Unexplainable Your bug roommates
6 snips
Jun 23, 2025 
Rob Dunn, an ecologist at NC State University and author of 'Never Home Alone', explores the hidden worlds of bugs in our homes. He reveals the surprising ecological importance of household pests, urging us to view them as valuable ecosystem players rather than mere nuisances. The fascinating camel cricket is highlighted, showcasing its unique traits and contributions to the environment. Dunn also delves into how our living spaces harbor rich biodiversity and even connects household insects to intriguing smells from the International Space Station.
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Unexpected Home Bug Diversity
- Michelle Troutwein and colleagues collected bugs from 50 houses around Raleigh, NC, using extensive fieldwork techniques.
- Despite expectations of sterility, each house held about 100 species of arthropods, showcasing vast indoor biodiversity.
Houses as Micro-Ecosystems
- Houses contain distinct micro-ecosystems in basements, attics, and bathrooms, similar to natural ecosystems like forest floors.
- Humans shed skin that dust mites eat, forming complex food webs involving mites and predators like centipedes.
Cricket Gut Microbes for Industry
- Rob Dunn discovered an invasive Asian camel cricket species spreading unnoticed across the US.
- Collaborating with microbiologists, researchers found microbes in the cricket's gut that break down industrial waste, showing potential for biotechnological use.