It's time to meet the largest, longest and heaviest insects on Earth. Naturally, the largest species lived in the prehistoric era, but even in modern world there are still incredible bugs that will give anyone goosebumps. From the creepy giant weta to the more famous praying mantis, here is a list of the 25 largest insects in the world.
25. Protodonata or Meganisoptera
Meganisoptera is not only the largest dragonfly that has ever existed on our planet, but also the largest insect in the world. With a wingspan of up to 75 centimeters, this giant insect soared through the skies from the Carboniferous to the end of the Permian era (approximately 317 to 247 million years ago). Meganisoptera lived long before the appearance of pterosaurs, birds and bats, which means that it had no equal in the sky.
24. Giant ueta
Photo: Dinobass
The giant ueta (weta) is a very large species of insect that lives mainly in New Zealand. An adult beetle can weigh 35 grams. Ueta prefers to hide in fallen leaves and bark of fallen trees, and rests mainly during the day. At night, the heavyweight leaves its shelter to move into other trees in search of food and more comfortable housing. Despite its impressive size, the giant ueta only lives for 6-9 months.
23. Lumberjack Titan
Photo: Bernard Dupont
Rainforest endemic South America, the titan lumberjack is the largest known beetle not only in the Amazonian jungle, but also one of the largest insect species in the world. Titan grows up to 16.7 centimeters in length (according to unconfirmed reports - up to 22 centimeters), and hallmark of this giant insect are impressive claws, with which it can easily grab a pencil, for example. There are rumors that the Titan woodcutter can even tear through human flesh with his tongs. The most interesting thing is that entomologists have not yet been able to detect its larvae, and so far naturalists can only assume that the beetle spends the beginning of its life inside trees.
22. Australian walking cane
Photo: Rosa Pineda
The Australian cane (Extatosoma tiaratum) is a huge herbivore that lives in the tropical and temperate rainforests of Australia. These creatures are very similar to praying mantises, but entomologists distinguish them as two absolutely different types. Females are usually larger than males, they reach up to 20 centimeters in length and are covered with prickly spines. In turn, males also have something to brag about - they have as many as 3 eyes, and they can fly, unlike females, which have only the rudiments of wings.
21. Moth atlas
Photo: Quartl
This giant moth lives in the tropical and subtropical forests of Southeast Asia and is considered one of the largest species of Lepidoptera insects on the planet. The tropical moth has a wingspan of 25 centimeters, and the surface area of the wings of the atlas is 400 square centimeters, which is more than any other insect in the world. At the same time, her life expectancy is only 5-7 days. This short-lived beauty, people have found quite a practical application - in India, a giant moth is bred for the production of silk thread.
20. Rhinoceros cockroach (Macropanesthia rhinoceros) 
Photo: Mark Pellegrini (Raul654)
The giant rhinoceros cockroach (also known as the burrowing cockroach) lives in the rainforests of Queensland, Australia and is the largest and heaviest cockroach in the world. An adult representative of this species grows up to 8 centimeters in length and can weigh up to 35 grams. The life expectancy of a burrowing cockroach is quite impressive - scientists have found individuals whose age reached as much as 10 years. You may be surprised, but among amateur entomologists, the giant rhinoceros cockroach is quite popular as a ... pet.
19. Elephant beetle
Photo: sdbeazley / flickr
This insect prefers the humidity of tropical forests and lowlands of Central and South America (especially Mexico). The elephant beetle (or megasoma elephant) is a large insect that grows up to as much as 13 centimeters in length. Impressive in size, these creatures live only 1-3 months, prefer night time, feed on tree sap and tropical fruits.
18. Phobaeticus chani 
Photo: P.E. Bragg
Phobaeticus chani is one of the longest insect species in the world. Its more common name is Chan's stick insect, which this insect received in honor of its explorer Datuk Chen Zhaolun (Datuk Chen Zhaolun). A giant stick insect was discovered not so long ago in a tropical forest in Borneo (Borneo), where a Chinese naturalist happened to examine an individual of incredible length - 57 centimeters! The beetle variety Phobaeticus chani is still not fully understood, because the insect lives on the highest trees of the rainforest, which makes it too secretive for observation and research.
17. Queen Alexandra's Birdwing
Photo: Robert Nash
It is surprising beautiful creation was found in the rainforests of the province of Oro (Oro) in the east of Papua New Guinea. Another name for this bird wing is also known - Queen Alexandra's ornithopter, and it is recognized as the largest butterfly in the world. The wingspan of this giant creature reaches 30.5 centimeters, and it feeds mainly on the nectar of tropical flowers.
16. Giant water bug
Photo: Frank Vassen
The giant water bug (Belostomatidae) is also known as the "alligator flea", and it lives mainly in freshwater reservoirs, lakes, streams and rivers of North and South America, Northern Australia and East Asia. Water bugs are fierce predators, and cases of attacks of these bugs are known not only on fish and frogs, but also on small snakes and even turtles. Killer beetle? It sounds scary, but there is another no less predatory insect ahead of you. Be patient until the 11th point of our top ...
15. Giant Atlas Beetle
Photo: JohnSka
The Atlas beetle (Chalcosoma atlas) got its name in honor of the ancient mythical deity who held the vault of heaven on his shoulders. Another name for this beetle is the Caucasian beetle, and representatives of this species are considered one of the largest on Earth. Atlas is widely distributed in Southeast Asia, especially in Malaysia. Atlas males can reach as much as 13 centimeters in length.
14. Saint Helena earwig
Photo: wikimedia
In front of you is the giant earwig Labidura herculeana, the largest member of the leathery-winged order, which is sometimes called the “Dodo of the earwig world” (Dodo is a giant bird, died out in the 17th century AD) or the St. Helena earwig. History knows about the 8-cm Labidura herculeana, but the last time a living adult of this earwig was seen was already in May 1967, and in 2014 scientists regretfully announced that the Dodo of the world of earwigs had finally died out.
13. Goliath beetle
Photo: fir0002
Endemic to tropical regions of Africa, goliath beetles are the largest insects in the world, both as adults and as larvae. It is believed that these beetles are the heaviest of all insects on Earth. Their larvae weigh up to 100 grams, and adults reach up to 12 centimeters in length.
12. Mustaches or lumberjacks
Photo: Hectonichus
The longhorn beetle in the photo is a giant beetle species easily recognizable by its beautiful pattern on the back and enlarged jaws. There are other names for this insect - barbel, woodcutter, or scientifically Cerambycidae. The long-horned beetle lives in the tropical forests of South America, and despite its huge size (more than 17 centimeters in length), this species of insect can even fly.
11. Bird-eating hawk
Photo: wikimedia
The tarantula hawk is a large road wasp or pompilid that preys on tarantulas. The females of this species of insect paralyze the spider with a prick of their sting. On a successful hunt, these seemingly modest creatures are able to overcome a tarantula, which is most often 8 times heavier than a road wasp. This difference in weight does not prevent dragging the slain spider into the hole, where the female lays her larvae directly on the body of the prey. When new tarantula hawks are born, they initially feed on tarantulas stored in the hole.
10 Giant Wasp
Photo: Didier Descouens
9. Gauromydas heroes 
Photo: Biologoandre
Gauromydas heros are the largest flies in the world. This variety is long dipterous insect grows up to 7 centimeters, and its wingspan reaches 10 centimeters, which is quite a lot for a fly. Gauromydas heros lives in southern Brazil and prefers to lay its larvae in anthills. Scientists have not fully understood the species' lifestyle, but adult males presumably feed on flower nectar, females probably do not, and the larvae of these flies eat the larvae of leaf cutter ants, in whose colonies they hide.
8. Macrotermes Bellicosus
Photo: ETF89
This termite lives in Africa and Southeast Asia. Macrotermes Bellicosus is the largest known member of its infraorder. This insect got into our list due to the fact that its uterus during the laying period reaches approximately 11 centimeters in length. The size of other members of the colony is much more modest - termite workers grow up to 3-4 centimeters, and soldiers are not much larger. Macrotermes Bellicosus live by hunting and gathering, and the peak of activity of this species of termites is observed during the rainy season.
7. Hercules beetle
Photo: Anaxibia
The Hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules) is one of the largest beetles in the world, and it lives mainly in the jungles of South America. Representatives of this genus are considered the largest and most famous of all rhinoceros beetles, close relatives of scarabs. Some males reach 17.5 centimeters, including the length of the monohorn.
6. Thysania agrippina
Photo: Acrocynus
Thysania agrippina is a nocturnal moth, more commonly known by other names, including agrippa cutworm, agrippina cutworm, agrippina's thysania, agrippa, night moth, and even ghost moth. Agrippina scoop is one of the largest flying insects, and its wingspan reaches almost 30 centimeters. The largest night lives in Mexico, Central America and South America, and is also sometimes found in Texas (Texas).
5 Stag Beetle (Lucanidae)
Photo: Trevor Harris / geograph.org.uk
The stag beetle or stag beetle, also sometimes known as the comb beetle, is an insect that is easy to recognize due to its huge size (about 12 centimeters in length) and imposing mandibles (lower jaws) resembling tusks or horns. In appearance, the beetle looks very intimidating, but in fact it feeds on tree sap, and uses its lower jaws only in mating games or during fights with its own relatives. For humans, this insect is usually completely harmless.
4. Giant winged dragonfly
Photo: Steven G. Johnson
The largest dragonfly living on our planet, the giant winged dragonfly in scientific world also known as Megaloprepus Caerulatus. The graceful insect is decorated with silver-blue stripes, as well as white and black spots. But don't be fooled by its beauty, this dragonfly is a dangerous predator. True, Megaloprepus Caerulatus poses the greatest threat only to spiders, which the equalwing catches directly from their cozy nets. The giant dragonfly lives in the tropical forests of Central and South America, and the largest wingspan of these insects is as much as 19 centimeters!
3. Mantis
Photo: Oliver Koemmerling
This insect is almost at the top of its food chain and feeds mainly on other members of its native class, although there is evidence that praying mantises sometimes attack small reptiles, small mammals and even birds! The largest mantis known to entomologists was discovered in southern China in 1929, and its length was as much as 18 centimeters.
2. Stick Man Zhao
Photo: Joachim Bresseel, Jerome Constant
In 2014, in the southern province of Guangxi (Guangxi) was discovered the new kind insect. They became the stick insect Zhao (Phryganistria Chinensis Zhao), whose dimensions reached as much as 62.4 centimeters. The giant was discovered by the Chinese entomologist Zhao Li, and today it is the longest insect in the world. The stick insect was named after a Chinese explorer who hunted this incredible fastmatid for 6 years until he finally managed to catch one of these long-legged beauties.
1. Mosquito centipedes of the species Holorusia Brobdignagius
Photo: wikimedia
Long-legged mosquitoes or caramora are insects of the Diptera family of the long-legged suborder. Their favorite habitat is forests near fresh water bodies and swamps. Adults feed on plant nectar, while larvae feed on decaying plants. The largest of the caramors, holorusia brobdignagius grows up to 23 centimeters in length if the limbs are extended behind and in front of its body. This value allows us to consider this Chinese centipede the longest of its kind.
Insects are the most numerous class in the animal kingdom. Scientists have already described more than 1 million of their species! They are distributed throughout the Earth, including Antarctica.
What is the largest insect in the world?
giant stick insect
A representative of the ghost squad Phobaeticus Chani or simply Chan's Megastick is the longest insect on the planet and the rarest. Throughout history, only 3 specimens of this species have been found in the tropical forests of East Malaysia.
Its size is simply shocking: the length of the body with legs reaches 60 centimeters! But the weight of the stick insect is not so impressive and is only 63 grams.
Chanya was found back in 1989 on the island of Kalimantan, which is located in the Center of the Malay Archipelago. Chang traveled from amateur naturalist Chen Zhaolong to London Museum natural sciences, where he got in 2008.
There are several thousand types of stick insects! As we found out, Chanya is the longest of them, more than half a meter in length, the rest reach 30-40 cm. They live in Indian, South American, and Australian forests.
No wonder the Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus, for the first time classifying these animals, called them ghosts. There have been legends about living branches and wandering leaves for a long time, they were called spirits. Aboriginal people were frightened by bright winged creatures appearing from nowhere and disappearing into nowhere. Superstitious fear was caused by twigs with beady eyes, coming to life in the hands.
But these were huge insects that could fantastically disguise themselves. Their unusual body shape and coloring allow them to hide from predators on plants. Stick insects can also resemble dry straws, sticks, slivers, pieces of bark, dried leaves, due to which they easily merge with the outside world and are very inconspicuous. This quality is very important for insects, which are a tasty morsel for birds and animals. If the mega-stick sits on a branch, it will become its absolute copy, and a common person never notice him. This requires only the trained eye of an entomologist.
For a defensive posture, the stick insect uses catalepsy, a special property that keeps the body immobile in the most uncomfortable or ridiculous position for a long time.
The largest insects in the world are very calm and not at all dangerous. Insects are not poisonous, they can be picked up, but some stick insects emit odorous substances that cause allergies or a slight burn.
They reproduce with incomplete transformation: the female lays eggs, from which nymph larvae hatch after a month. In the initial stage of development, the larvae are similar to an adult, only small.
Different kinds stick insects live from six months to 2.5 years. Insects are nocturnal, during the day they hide in the dense foliage of plants, showing no signs of life. They eat only plant foods. Their life - constant search food.
Most species of stick insects have been bred in the human world, they easily get used to a new environment, become attached to their place of residence. Their diet is quite simple - ivy, blackberries, legumes, hibiscus, raspberries, blackberries, wild roses, mimosa, oak twigs, acorns. Sometimes they feast on the fruits of fruit trees or vegetables. At a young age, they actively grow, molt and eat the skin.
Insects are mostly unpretentious, and their care is simple. What needs to be considered:
- The house is a small glass container called an insectarium. Its height must be at least three stick insect lengths. Insectarium needs good ventilation. The temperature of the content of stick insects is up to +26 ° C. The thickness of the soil for the insectarium should be at least 7-10 cm. Steamed peat is best used.
- In advance, you need to take care of the supply of feed for the winter. Frozen branches of oak, raspberry, lilac, honeysuckle are best suited.
The most famous stick insect society in the world is located in the UK and is called the British Stick Inspection Society.
Ueta - a collection of insects, uniting more than 100 species. This species includes the heaviest insect - Deinacrida heteracantha. Its females grow up to 8.5 centimeters in length and weigh up to 70 grams! The largest part of the weight is the eggs, which are in abdominal cavity females. Without eggs, its weight is only 20 grams. The female lays eggs (up to 300 pieces at a time), after which she dies.
Males of this species have very strong jaws, which they need to fight other members of their species, but they are absolutely harmless to humans.
Ueta have a striking resemblance to ordinary grasshoppers, only larger. When it is necessary to attack an opponent, they use their hind legs, which they throw out in front of them with amazing speed and force. If this measure of protection does not help, they fall on their backs, pretending to be dead. They have large spines on their feet. Insects feed not only on flies and bugs, but also on some plants. They are also involved in seed dispersal. Live only in New Zealand. They lead a nocturnal lifestyle.
Ueta cannot jump or fly, they are very fat insects. They are sedentary, during the night they can overcome only a few tens of meters. They have large dark eyes, brown color. They have no obvious enemies other than humans.
The largest insects known so far are beetles, reaching a length of 20 or even more centimeters, and this is not counting the antennae. They live in Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador. They are completely harmless to humans.
The insect is called the woodcutter-titan. He has a very paving jaw, with which he breaks wood, he can easily break a branch of medium thickness. Lives in rotten stumps, leads a nocturnal lifestyle. One can only guess about their reproduction, because it is still unknown what their larvae look like. These are quite secretive insects. They can fly, but prefer to crawl, as they are very clumsy.
Distributed throughout the Amazon.
Large insects are not new, but this giant, which is compared in size to a kitten, really deserves attention. This huge insect lives in the mountains of Malaysia. Leads a giant long-legged grasshopper nocturnal. Only at night they go in search of food or mate. Their diet consists mainly of plants, but sometimes they do not mind eating insects.
The paws of these largest grasshoppers on the planet are very long. But they jump and run badly, preferring to move slowly on the ground.
One of the largest insects in the world and very heavy living on our globe. For an insect, its weight is simply enormous. The rhinoceros cockroach is 9 centimeters long and weighs up to 40 grams. He lives exclusively in Australia, where the climate and habitat suit him. Settles in soft leaf litter, which it eats. Most of all loves eucalyptus bedding.
The rhinoceros cockroach is a long-liver. He lives for 10 years, which is a lot for an insect and is not natural.
Not the largest, but the heaviest insect on our planet is the goliath beetle. The length of males reaches 11 cm, width - 6 cm, females are 5-8 centimeters in length. The goliath beetle weighs from 80 to 100 grams! For comparison, a sparrow weighs only 40 grams. These insects live in New Guinea and are related to the cockchafer.
Goliaths feed on leaves, tree sap, and the pulp of overripe fruits. They spend their entire lives in trees, descending to the ground only to breed. They are slow, clumsy and clumsy, but fly well.
Females differ from males only in weight and head shape. The female has a growth in the form of a shield on her head, with which she, like a shovel, digs a hole for laying eggs. The head of males is decorated with horns for fights.
Huge beetles have huge larvae, they reach up to fifteen centimeters in length and weigh 110 grams! Their diet is limited to humus and weaker relatives.
People have recently learned about the existence of the goliath beetle, now many collectors want it to be in their collection.
The giant Asian praying mantis is practically no different from its smaller relatives. It lives in Southeast Asia, as well as in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka.
These insects live in the foliage of trees and bushes, move to daytime days, fly reluctantly. An adult in size reaches 9-10 centimeters, but females are larger than males. Throughout their lives, they change color many times from brown, black, to white or red. The color depends on the background on which the praying mantis molted. For example, if an insect molts against the background of grass, then it will be green, if it is brown against the background of tree bark. This is a real chameleon in the world of insects!
This one is most likely shedding against the background of dry leaves.
You should not joke with this insect, it is very aggressive, especially females. All praying mantises are predators. They easily deal not only with grasshoppers, butterflies, aphids, flies, wasps, poisonous spiders and ladybugs, but even small lizards, mice and chicks. In especially hungry years, females eat males, on the contrary - never. If you take a praying mantis in your hand, then he can bite your finger until it bleeds. It's annoying, but not life-threatening.
Praying mantises, including the giant Asian one, are the only insects in the world who can look behind themselves. Exotic lovers keep praying mantises at home as their favorite pets.
Many people, maybe most of them, are afraid of insects. Crawling, flying, jumping - any. And not because they are terribly scary or all very dangerous, but simply because they are small, many-legged and generally nasty. This rating presents the largest representatives of this class. And if you really don’t like these little creatures, then it’s better not to look at the big ones at all. :)
13
Opening our list of the largest insects in the world is the largest cockroach - the Giant burrowing cockroach, which lives in the Australian state of North Queensland. It is the largest and heaviest of all cockroach species on the planet. The length of his body can reach 8 centimeters, and the whole 30 grams. They called him a burrower because he knows how to dig long and deep tunnels, and is the only cockroach that can build his own dwelling underground. Due to the fact that these cockroaches cannot fly, as they do not have wings, they are not considered pests. Representatives of this species live up to cockroaches up to 10 years, and mainly in bushes. Some insect lovers prefer to have this cockroach as a pet, as this insect is very fond of cleanliness, does not have bad smell and does not try to escape from the aquarium.
12
Due to the drying of wetlands in Australia, giant dragonflies are on the list of endangered insects. Like a real predator, the giant dragonfly preys on other insects, and it does it on the fly. The females of this insect are usually larger than the males. Their wingspan reaches fifteen centimeters. During the mating season, the females go about their usual business, fluttering over the swamps, and the males fly around them, choosing a mate. If the female of the giant dragonfly does not like the male, she wraps the back of the body inside, and if the suitor is to her liking, she allows the male to approach and attach to her. The male has two pairs of genitals and literally before fertilization, the male's sperm comes from his first genitals to the second! And later, the fertilized female lays her eggs in peat moss in the swamp.
11
The Chinese praying mantis is a species of the largest praying mantis, originally living in China and leading a predatory lifestyle at night. They feed on other insects. In 1895, these insects were brought to North America to control pests in the fields. Today, Chinese praying mantises play a significant role in the US farming industry. They reach 15 centimeters in length, weigh about 64 grams and live 5-6 months. It was believed that this amazing insect can be used to prepare a drug that can cure impotence and incontinence.
While males of the Chinese praying mantis prey on insects that are significantly inferior to them in size, females attack reptiles, amphibians, and even hummingbirds. Mating is a very unsafe process for males. In 50% of cases, the female Chinese praying mantis eats her partner during or after mating. This happens due to the fact that early stage egg development she needs a large number of proteins, which are abundant in her partner's body. Chinese praying mantises are the second insects, after stick insects, that people keep at home as pets. People who dared to tame these unusual insects claim that their pets are perfect in everything and no dog or cat simply can compare with them.
10
The giant water bug lives in Japan and is listed as an endangered species. They grow up to 15 centimeters and are considered the most biting of all types of insects. Its bite is very painful, so anyone who dives underwater in the area where the water beetle lives is in danger of learning it for themselves. These beetles live mainly in rice fields, feeding on fish, small amphibians and crustaceans. Having previously paralyzed the victim with their poison, they suck out its liquid remains. When the beetle encounters prey that is too tough for it, or when it becomes the object of a hunt, the insect pretends to be dead. At the same time, an unpleasantly smelling liquid begins to flow from his anus.
These beetles reproduce in a rather unusual way. The females lay their eggs directly on the males who move with them, as the eggs need air to prevent mold from growing on them. Three weeks later, the eggs turn into larvae. Despite not very appetizing appearance, this insect is considered a very refined delicacy in Thailand.
9
Theraphosa Blonda spider or goliath tarantula is the largest spider in the world, thanks to which it can hunt frogs, toads, lizards, mice and even small snakes and birds. The largest representative of this species was found in 1965 in Venezuela, the span of its legs reached 28 centimeters. The size of the body of the female Terafoza Blond reaches 9 centimeters, and the male - 8.5 centimeters. The size of the dorsal shield is the same both in length and in width. The body is painted dark brown. The legs are covered with a mass of reddish-brown hairs. Females live for about 15-25 years, and sometimes up to 30, while males are much shorter, averaging 3-6 years.
Theraphosa Blond lives in the tropical forests of South America. It is rare to meet him in captivity, this is due to the ban on the export of these arthropods from the countries where they live. He lives in burrows, but he does not dig them himself. After killing the mouse, the tarantula does two things at once: it takes food and acquires housing. Theraphosa Blond weighs about 120g, so he has enough weight to attack such animals. Scientists have proven that the venom of these spiders is more like a painkiller or a sleeping pill. The fangs of this spider are powerful enough to bite through human skin, but it only bites in self-defense. The effect of this poison on a person is comparable to a bee sting. Among the Indians, the tarantula has always been considered a delicacy. It is also believed that spider eggs are unusually tasty.
8
The Hercules beetle is considered one of the largest beetles on Earth. The body length of the male reaches 16 centimeters, females up to 8 centimeters. The wingspan of males is up to 22 centimeters. The body is covered with sparse reddish hairs. The color of the elytra of the male depends on the humidity of the environment and may vary. On the head of the male there is a large horn with several teeth, directed forward. On the front back there is a second large horn, directed forward and somewhat curved downwards. Female without horns, dull, black, elytra tuberculate, covered with brown hairs.
After mating, the females lay their eggs in small cavities in rotten wood - the future food substrate for the larvae. One female can lay up to 100 eggs.
The larvae of the first stage feed exclusively on small wood fibers. As they grow and develop, they begin to eat harder, rotten wood. At the end of its development, the larva reaches a length of up to 18 centimeters, and can weigh up to 100 grams. The homeland of these beetles is the tropical forests of Central and South America, as well as the islands caribbean. They feed on overripe fruits. Most of the time they spend on the ground, although, thanks to sharp claws on long legs, they are excellent poison dart frogs.
7 Atlas Moth
Moth "Atlas" - a butterfly of the Peacock-eye family, which lives in tropical and subtropical forests in southeast Asia and reaches enormous sizes. The females of these moths are much larger than the males and their wingspan reaches 28 cm. The open butterfly wings with a pattern on them give the impression of a large, vicious muzzle of a snake. According to experts, this is a kind of protection from enemies, and the butterfly itself is completely harmless and not poisonous. She doesn't even have a mouth. All my short life, which lasts only two weeks from the moment the chrysalis turns into a butterfly, this creature does only one thing - lays as many eggs as possible. Atlases do not drink or eat. They live off the nutrients that they received at the caterpillar stage.
Females are sexually passive and attract males by emitting special pheromones, which they catch thanks to chemoreceptors located on their antennae. A male intoxicated with pheromones, picked up by air currents, can fly several kilometers in search of his beloved. Due to the huge size of the wings, representatives of this species fly very poorly, therefore the only way for the male to get to the female is to catch a fair wind. Unlike males, females are sedentary and do not move far from the cocoon from which they were born.
6
Weta is the collective name for more than 100 species found in New Zealand. The giant ueta is the heaviest insect in the world. Females of this species, reaching a length of 8.5 centimeters, can weigh up to 71 grams during pregnancy. Usually they weigh about 30 grams. Almost all of them are wingless. Outwardly, they are somewhat reminiscent of a large brown grasshopper, but the hind legs are enlarged and covered with large spikes. During the defense, the insect throws them with force in front of itself and tries to injure the attacker.
Weta are perfectly adapted to living in any habitat, whether it be forest, field, caves, earth or city parks. They are nocturnal and feed on lichens, leaves, flowers and fruits. These insects bring considerable benefit to the development of the flora of New Zealand - they take an active part in the distribution of seeds of local plants, feeding on their fruits. Puberty in a giant ueta occurs only by one and a half years. At a time, the female lays about 200-300 eggs in the ground, after which she dies after a while. Now there is a decrease in the number of these insects. The main reason for this is the destruction of giant ueta by small mammals and rodents.
5
Goliath beetles are a genus of very large beetles from the subfamily Bronzovki in the family Lamellar, common in Central and Southeast Africa. These beetles are considered one of the heaviest beetles in the world - individual males can weigh up to 70 grams. The body length of males is from 8 to 11 centimeters, and females from 50 to 80. Goliaths, like other members of the bronze beetle group, differ from other beetles in that their elytra have a notch on the anterior lateral edge through which wings are released during flight, and elytra remain folded. In the daytime, beetles actively fly and spend most of their time in the crowns of trees. They rarely land on the ground. They feed on the flowing sap of trees and overripe fruits.
The life expectancy of a beetle is about 6 months. In many insects, including goliaths, the onset of a period of activity requires an immediate rise in body temperature to the point at which flight is possible. After mating, the female burrows into the ground, where she lays her eggs in small natural cavities. There, the larvae feed on rotted leaves and humus, but they do not stop there and willingly resort to cannibalism of their own relatives - older larvae can eat younger ones. By the end of their development, the larvae reach a length of 15 centimeters and weigh 100-110 grams.
4
The woodcutter-titanium is a species of beetle from the family of barbels, belonging to one of the largest insects. Distributed throughout the Amazon - from Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Suriname and Guyana to Bolivia and the middle part of Brazil. The largest beetle species in the world. The maximum length of the beetle can reach 17 centimeters. Larger sizes reach only a few specimens. The cost of dried specimens of the largest possible size for entomological collections can reach 680-1000 US dollars. Females are larger and bulkier than males. The color is pitch-brown or brown-brown.
It leads a nocturnal lifestyle, which is typical for most closely related species. At dusk, the activity of beetles increases, they crawl out of their daytime shelters, rise to elevations and take off. Males are very sensitive to light, since females rarely fall into the light traps of entomologists. Life expectancy is from 3 to 5 weeks, during which the beetles do not feed and live off the fat reserves accumulated at the larval stage. Despite his calm nature, catching him " with bare hands"It's quite a risky business. Its jaws can easily bite through a pencil, so you should be extremely careful when catching it.
3
Scolopendra giant - reaches a length of 26 cm, is found on the islands of Jamaica and Trinidad, in the north and west of South America. There are cases of giant centipede attacks on birds, lizards, mice and toads. The females are especially poisonous. The body consists of 21-23 copper-red or Brown color, each with a pair of bright legs yellow color. One pair of legs turned into her jaws with claws connected to poisonous glands. And the rear pair - in special dragging large legs, which help the animal to cling to clods of soil in earthen passages.
The centipede seizes the victim with its front legs, sticks poisonous jaws into it and begins to chew. Skolopendra eats rather slowly and for a long time, taking short breaks. In humans, a scolopendra bite causes local swelling and pain, usually lasting 1-2 hours. The giant centipede is very agile. On the ground it moves with fast serpentine movements, climbing trees in search of prey. He is absolutely not afraid of people, so on occasion he comes to visit tourists. She will not be the first to attack a person, but if she is accidentally crushed or hurt, she will behave quite aggressively.
It hunts at night, during the day it prefers to be underground, where the risk of dehydration is minimized. The fact is that her spiracles are located on nine segments, so she quickly loses moisture and can die in the sun. In the minks dug by other animals, he feels very comfortable, relying on his sense of touch, because the eyesight of centipedes is not developed - they are only able to distinguish light from darkness. Reproduction occurs in mid-spring. The male scatters a partially frozen sexual secret on the ground, and the female picks it up and lays eggs. Giant centipedes live for about 7 years.
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The giant long-legged grasshopper is the largest and most well-camouflaged green grasshopper on the planet, although they have more in common with crickets. Their wings sometimes look almost the same as the leaves, embossed with spots, and even with holes. This type of grasshopper is native to the tropical forests of Malaysia. Despite very long legs, this grasshopper cannot jump well, but prefers to move slowly and rarely fly. These grasshoppers grow up to 15 centimeters. These creatures may look a little intimidating, but in fact they are more afraid of you than you are of them.
The giant long-legged grasshopper is not well understood, but it is known that they use their long antennae to find food and attract breeding mates. During the day, they practically do not move, but sit peacefully among the leaves and bushes. They mainly eat plants, but some may also feed on small insects. The males of this species have organs that produce a high-pitched sound, which they also use to attract females. It is believed that these insects are the most "loud" in the world.
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And now we come to the first place and the largest insect in the world. Chan's Megastick is a species of insect from the stick family that reaches a length of about 57 centimeters. Chan's stick insect was classified only in 2008, named after Datuk Chan-Chu-Lun, who was the first to study this species. Only a few specimens of this species have been found, all in the jungles of the Malaysian state of Sabah, the lifestyle of the species has not been studied at all.
Everyone knows that the largest insects lived in the prehistoric era, but even in the modern world you can still find sufficiently large representatives of this class, from the sight of which goosebumps will run.
Meganisoptera
Meganisoptera (or Griffinfly) is the largest dragonfly that has ever lived in the world, as well as the largest prehistoric insect. This giant with a wingspan of 75 cm reigned in the skies approximately 317 - 247 million years ago, long before pterosaurs, birds and bats appeared.
Giant New Zealand grasshopper
The weight of a grasshopper can reach 35 g. During the day, it usually hides among fallen leaves or under rotten trees, but at night it leaves its secluded place. Despite its huge size, the grasshopper lives only 6-9 months.
lumberjack titan
Native to the rainforests of South America, this beetle is the largest insect in the world. At 16.7 cm long, this giant insect can easily snap a pencil in half with its pincers. There were cases when these mites pierced into human flesh.
Australian stick insect
This huge insect eats plants and lives in Australia. In females, the body is covered with prickly spines, in males it is smooth. Females are larger than males and can reach a length of up to 20 cm. Although outwardly they look like praying mantises, the relationship between them is not close.
Peacock-eye atlas
This large butterfly lives in the tropical and subtropical forests of Southeast Asia. The wingspan is up to 25 cm. These beautiful creatures fascinate with their bright colors. But they live only 5-7 days.
Giant burrowing cockroach
It lives mainly in the tropical parts of the Australian state of Queensland. This is one of the largest and heaviest cockroaches in the world. It reaches a length of up to 8 cm and weighs up to 35 g. Also known as a rhinoceros cockroach. Some people keep it at home as a pet. It can live up to 10 years.
elephant beetle
A native of the tropical forests of Central and South America (especially common in Mexico). This amazing beetle reaches a length of up to 13 cm. It is active mainly at night. The beetle feeds on tree sap and fallen tropical fruits.
Chen's Mega Stick
This is one of the longest insects in the world (up to 57 cm). It was recently discovered in a tropical forest on the island of Borneo. This species of stick insect remains largely unexplored because the insect lives in the tops of trees, where it is very difficult to detect.
Birdwing of Queen Alexandra
The world's largest butterfly, which can be found in the rainforests of Oro Province in the east of Papua New Guinea. This giant creature has a wingspan of up to 30.5 cm, the butterfly feeds on the liquid nectar of tropical flowers.
giant water bug
This large insect can be found in freshwater ponds, lakes, streams and rivers in North and South America, Northern Australia and East Asia. These ferocious predators are known to attack small fish and frogs, but they can also kill small snakes and even turtles. The bug is also known by other names - “biting fingers” and “alligator mites”.
Rhinoceros beetle
Also known as the Caucasian Beetle. This particularly large species is found throughout Southeast Asia, especially in Malaysia. Males can reach a length of 13 cm.
Saint Helena earwig
The largest species of earwigs that once lived on the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. The body length reached 8 cm. The last confirmed meeting with a live earwig took place in May 1967. In 2014, this remarkable species was officially declared extinct.
goliath beetle
Native to tropical regions of Africa, goliath beetles are striking in their size, their larvae are also very large and heavy (can weigh up to 100 g). Adults reach a length of 12 cm.
lumberjack titan
Found in the tropical forests of South America. The beetle is easily recognizable by its beautiful pattern and large jaws. Despite its huge size (more than 17 cm in length), this species is well adapted to flight.
wasp tarantula hawk
The wasp preys on spiders, including tarantulas. The females of this species paralyze the spider with their bite. They then drag the spider, which can be up to 8 times their weight, into the burrow, where they lay their eggs in it. The wasp larvae then feed on the tarantula and develop into adults over time.
Scoliosis wasps
stag beetle
The beetle is distinguished by its large size (up to 12 cm), intimidating appearance and impressive jaws, similar to ticks. However, this giant feeds on plant sap and only uses its jaws during courtship or in fights for females. It usually does not pose a danger to humans.
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