Insects do not cry in the same way humans or many other animals do. Crying involves specific physiological processes and emotional components unique to certain species.
Defining Crying in Humans
Crying for humans and some other vertebrates is a multifaceted process involving physiological and emotional elements. It begins with the production of tears from specialized lacrimal glands near the eyes. Humans produce three types of tears: basal tears for lubrication, reflex tears in response to irritants, and emotional tears linked to feelings. Emotional crying is often triggered by strong feelings like sadness, joy, pain, or frustration. The brain’s limbic system initiates tear production, and this form of crying serves as a complex non-verbal communication that can help relieve emotional stress.
Insect Sensory Systems
Insects possess fundamentally different physiologies compared to vertebrates, which explains why they do not cry. They lack lacrimal glands and tear ducts, the structures necessary for producing tears. Their external skeleton, or exoskeleton, provides support and helps retain bodily fluids, eliminating the need for tear-based eye lubrication.
The nervous systems of insects are also structured differently from those of vertebrates. While insects have brains and nervous systems, they are generally more decentralized. They possess a brain, a ventral nerve cord, and ganglia—clusters of neurons that can control movements and behaviors. This decentralized system processes stimuli, but insects do not experience emotional pain or suffering akin to humans. Their neurological structures are not organized to integrate sensory information with memory, emotion, and self-awareness in the same way human brains do.
How Insects React to Threat
When insects encounter danger or physical harm, they employ a range of instinctual, survival-driven reactions rather than emotional expressions. One common defense is the release of chemical signals, such as alarm pheromones, to warn other members of their species. For instance, aphids release alarm pheromones when attacked, prompting other aphids to drop from the plant or seek shelter. Insects also exhibit various behavioral responses to avoid or deter threats, including rapidly fleeing, freezing in place, or playing dead (thanatosis). Some insects engage in aggressive displays, biting, or stinging to defend themselves.
Physical adaptations, such as hard exoskeletons, camouflage, or mimicry of more dangerous species, also serve as protective measures. Additionally, some insects produce sounds through mechanisms like stridulation or wing vibrations as a warning or distress signal, but these are primarily instinctual alarms rather than emotional cries.