I didn't read the books but at the end it makes out like the humans are the bad guys yet the bugs did try to conquer earth. They started the war and tried to kill all humans so why should we show mercy. I was on the commanders side even if the bugs said they wanted peace why risk it, they could just be saying that whilst they build up an army like germany did before ww2 and like Japan did when they bombed pearl harbour.
shareMaybe they were telepathic? Maybe they communicated telepathically with each other as a matter of course and so figured we would or might also?
We also may appear to be ghastly to a race of insectoid beings. We are soft and grimy. We're covered in microscopic bugs that feed off of our waste materials, we shed a gazillion skin cells per day, we are walking bacteria incubators and smell bad, covering it up with toxic chemicals...
...we have limited cognitive capabilities and can't work together based on superficial criteria. Our senses only perceive a very narrow band of light and sound...our main communication is through vibrating air in a tube to make a series of grunts, squeaks and screeches...
Maybe the two species are so different that even telepathic communication was impossible?