenshin Okubo, people react to an explosion at the 2013 Boston Marathon in Boston, Monday, April 15, 2013. (Photo by Kenshin Okubo/AP Photo/The Daily Free Press)

P.S. All pictures are presented in high resolution.

“I’d come to the Altai Mountains on an Adventure Sherpas tour. Our group of 12 was made up mostly of Minnesotans who’d left warm weather and falling leaves for frosty Mongolia. We’d come to sleep in cozy ger tents, the traditional yurt abode of the Mongolian steppe; sip mare’s milk tea; climb mountain glaciers; ride horses to an ancient battle site, and attend the annual Eagle Hunting Festival in Ölgiy...”. – Kathryn Kysar via The Star Tribune. Here: hunter Berek and his eagle outside his home. (Photo by Brad Ruoho/The Star Tribune)

Mongolia's Olympic wrestler Battsetseg Soronzonbold (front) fights with her training partner during a daily training session at the Mongolia Women’s National Wrestling Team training centre in Bayanzurkh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 1, 2016. Battsetseg Soronzonbold became a national hero in her native Mongolia after winning wrestling bronze at the London Olympics and is determined to turn the medal into gold in Rio next month. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Winners celebrate after the annual Lelo match in the village of Shukhuti, Georgia, May 1, 2016. The villagers of Zemo (upper) Shukhuti and Kvemo (lower) Shukhuti have played the game every Easter Sunday for generations, with each side trying to carry the 16-kilogram ball to their end of the neighbouring villages. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

Puppet corgis created by Coventry based events production company Imagineer sit patiently on May 5, 2022 as the company prepares its contribution to The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Pageant next month. The corgis are part of the company's show “The Queen's Favourites”. (Photo by Peter Lopeman/Alamy Live News)

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte looks at Miss Universe candidates at the presidential palace in Manila, Philippines January 23, 2017. (Photo by Erik De Castro/Reuters)