Content
- the biggest insect in the world
- Coleoptera
- titanus giganteus
- Macrodontia cervicornis
- hercules beetle
- Asia giant praying mantis
- Orthoptera and Hemiptera
- giant weta
- Giant water cockroach
- Blatids and Lepidoptera
- Madagascar Cockroach
- Atlas moth
- Emperor moth
- Megaloptera and Odonatos
- Dobsongly-giant
- Magrelopepus caerulatus
You may have gotten used to living with small insects. However, there is an immense diversity of these arthropod invertebrate animals. It is estimated that there are more than a million species and, among them, there are giant insects. Even today it is common for scientists to discover new species of these animals that have three pairs of articulated legs. Including, the biggest insect insect in the world was discovered in 2016.
Do you want to know what are the biggest insects in the world? In this article by PeritoAnimal we present some of the giant insects - species, characteristics and images. Good reading.
the biggest insect in the world
Want to know which is the biggest insect in the world? It's a stick insect (Phryganistria Chinensis) in 64 cm and created by Chinese scientists in 2017. He is the son of the world's largest insect, discovered in southern China in 2016. The 62.4cm stick insect was found in the Guangxi Zhuang region and taken to the Insect Museum from West China in Sichuan City. There, he laid six eggs and generated what is currently considered the largest among all insects.
Before, it was believed that the biggest insect in the world was another stick insect, which had 56.7 cm, found in Malaysia in 2008. Stick insects represent about three thousand species of insects and are part of the order Phasmatodea. They feed on flowers, leaves, fruits, sprouts and, some, also on plant sap.
Coleoptera
Now that you know which is the biggest bug in the world, we'll move on with our list of giant bugs. Among the beetles, whose most popular specimens are the beetles and the ladybugs, there are several species of large insects:
titanus giganteus
O titanus giganteus or giant cerambicidae belongs to the family Cerambycidae, known for the length and arrangement of its antennae. It is the largest beetle in the world known today and that is why it ranks among the main giant insects. This beetle can measure 17 cm from the head to the tip of the abdomen (not counting the length of their antennae). It has powerful jaws capable of cutting a pencil in two. It inhabits tropical forests and can be seen in Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and the Guianas.
Now that you've met the biggest beetle in the world, you might also be interested in this other article on insect types: names and characteristics.
Macrodontia cervicornis
This huge beetle competes with the titanus giganteus the title of biggest beetle in the world when considered its gigantic jaws. It's so big that it even has parasites (which could be smaller beetles) on its body, more specifically, on its wings.
The drawings similar to tribal illustrations make it a very cute insect, which makes it a target of collectors and therefore it is considered a vulnerable species on the red list of animals at risk of extinction.
In this article you will meet the most beautiful insects in the world.
hercules beetle
The Hercules Beetle (hercules dynasts) is the third largest beetle in the world, behind the two we have already mentioned. It is also a beetle and can be found in tropical forests of Central and South America. Males can reach 17 cm in length due to their size. mighty horns, which can be even larger than the beetle's body. Its name is not by chance: it is capable of lifting up to 850 times its own weight and many consider it the strongest animal in the world. The females of this beetle do not have horns and are much smaller than the males.
In this other article, you will discover which are the most poisonous insects in Brazil.
Asia giant praying mantis
Asia's Giant Praying Mantis (Membrane Hierodula) it's the biggest praying mantis in the world. This giant insect has become a pet for many people thanks to its enormous ease of maintenance and its spectacular ferocity. Praying mantises do not kill their prey as they trap them and begin to devour them to the end.
Orthoptera and Hemiptera
giant weta
The giant weta (deinacrida fallai) is an orthopteran insect (of the family of crickets and grasshoppers) that can measure up to 20 cm. It is native to New Zealand and, despite its size, is a gentle insect.
Giant water cockroach
This giant cockroach (Lethocerus indicus), is the largest aquatic hemiptera insect. In Vietnam and Thailand, it is part of the diet of many people along with other smaller insects. This species has large jaws with which it can kill fish, frogs and other insects. It can reach 12 cm in length.
Blatids and Lepidoptera
Madagascar Cockroach
Madagascar's cockroach (Portentous Gromphadorhina), is a giant, restless cockroach native to Madagascar. These insects are neither sting nor bite and can reach up to 8 cm in length. In captivity they can live for five years. An interesting curiosity is that these giant cockroaches are able to whistle.
Atlas moth
This giant moth (Attacus atlas) is the largest lepidopteran in the world, with a wing area of 400 square centimeters. Females are larger than males. These giant insects inhabit the tropical and subtropical forests of Southeast Asia, especially in China, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. In India, these that are considered one of the largest moths in the world are cultivated for their ability to silk production.
Emperor moth
The famous (Thysania agrippina) may also be named white devil or ghost butterfly. It can measure 30 cm from one wing tip to the other and is considered the largest moth in the world. Typical of the Brazilian Amazon, it has also been seen in Mexico.
Megaloptera and Odonatos
Dobsongly-giant
THE giant dobsonfly it is a giant megalopter with a wingspan of 21 cm. This insect lives in ponds and shallow waters in Vietnam and China, as long as these waters are clean of pollutants. It looks like a giant dragonfly with overdeveloped jaws. In the photo below, there is an egg to demonstrate the size of this giant insect.
Magrelopepus caerulatus
This giant dragonfly (Magrelopepus caerulatus) is a beautiful zygomatic that combines beauty with great size. Its wingspan reaches 19 cm, with wings that look like made of glass and a very thin abdomen. This type of giant dragonfly inhabits tropical forests in Central and South America. As an adult, it can feed on spiders.
Now that you know a little more about the giant insects, you might be interested in this article about the ten biggest animals in the world.
If you want to read more articles similar to Giant Insects - Characteristics, Species and Images, we recommend that you enter our Curiosities section of the animal world.