More affluent homes have greater variety of bugs

Insects are known to be common household inhabitants, but researchers have now found a link between socioeconomic status and biodiversity.

As a recent news release states: "A team from the California Academy of Sciences, North Carolina State University, and the Natural History Museum of Denmark, surveyed the number of different insects in 50 urban homes and determined that wealthier neighborhoods host a greater number of species types than their lower socioeconomic counterparts."

For the research, the team collected samples of arthropod species, which include insects, centipedes, spiders, and crustaceans, from various residences in Raleigh, North Carolina.

They then identified the bugs and compared them to factors including the average neighborhood income, the homes' square footage, and amount of surrounding greenery, among others.

The scientists believe more diverse bugs are likelier to thrive among wealthier residents because these areas tend to host a greater variety of plants on properties or in nearby parks and communal areas.

This phenomenon, called the 'luxury effect,' has also been observed among other living organisms including plants and birds.