Do insects sleep?

Factual Questions
1

I just got back from my “Part II” stint down in Clovis, NM and as the 6-year old in me rediscovered, it’s kinda fun to mess around with anthills. Drop a rock in the middle of one, and watch 'em all run around in a frenzy. Put a cracker or cookie by it, let it go for five minutes, and when you come back it’s swarmed.

But after terrorizing the local indigenous “ant farms” for the better part of a week, my 28-year old logical mind kicked in and noticed that the ants weren’t out at the hottest parts of the day. And hey, come to think about it, the mosquitos ‘burned off’ too. But then there’s fish . . . I remember waking up at night always seeing little betas and goldfish doin’ their aquatic thing. Do fish sleep too? (I already know people can “sleep with the fishes” tho. . .)

So, do insects “sleep” like mammals do, or are they just smart enough to lay low.

Tripler
I still hate Clovis.

2

Yep, they do. At least to a certain degree. Coincidentaly, I was just reading this related and timely article in this month’s Discover magazine earlier today. Who knew you could stick an electrode into a fruit fly’s brain?

3

Answered.

4

Wow! Thanks to both of you guys!

And honeydewgrrl, that’s some interesting reading. . .

Trip. . .zzzzzzzzzzzz

5

I’ve seen bees “sleeping” on many occasions in the garden.

This can make deadheading (cutting off faded flowers) quite interesting, if you are not aware that a bumblebee is dozing inside.