What is the difference between a bug and an insect?

Answer by  sanityrose (2664)

A bug is actually a certain type of insect. They have stylet mouths and thicker front wings. A spider is an arachnid. They all have eight jointed legs.

Answer by  jessgirl2 (319)

The general term "bug" is used to describe members of the phylum Arthopoda. Insects belong to the class Insecta, while spiders belong to the class Arachnida. Both classes are part of phylum Arthopoda, so both "insect" and "spider" (arachnid) are basically just narrower definitions of the word "bug". The differences all have to do with classification.

Answer by  bl834 (1317)

A "bug" is pretty much an invertebrate creepy-crawlie of any type (I think that includes worms even), though a "true bug" is of the order Hemiptera. An "insect" specifically has three body parts (head, thorax, abdomen), three sets of legs, antennae, compound eyes and wings. Spiders aren't insects, they're arachnids that eat insects.

Answer by  HMH (44)

Scientifically, a bug refers to a specific order of insects, the hemiptera, also known as 'True Bugs.' Insects are a class of arthropods that have a hard exoskeleton and six legs, or what people commonly refer to as 'bugs.' Spiders while being arthropods and closely related to insects are not insects at all they are arachnids.