On our planet there is the largest variety of insects, small, large and even huge. They live in different regions of our planet. When you meet them in nature, you can sometimes be surprised by their impressive size. Our list today contains the most large insects in the world.
Stag beetle
Our list is headed by the giant stag beetle; the length of its body, including its “horns,” reaches 70-91 mm.
This beetle lives in oak forests of Europe, North Africa and Asia. This species of beetles is listed in the Red Book.
Goliath beetle
The goliath beetle lives in the center and southeast of Africa. The body length of the beetle is from 50 to 110 mm, and everything reaches 100 grams.
Its unusual color makes it not only one of the most beautiful beetles, but also gives good protection from predators. Another distinctive feature is that in order to take off, it needs to increase its body temperature. To do this, in more shaded areas of the area the beetle is mostly black in color, and in those areas where the sun predominates the color is varied.
Giant water bug
The water bug mainly lives in the tropics. Its body length is about 120 mm.
These beetles are predators; a bug bite is very painful for humans due to its poisonous saliva, which is released from the proboscis when bitten, paralyzing the prey. After such a bite, the victim is paralyzed, the victim’s insides decompose, after which the bug sucks out its prey.
Rhinoceros cockroach
The rhinoceros cockroach or burrowing cockroach reaches 90-100 mm in length, and this cockroach lives in Australia, where it is rightfully considered the heaviest insect.
This heavyweight weighs about 35 grams. In addition to its large weight, the rhinoceros cockroach is famous for its longevity; it can live up to 10 years. He needs eucalyptus leaves for food, and he lives in a hole that is up to a meter deep.
Grasshopper Veta
The Weta grasshopper is found in New Zealand, the body length is about 90 mm, and the entire weight is 85 grams. A female grasshopper lays up to 300 eggs.
Chinese mantis
The length of this praying mantis is 150 mm, it lives only in China.
This insect is a predator, mainly prefers to hunt pests at night, such as flies, locusts, crickets, which has earned the love of farmers, and sometimes it can even eat a small snake. Females are much larger in size than their partners; after the mating season, males are eaten. In China, these cute insects are kept as pets.
Tree lobster
The tree lobster or giant stick insect is a small species and lives on the islands near Australia.
This giant stick insect is capable of moving very quickly. Stick insect reproduction can occur without the participation of a male, with the female laying eggs and then creating her own clone.
Chan's megastick
This stick insect, unlike the previous one, is distinguished by its unusual body length, which reaches up to 56 cm.
Habitat: Kalimant Island. In appearance it looks more like a dry branch, which makes it a master of camouflage.
Lumberjack Titan
Lumberjack titan is the largest beetle in the world. This beetle reaches 22 cm in length and is a strong beetle that can bite through a branch with a diameter of 1 cm.
One of its unusual properties is that this strong man does not need food, since he received enough nutrition while still a larva. The larvae of these beetles can reach 35 centimeters. The beetle itself lives for one and a half months.
Peacock-eye Atlas
Atlas is one of the most big butterflies on our planet, whose wingspan reaches 25 centimeters.
Atlas lives in the tropical forests of China, India and Thailand. The life cycle is 10 days.
This species of butterfly does not have a mouth, so it lives off the food it received as a caterpillar.
“Animals with notches” - this is how the word insects with Greek language. Their peculiarity lies in the extraordinary diversity of forms and habitats, because there are representatives of insects even in Antarctica. They are also the largest class of animals. Insects are considered to be small creatures. This opinion is erroneous, since among them there are giants that are quite impressive in size.
Tarantula Hawk Length 5.1 cm
Opens the ranking of the largest insects on Earth, whose body length can reach 5.1 cm. This is the largest wasp in the world. The wasp's sting is very long - 7 mm; it uses it to infect tarantula spiders. The wasp lays its larvae in the still living but paralyzed victim, which devour the spider. Moreover, only females hunt spiders. The hawks themselves feed on nectar and fruits. The bite of a hawk is considered one of the most painful compared to the bites of other wasps and bees. But this does not stop the inhabitants of Bolivia from calling the tarantula hawk a friend of man.
Rhinoceros cockroach Length 9 cm
Ninth place belongs to a native Australian rhinoceros cockroach or a giant burrowing cockroach with a body length of 9 cm. Either the eucalyptus leaves that the rhinoceros eats are very high in calories, or he just eats a lot, since a cockroach with 35 grams. weight is considered a heavyweight among his brothers. In addition to its significant dimensions, the cockroach can also boast of longevity: the life cycle can reach 10 years. A rhinoceros looks more like a beetle than a cockroach. He spends most of the day in a deep hole (up to 1 m) underground. Many insect lovers keep a rhinoceros cockroach as a pet.
Length 9 cm
It is considered not only one of the largest insects with a length of 9 cm, but also the heaviest, since its weight can reach 85 grams. The female lays up to 300 eggs at a time, but nature designed it so that she does not live to see the birth of her offspring.
The grasshopper lives in New Zealand, its appearance has not changed for millions of years. It was the isolated position of the island and the absence of enemies among animals on it for grasshoppers that allowed them to reach such sizes. But with the settlement of the island by Europeans, the Weta population was reduced to a minimum. Unique grasshoppers can be found only in the most secluded corners of the island.
Length 11 cm
- the heaviest beetle in the world. On the scales it can easily outweigh 5 sparrows, since its weight can reach 100 grams. and 11 cm in length. Such dimensions make it difficult to quickly take off and hide. But the color of the beetles easily adapts to their environment. Goliaths with black shells live in shady areas. Black is known to heat up better. And this beetle needs to increase its body temperature in order to take off. In areas with high solar activity, their colors are varied - this saves them from overheating.
Length 12 cm
V favorable conditions in the tropics it grows up to 12 cm. Bedbugs are real predators; they prey on almost all freshwater animals. They can also bite humans, and their bite is considered one of the most painful. The bug infects its victim with poisonous saliva released from the proboscis. The saliva paralyzes the prey and decomposes it. The bug can only suck out the mass. In the spring, the female lays eggs on the male’s back, where up to 100 of them can fit.
In Asian countries, water bugs are considered edible. On street stalls, the fried delicacy is sold in bags.
Length 12 cm
or giant stick insect, one of the rarest insects on the planet and the largest, its length reaches 12 cm. Until 2001, it was considered extinct, until several representatives of the stick insect were discovered on one small Australian island. Australian biologists managed to preserve and propagate their population. The tree lobster does not have wings, but it moves very quickly. The offspring of a giant stick insect can be obtained without the participation of a male. The female lays eggs, creating her own clone for backup.
Length 15 cm
- a nocturnal predator of impressive size for an insect (15 cm). From China it gradually spread to other countries. Many farmers purchase and raise praying mantises for pest control. They are fed on locusts, flies, and crickets. Praying mantises get used to people and are not even afraid to feed directly from their hands. Females are much larger than males and can even hunt small birds and frogs. In half of the cases, females eat their partners. Many exotic lovers keep Chinese mantises as pets. Why not? Individuals raised in captivity are inquisitive, quiet, calm, and not aggressive.
Length 22 cm
The largest beetle lives in South America -... The longest recorded length of an individual is 22 cm. This information is contained in the Guinness Book of Records. These beetles are a very valuable specimen for collectors. To get the largest beetle in the world, special tours are organized.
Lumberjacks have very strong jaws that can bite through a branch about 1 cm thick. And this despite the fact that they do not eat anything. They feed on reserves accumulated at the larval stage, the size of which is about 35 cm. The life expectancy of giants is not long - no more than 1.5 months.
Length 25 cm
with a wingspan of 25 cm, it is one of the largest butterflies in the insect class. The name of the butterfly is associated with the mythical hero Atlas, who held the entire sky on his shoulders. Because of its impressive size, the winged insect got its name in honor of mythical creature. Atlas females are much larger than males. Life cycle these butterflies do not exceed ten days. It is noteworthy that during their short existence, peacock eyes do not feed on anything, since they have no oral apparatus. Their vital activity is supported by the substances that the butterfly accumulated as a caterpillar. Atlas peacock-eyes live in tropical and subtropical forests of Indonesia, Thailand and China. Recently, the population has declined significantly due to human fishing.
Length 27 cm
tops the list of the largest insects in the world. In addition, it is considered the most beautiful butterfly in the world. The wingspan of the birdwing is 27 cm. It got its name because of its huge wings, which during flight resemble those of a bird. The most amazing butterfly in size and beauty is the dream of any collector. But hunting for the birdwing has recently been prohibited, as its population has decreased significantly. The species' habitat is the tropical forests of Papua New Guinea.
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 some incredible bugs out there 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 the skies from the Carboniferous era to the end of the Permian era (approximately 317 - 247 million years ago). Meganisoptera lived long before the appearance of pterosaurs, birds and bats, which means it had no equal in the sky.
24. Giant weta
Photo: Dinobass
The giant weta is a very large species of insect that lives primarily in New Zealand. An adult beetle can weigh 35 grams. Weta prefers to hide in fallen leaves and the bark of fallen trees, and rests mainly during the day. At night, the heavyweight leaves its shelter to move to other trees in search of food and more comfortable housing. Despite its impressive size, the giant weta lives only 6-9 months.
23. Lumberjack Titan
Photo: Bernard Dupont
Endemic to tropical forests South America, the titan lumberjack is the largest known beetle not only in the Amazon jungle, but also one of the most large species insects in the world. Titan grows up to 16.7 centimeters in length (according to unconfirmed reports - up to 22 centimeters), and distinctive feature This giant insect has impressive claws with which it can easily grab a pencil, for example. Rumor has it that the Titan Lumberjack can even tear human flesh with its pincers. The most interesting thing is that entomologists have not yet been able to detect its larvae, and naturalists so far can only assume that the beetle spends the beginning of its life inside trees.
22. Australian walking stick
Photo: Rosa Pineda
The Australian walking stick (Extatosoma tiaratum) is a huge herbivorous insect native to 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, reaching up to 20 centimeters in length and covered with spiny spines. In turn, males also have something to brag about - they have as many as 3 eyes, and they can fly, unlike females, who only have the rudiments of wings.
21. Moth satin
Photo: Quartl
This giant moth lives in the tropical and subtropical forests of Southeast Asia, and is considered one of the largest species lepidopteran insects on the planet. The wingspan of the tropical moth is 25 centimeters, and the surface area of the wings of the atlas is 400 square centimeters, which is larger than that of any other insect in the world. Moreover, its life expectancy is only 5-7 days. People have found a rather practical use for this short-lived beauty - in India, the giant moth is bred to produce 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 the burrowing cockroach is quite impressive - scientists have found individuals whose age has reached as much as 10 years. You might 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 elephant megasoma) is a large insect, growing up to a length of up to 13 centimeters. Impressive in size, these creatures live only 1-3 months, prefer the night, feed on tree sap and tropical fruits.
18. Phobaeticus chani
Photo: P.E. Bragg
Phobaeticus chani is a species of insect from the stick insect family, recognized as one of the longest in the world. Its more common name is Chan's stick insect, which this insect received in honor of its researcher Datuk Chen Zhaolun. A giant stick insect was discovered not long ago in the tropical forest of Borneo, where a Chinese naturalist had the opportunity to examine an individual of incredible length - 57 centimeters! The beetle species Phobaeticus chani is still not fully understood because the insect lives on the tallest trees in the rainforest, making it too secretive for observation and research.
17. Queen Alexandra's Birdwing
Photo: Robert Nash
This is amazing beautiful creature was discovered in the rainforests of Oro Province in eastern Papua New Guinea. Another name for this birdwing is also known - the Queen Alexandra 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 is found primarily in freshwater bodies of water, lakes, streams and rivers in North and South America, northern Australia and East Asia. Aquatic bugs are fierce predators, and cases of these bugs have been known to attack not only fish and frogs, but also small snakes and even turtles. Killer bug? It sounds creepy, but there’s one more thing waiting for you, no less. predatory insect. Be patient until point 11 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 beetles on Earth. The atlas is widely distributed in Southeast Asia, especially in Malaysia. Male atlas can reach as much as 13 centimeters in length.
14. St. Helena Earwig
Photo: wikimedia
Here is the giant earwig Labidura herculeana, the largest representative of the Leatherwing order, which is also sometimes called the “Dodo of the earwig world” (the Dodo is a giant bird that became extinct in the 17th century AD) or the St. Helena earwig. The 8-centimeter Labidura herculeana is known in history, but last time A living adult specimen of this earwig was seen as early as May 1967, and in 2014 scientists sadly announced that the Dodo of the earwig world had finally become extinct.
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. These beetles are believed to be the heaviest of all insects on Earth. Their larvae weigh up to 100 grams, and adults reach up to 12 centimeters in length.
12. Longhorned beetles or woodcutters
Photo: Hectonichus
The long-horned beetle in the photo is a giant species of beetle, easily recognized by its beautiful pattern on its 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 enormous size (more than 17 centimeters in length), this species of insect can even fly.
11. Tarantula Hawk
Photo: wikimedia
The tarantula is a large road wasp or pompilid that preys on tarantulas. The females of this species of insect paralyze the spider with a sting from their sting. On a successful hunt, these seemingly modest creatures are capable of defeating a tarantula, which is most often 8 times heavier than a road wasp. This difference in weight does not interfere with dragging the killed spider into a hole, where the female lays her larvae directly on the body of the prey. When new tarantulas are born, they initially feed on the tarantulas stored in the burrow.
10. Giant Scolia Wasp
Photo: Didier Descouens
9. Gauromydas heros
Photo: Biologoandre
Gauromydas heros are the largest flies in the world. This species of dipterous insect grows up to 7 centimeters in length, 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 studied the lifestyle of this species, 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 representative of its infraorder. This insect was included in our list due to the fact that its uterus during the egg-laying period reaches approximately 11 centimeters in length. The sizes of other members of the colony are much more modest - worker termites grow up to 3-4 centimeters, and soldiers are not much larger. Macrotermes Bellicosus live by hunting and gathering, and the peak activity of this termite species occurs during the rainy season.
7. Hercules beetle
Photo: Anaxibia
The Hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules) is one of the largest beetles in the world and is found primarily 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 monocorn length.
6. Thysania agrippina
Photo: Acrocynus
Thysania agrippina is a nocturnal moth, better known by other names including the agrippina cutworm, agrippina cutworm, tysania agrippina, agrippina, night moth, and even the ghost moth. The agrippina cutworm is one of the largest flying insects, and its wingspan reaches almost 30 centimeters. The largest night moth lives in Mexico, Central America and South America, and is also occasionally found in 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 easily recognized due to its enormous size (about 12 centimeters in length) and impressive mandibles (lower jaws) that resemble tusks or horns. In appearance, the beetle looks very scary, but in fact it feeds on tree sap, and its mandibles It is used only in mating games or during fights with its own relatives. For people, this insect is usually completely harmless.
4. Giant Homoptera Dragonfly
Photo: Steven G. Johnson
The largest dragonfly living on our planet, the giant homoptera dragonfly is also scientifically known as Megaloprepus Caerulatus. Graceful insect 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 homopterus catches directly from their cozy webs. The giant dragonfly lives in the tropical forests of Central and South America, and the largest wingspan of these insects is a whopping 19 centimeters!
3. Praying 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 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 insect Zhao
Photo: Joachim Bresseel, Jérôme Constant
In 2014, it was discovered in the southern province of Guangxi new look insect. It was the Zhao stick insect (Phryganistria Chinensis Zhao), whose dimensions reached as much as 62.4 centimeters. The giant was discovered by Chinese entomologist Zhao Li, and today it is the longest insect in the world. The stick insect was named after a Chinese researcher who hunted this incredible fastmatid for 6 years until he finally managed to catch one of these long-legged beauties.
1. Long-legged mosquitoes of the species Holorusia Brobdignagius
Photo: wikimedia
Long-legged mosquitoes or caramors are insects of the Diptera family of the long-whiskered suborder. Their favorite habitat is forests near fresh water bodies and swamps. Adults feed on plant nectar, while larvae feed on rotting plants. The largest representative of the Karamors, holorusia brobdignagius grows up to 23 centimeters in length if the limbs are extended behind and in front of its body. This size allows us to consider this Chinese centipede the longest of its kind.
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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 the modern world there are still such incredible beetles 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 the skies from the Carboniferous era to the end of the Permian era (approximately 317 - 247 million years ago). Meganisoptera lived long before the appearance of pterosaurs, birds and bats, which means it had no equal in the sky.
24. Giant weta
Photo: Dinobass
The giant weta is a very large species of insect that lives primarily in New Zealand. An adult beetle can weigh 35 grams. Weta prefers to hide in fallen leaves and the bark of fallen trees, and rests mainly during the day. At night, the heavyweight leaves its shelter to move to other trees in search of food and more comfortable housing. Despite its impressive size, the giant weta lives only 6-9 months.
23. Lumberjack Titan
Photo: Bernard Dupont
Endemic to the rainforests of South America, the titan lumberjack is the largest known beetle not only in the Amazon 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 the distinctive feature of this giant insect is its impressive claws, with which it can easily grab a pencil, for example. Rumor has it that the Titan Lumberjack can even tear human flesh with its pincers. The most interesting thing is that entomologists have not yet been able to detect its larvae, and naturalists so far can only assume that the beetle spends the beginning of its life inside trees.
22. Australian walking stick
Photo: Rosa Pineda
The Australian walking stick (Extatosoma tiaratum) is a huge herbivorous insect native to the tropical and temperate rainforests of Australia. These creatures are very similar to praying mantises, but entomologists distinguish them as two completely different species. Females are usually larger than males, reaching up to 20 centimeters in length and covered with spiny spines. In turn, males also have something to brag about - they have as many as 3 eyes, and they can fly, unlike females, who only have the rudiments of wings.
21. Moth satin
Photo: Quartl
This giant moth lives in the tropical and subtropical forests of Southeast Asia, and is considered one of the largest lepidopteran insect species on the planet. The wingspan of the tropical moth is 25 centimeters, and the surface area of the wings of the atlas is 400 square centimeters, which is larger than that of any other insect in the world. Moreover, its life expectancy is only 5-7 days. People have found a rather practical use for this short-lived beauty - in India, the giant moth is bred to produce 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 the burrowing cockroach is quite impressive - scientists have found individuals whose age has reached as much as 10 years. You might 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 elephant megasoma) is a large insect, growing up to a length of up to 13 centimeters. Impressive in size, these creatures live only 1-3 months, prefer the night, feed on tree sap and tropical fruits.
18. Phobaeticus chani 
Photo: P.E. Bragg
Phobaeticus chani is a species of insect from the stick insect family, recognized as one of the longest in the world. Its more common name is Chan's stick insect, which this insect received in honor of its researcher Datuk Chen Zhaolun. A giant stick insect was discovered not long ago in the tropical forest of Borneo, where a Chinese naturalist had the opportunity to examine an individual of incredible length - 57 centimeters! The beetle species Phobaeticus chani is still not fully understood because the insect lives on the tallest trees in the rainforest, making it too secretive for observation and research.
17. Queen Alexandra's Birdwing
Photo: Robert Nash
This amazingly beautiful creature was discovered in the rainforests of Oro Province in eastern Papua New Guinea. Another name for this birdwing is also known - the Queen Alexandra 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 is found primarily in freshwater bodies of water, lakes, streams and rivers in North and South America, northern Australia and East Asia. Aquatic bugs are fierce predators, and cases of these bugs have been known to attack not only fish and frogs, but also small snakes and even turtles. Killer bug? It sounds creepy, but another equally predatory insect awaits you ahead. Be patient until point 11 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. The atlas is widely distributed in Southeast Asia, especially in Malaysia. Male atlas can reach as much as 13 centimeters in length.
14. St. Helena Earwig
Photo: wikimedia
Here is the giant earwig Labidura herculeana, the largest representative of the Leatherwing order, which is also sometimes called the “Dodo of the earwig world” (the Dodo is a giant bird that became extinct in the 17th century AD) or the St. Helena earwig. History knows about the 8-centimeter Labidura herculeana, but the last time a living adult of this earwig was seen was in May 1967, and in 2014 scientists sadly announced that the Dodo of the earwig world had finally become extinct.
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. These beetles are believed to be the heaviest of all insects on Earth. Their larvae weigh up to 100 grams, and adults reach up to 12 centimeters in length.
12. Longhorned beetles or woodcutters
Photo: Hectonichus
The long-horned beetle in the photo is a giant species of beetle, easily recognized by its beautiful pattern on its 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 enormous size (more than 17 centimeters in length), this species of insect can even fly.
11. Tarantula Hawk
Photo: wikimedia
The tarantula is a large road wasp or pompilid that preys on tarantulas. The females of this species of insect paralyze the spider with a sting from their sting. On a successful hunt, these seemingly modest creatures are capable of defeating a tarantula, which is most often 8 times heavier than a road wasp. This difference in weight does not interfere with dragging the killed spider into a hole, where the female lays her larvae directly on the body of the prey. When new tarantulas are born, they initially feed on the tarantulas stored in the burrow.
10. Giant Scolia Wasp
Photo: Didier Descouens
9. Gauromydas heros 
Photo: Biologoandre
Gauromydas heros are the largest flies in the world. This species of dipterous insect grows up to 7 centimeters in length, 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 studied the lifestyle of this species, 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 representative of its infraorder. This insect was included in our list due to the fact that its uterus during the egg-laying period reaches approximately 11 centimeters in length. The sizes of other members of the colony are much more modest - worker termites grow up to 3-4 centimeters, and soldiers are not much larger. Macrotermes Bellicosus live by hunting and gathering, and the peak activity of this termite species occurs during the rainy season.
7. Hercules beetle
Photo: Anaxibia
The Hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules) is one of the largest beetles in the world and is found primarily 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 monocorn length.
6. Thysania agrippina
Photo: Acrocynus
Thysania agrippina is a nocturnal moth, better known by other names including the agrippina cutworm, agrippina cutworm, tysania agrippina, agrippina, night moth, and even the ghost moth. The agrippina cutworm is one of the largest flying insects, and its wingspan reaches almost 30 centimeters. The largest nocturnal one lives in Mexico, Central America and South America, and is also sometimes found in 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 easily recognized due to its enormous size (about 12 centimeters in length) and impressive mandibles (lower jaws) that resemble tusks or horns. In appearance, the beetle looks very scary, 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 people, this insect is usually completely harmless.
4. Giant Homoptera Dragonfly
Photo: Steven G. Johnson
The largest dragonfly living on our planet, the giant homoptera dragonfly is also scientifically 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 homopterus catches directly from their cozy webs. The giant dragonfly lives in the tropical forests of Central and South America, and the largest wingspan of these insects is a whopping 19 centimeters!
3. Praying 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 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 insect Zhao
Photo: Joachim Bresseel, Jérôme Constant
In 2014, a new species of insect was discovered in the southern province of Guangxi. It was the Zhao stick insect (Phryganistria Chinensis Zhao), whose dimensions reached as much as 62.4 centimeters. The giant was discovered by Chinese entomologist Zhao Li, and today it is the longest insect in the world. The stick insect was named after a Chinese researcher who hunted this incredible fastmatid for 6 years until he finally managed to catch one of these long-legged beauties.
1. Long-legged mosquitoes of the species Holorusia Brobdignagius
Photo: wikimedia
Long-legged mosquitoes or caramors are insects of the Diptera family of the long-whiskered suborder. Their favorite habitat is forests near fresh water bodies and swamps. Adults feed on plant nectar, while larvae feed on rotting plants. The largest representative of the Karamors, holorusia brobdignagius grows up to 23 centimeters in length if the limbs are extended behind and in front of its body. This size allows us to consider this Chinese centipede the longest of its kind.
