Could Insect species evolve to levels of advanced intelligence?
Theoretically, anything is possible when there are unknown variables. However, it is unlikely that insects will ever evolve to a state where individuals posses a reasonable degree of intelligence. Intelligence is not a priority for insect survival; even the lowliest insect life is likely to outlive humans by many thousands of years. They have no reason to evolve in a manner that would enhance their minds and so it is unlikely that natural Selection will make them so.
No, they could not because advanced intelligence requires a large brain, and a large brain requires a large body, and insects cannot have large bodies because their gas exchange system works well only over short distances. Rather than lungs, insects have small holes in their body through which oxygen enters and carbon dioxide exits. The holes are connected to a system of tubes that divide into smaller and smaller tubes throughout the body. That works well, but only over distances of up to a few inches. Notice that this kind of explanation has nothing to do with woodpeckers crashing their heads into trees. I’m glad that you asked a very intelligent question. I’m afraid that “woodpecker boy” and “she’ll kill us” get their oxygen through a series of finely dividing tubes–not efficient enough for advanced intelligence.
