So, I was reading the 'Is Honey Vegan' thread, and it seems lots of people put bees on the same level as other members of the animal kingdom.  Someone argued something along the lines of: since bees are in the phylum Arthropoda, that makes them equivalent to lobsters, crabs and such. 

My first thought was, well yeah, it also puts them on the "same level" as houseflies and fleas (also phylum Arthropoda).

So, I am curious, how many people on this forum don't differentiate between species?  I would certainly never want to harm a bee, but I also don't put it on the same level as, say, a cow or a deer.

Please note, I am not asking whether an insects' "well-being" matters or not.  I simply am curious how many of you consider insects (and for that matter,  what is traditionally known as other "lower" forms of life) on the "same level" as, say mammals, for instance.

I find it hard to believe that some people, if put in a situation where they had to choose between (for instance) the life of a dog and the life of a flea, would have a hard time deciding which one to save.

What about if you had to choose between saving a mouse or a chimpanzee?  Again, I think the choice is clear, but I assume some would disagree.  I'm just curious to hear opinions.  Are all life forms equal?