Insect Trivia Answers!

If you took our Insect Trivia Quiz yesterday on National Trivia Day, here are the answers:

In what U.S. city was the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug first detected?

1. Pittsburgh, PA
2. Wilmington, DE
3. Baltimore, MD
4.  Allentown, PA

In 2001, the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) was first officially reported in the United States in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Which insect is responsible for the most human deaths world-wide?

1. Mosquito
2. Yellowjacket
3. Fire ant
4. Africanized honeybees (killer bees)

According to the World Health Organization, mosquito bites result in the deaths of more than 1 million people every year – making it not only the most dangerous insect, but also the most deadly animal. The majority of these mosquito-related deaths is due to malaria.

In what kind of water do black flies usually breed?

1. Stagnant pond water                            
2. Fast-moving rivers
3. Small puddles
4. Swamplands

Black flies breed exclusively in running water – which is why they are so prevalent in springtime, with the spring runoff from the mountains causing river water to move rapidly.

What is the most common indoor insect problem in households?

1. Ants
2. Cockroaches
3. Houseflies
4. Bedbugs

All of the above are problematic in homes, but ants are the most prevalent. Ants are social insects, so when one ant enters your home, others follow.

How many eggs can a female housefly lay in her short lifetime?

1. 25
2. 100
3. 500
4. 1000

Female houseflies can lay up to 500 eggs in a lifetime, in batches of 75-150.

Roughly how many people do stinging insects send to the emergency room every year?

1. 500
2. 25,000
3. 100,000
4. 500,000

Stinging insects from fire ants to wasps and yellowjackets can cause dangerous allergic reactions, sending more than 500,000 people to the emergency room each year.

How long will a fruit fly live?

1. 8-10 days
2. 25-30 days
3. 45-50 days
4. 75-80 days

The fruit fly completes its life cycle from egg to adult in 8-10 days. Once reaching adulthood, fruit flies usually live for 45-50 days in optimal temperatures.

Which insect has been named “America’s Top Nuisance Pest”?

1. Yellowjackets
2. Stink bugs
3. Flies
4. Ants

According to a survey done by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), ants are the #1 nuisance pest in America, causing widespread health problems and property damage.

More people have died from what insect-borne illness than from all the wars in history?

1. Dengue fever
2. Yellow fever
3. Bubonic plague
4. Malaria

In 14th century Europe, more than 25 million people died from the Bubonic plague.

Bugs are an order of insects distinguished by:

1. Six legs
2. Wings
3. Compound eyes
4. A proboscis (straw-like mouthpart)

The difference between true bugs and other insects is their mouth part, called a proboscis. They use it to suck juices from plants and animals. The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug is an example of a true bug.