I think there must be others. Butterflys? Fireflies? Ladybugs?

I stand corrected. You found 3 more. :)

And I like Praying Mantises because I think they're probably secretly alien robots. I wonder if biologists have ever taken one apart to see if they're truly biological or a machine. I've seen one take down a humming bird, so it's gotta be some kinda machine bro.

Dragonflies are kinda cool too, and mantis.

While they are admittedly not insects, I feel jumping-spiders deserve an honorable mention.

Jumping spiders are adorable.

I would think that was mostly because of the relation bees have to honey and all the wonderful imagery and thoughts people have about honey. But there is also a lot of general cultural tradition in bee keeping going back atleast 5,000 years.

wow. I didn't know it went back that far, but it makes sense mankind discovered hives are basically a free sugar factory that long ago!!

There is some evidence of it going farther back to 9,000 years, essentially trying to harvest wild bee honey without killing the bees themselves, however 5,000 years is generally considered the time period when honey bees first became domesticated and we were actively managing and colonizing multiple artificial hives.

I mean it was probably easier 250,000 years ago for primates to steal some honey, because we still had our long body hair back then I think, so that's more protection from bee stings.

> the only insect that most people don't find disgusting

That reminds me of a bit of fiction where a bioengineered commercial species is being critiqued:

> Miles leaned forward again, to peer in revolted fascination. "It looks like a cross between a cockroach, a termite, and a... and a... and a pustule. [...] Nobody will want to eat food that comes out of something that looks like that. Hell, they won't want to eat anything it touches."

> "People eat honey," argued Mark. "And that comes out of bugs."

> "Honeybees are... sort of cute. They're furry, and they have those classy striped uniforms. And they're armed with their stings, just like little swords, which makes people respect them." [...]

> Enrique said, in a bewildered tone, "So do you think if I put stings on my butter bugs, Barrayarans would like them better?"

> "No!" said Miles and Mark together.

> Enrique sat back, looking rather hurt.

--A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold Enrique sat back, looking rather hurt.