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Arthropods are fascinating creatures that include insects, arachnids, and crustaceans. Together, they represent over eighty percent of the species on Earth, making it no surprise that among them are some truly remarkable and odd examples. This list will highlight the ten most peculiar arthropods on the planet.
10. Golden Tortoise Beetle
The stunning golden tortoise beetle—Charidotella sexpunctata—can typically be found in eastern North America and grows to a size of five to seven millimeters. This beetle is known for its dazzling golden color, which can change at will. It transforms its outer shell to become transparent, revealing its black body adorned with red spots, resembling a ladybug. When these beetles are removed from their natural environment, they quickly lose their golden hue and turn a dull brown, as they shed their dew-covered liquid layer, which is responsible for their golden appearance.
The larvae of this beetle species are equally intriguing. They have a dark, spiky look, and when they molt, parts of their old skin are left behind. The larvae then decorate the skin with their own feces, creating a fecal shield that serves as protection from predators. If threatened, they can open the shield and use it to strike back. You can see the larvae and their fecal shield in action in this video [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BDxjUfyVEA].
9. Tiger Beetle
Found in Australia, the lightning-fast tiger beetle—Cicindela hudsoni—is the speediest creature on Earth relative to its size. It can sprint at up to 5.6 miles per hour or 2.5 meters per second. This is like a human running at an astounding 480 miles per hour! However, at top speed, the beetle loses its vision and must run in short bursts to hunt for prey.
The tiger beetle is an incredibly aggressive predator. Its speed, combined with its large, powerful jaws, enables it to easily capture and kill small insects and spiders in its desert habitat. The larvae of the beetle are equally fierce, burying themselves underground. When prey passes by, they leap from their hiding spots and snatch them with their powerful jaws, dragging them into their burrows to consume. However, the larvae face threats from wasps. If a wasp finds their nest, it paralyzes the larvae by burrowing inside, then lays eggs within it. The wasp eggs hatch and slowly devour the larvae, eventually emerging from the skin to continue their lifecycle.
8. Asp Caterpillar
Endemic to North America, the asp caterpillar—Megalopyge opercularis—may appear harmless at first glance. However, it should be handled with great caution as it is highly venomous, making it one of the most dangerous caterpillars in North America. Its fluffy hairs conceal sharp, toxic spines that can pierce the skin, causing severe allergic reactions such as swelling, blisters, headaches, nausea, and difficulty breathing. These symptoms can persist for several days.
Over the years, numerous injuries have been reported in the United States, primarily among children who attempt to handle these creatures. The asp caterpillar grows to about two centimeters in length, and its adult form is the crinkled flannel moth, which also boasts an unusual, yeti-like appearance.
7. Thorn Bug
The thorn bug—Umbonia crassicornis—gets its name from its expanded pronotum, which in many species resembles thorns. However, this trait varies significantly among different thorn bug species. This adaptation helps protect the bugs from predators by imitating the thorns on the plants they live on. The thorn bugs use their beaks to pierce plant stems and feed on the sap inside. There are numerous species of thorn bugs found worldwide, and they've been around for almost forty million years. The most common species, Umbonia crassicornis, is found in Florida, Central America, and northern South America, reaching a size of up to 10 millimeters.
6. Scorpionfly
The common scorpionfly—Panorpa communis—is native to Western Europe and feeds on dead insects, nectar, and rotting fruit. They’ve also been observed stealing insects from spider webs. Scorpionflies generally measure around 25 millimeters in length with a wingspan of 35 millimeters.
The scorpionfly's tail, resembling a scorpion’s stinger, is actually the male fly’s enlarged genitals. Scorpionflies are known for their unusual mating ritual, where the female selects her mate based on the best gift he presents. This is typically an insect or a ball of saliva. Although the scorpionfly and its ‘stinger’ may look intimidating, they are entirely harmless.
5. Tongue-Eating Louse
The tongue-eating louse—Cymothoa exigua—is one of the most revolting parasites known to mankind. Found in the Gulf of California, this louse enters its host, the spotted rose snapper, via its fins. Several male lice enter the fish simultaneously, and one of them transforms into a female. She then moves to the fish's mouth, where she attaches herself to the base of the tongue. This cuts off the blood supply to the tongue, causing it to die and fall off.
Once the tongue has detached, the parasite takes over its role, binding to the remaining muscle and feeding on the fish’s blood, as well as on algae and mucus collected in the fish's mouth. Meanwhile, the other lice stay in the fish’s gill chamber, occasionally venturing out to mate with the female. Although the fish can live for years with the parasite, the damage to the tongue is evident, but apart from that, the fish remains largely unaffected. The tongue-eating louse is the only known parasite capable of replacing an organ in its host.
4. Giraffe Weevil
This extraordinary creature is the giraffe weevil—Trachelophorus giraffa—native to Madagascar. Discovered in 2008, it reaches a length of 25 millimeters. Its body is black with a red wing case, and its most striking feature is its exceptionally long neck, which resembles that of a giraffe. Scientists believe this adaptation helps with fighting and nest building. The male’s neck can be up to three times longer than the female’s. Another fascinating aspect of the giraffe weevil is its egg-laying method. The female rolls a leaf, places an egg inside, and then cuts off the leaf from the plant, preparing it for the egg to hatch. The leaf provides both protection and nourishment for the hatching weevil larvae.
3. Assassin Bug
The assassin bug—Reduviidae—uses a remarkable hunting strategy in which it pretends to be prey to catch and consume spiders. It enters the spider's web and starts plucking the strings to mimic the vibrations of a bug or fly. The spider, thinking it has caught a meal, leaves its hiding spot to retrieve the prey. When the spider gets close enough, the assassin bug strikes, using its sharp snout to inject venom that paralyzes the spider. This venom also begins digesting the spider's body, allowing the assassin bug to drink the fluids—an unusual feeding method known as extra-oral digestion, also seen in the giant water bug. This behavior is called aggressive mimicry. After feeding, the assassin bug often wears the spider's body as a form of armor and may place additional dead insects on its back to deter predators. In the photo above, the bug is seen with more than twenty ants on its back.
The assassin bug stealthily approaches a variety of insects and has even been known to attack bats. Its erratic movement mimics the wind, and its long antennae, which are equal in length to its body, allow it to sense environmental changes. You can see the assassin bug in action here.
2. Giant Water Bug
Giant water bugs—Kirkaldyia deyrolli—are found across East Asia, Australia, and the Americas. These massive insects, which can grow up to fifteen centimeters long, are formidable hunters of small fish, amphibians, and even snakes and turtles. They patiently wait at the bottoms of freshwater rivers and lakes for prey to pass by. When an opportunity arises, they inject a potent digestive fluid into the prey, liquefying its insides for easier consumption. The bite of these bugs is known to be one of the most painful among insects.
Male giant water bugs play an active role in reproduction. They carry around seven hundred eggs on their wings until they are ready to hatch, as seen in the picture above. These insects are a delicacy in Asian cuisine, particularly in Thailand, where they are enjoyed as a snack. Additionally, the pheromones they release are used to create a costly dipping sauce.
1. Cyanide Millipede
The cyanide millipede—Harpaphe haydeniana—is known as the chemist of the arthropod kingdom. This millipede produces hydrogen cyanide (HCN) both to capture prey and defend itself from threats. Its deadly chemical defense is highly effective, leaving the millipede with few natural predators.
Storing HCN is a complex process. If stored at room temperature, it could harm the millipede. Instead, it stores two precursor chemicals, mandelonitrile and benzoyl cyanide, in different body segments. When the millipede needs to release cyanide, it activates chambers that mix these chemicals. The result is the emission of hydrogen cyanide from millions of pores around its body, directed at its prey or enemies. The millipede can produce up to 0.6 milligrams of HCN, enough to kill small mammals, predatory beetles, and even stun larger predators.
Found along the west coast of North America, from California to British Columbia, the cyanide millipede grows to about five centimeters in length.
