# Do insects sleep?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-insects-sleep/315940>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 7, 2005, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-insects-sleep/315940 "2005-08-07T02:10:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-insects-sleep/315940/1 "2005-08-07T02:10:41Z")

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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.

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**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-insects-sleep/315940/2 "2005-08-07T02:29:14Z")

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Yep, they do. At least to a certain degree. Coincidentaly, I was just reading [this](http://www.discover.com/issues/aug-05/departments/discover-dialogue/) 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?

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-insects-sleep/315940/3 "2005-08-07T02:46:09Z")

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[Answered](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/minsectsleep.html).

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**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-insects-sleep/315940/4 "2005-08-07T03:48:50Z")

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Wow! Thanks to both of you guys!

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

Trip. . .zzzzzzzzzzzz

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**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2005, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-insects-sleep/315940/5 "2005-08-07T04:12:27Z")

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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.