Buzz
Insects make up over 80% of all known species. There are currently around 900,000 different insect species documented by science, with at least a million more expected to be discovered. While many people find them repellent or frightening, others are captivated by their astonishing diversity, as they have managed to thrive in nearly every terrestrial environment in ways that are both surprising and remarkable. This list highlights ten insect extremes, from the smallest to the most dangerous, and even the boldest of these creatures.
10. Largest Insect - Little Barrier Island Giant Weta
The giant weta, native to New Zealand's Little Barrier Island (Deinacrida heteracantha), holds the title of the largest and heaviest adult insect in the world, with individuals reaching a record weight of 71 grams (2.5 oz) and a length of over 8.5 centimeters (3.4 inches). Related to the grasshopper and the common house cricket, the giant weta is currently considered a vulnerable species.
9. Smallest Insect - Dicopomorpha echmepterygis
Fairyflies, the tiniest members of the wasp family, hold the title of the smallest insect family known to science. Dicopomorpha echmepterygis, a fairyfly from Costa Rica, features males that measure no more than 0.14 mm in length, roughly the size (or even smaller) than a single-celled paramecium typically found in lakes. This species preys on the eggs of other insects.
8. Most Venomous Insect - Harvester Ant
The harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex Maricopa) holds the title of the world’s most venomous insect, though it poses no danger to humans. Its venom is approximately 25 times more potent than that of a honey bee, but because it’s administered in small doses, the harvester ant remains relatively harmless. Contrary to popular belief, this title does not go to the Japanese giant hornet, the African killer bee, or the South American bullet ant; instead, the harvester ant is commonly found across the United States.
7. Longest Insect Migration - Globe Skimmer
The Globe Skimmer (Pantala flavescens) holds the record for the longest migration of any insect, surpassing even the famed monarch butterfly. These dragonflies utilize the monsoon winds to travel between India and East and Southern Africa, covering a distance of 14,000 to 18,000 kilometers. Their extensive migration also makes them a key food source for migratory birds, and should anything happen to this species, it could severely disrupt the migration patterns of many bird species.
6. Fastest Flying Insect - Southern Giant Darner
This dragonfly species (Austrophlebia costalis) has been recorded flying at speeds of up to 35 mph, making it the fastest insect in the world when it comes to flight speed. While there have been previous claims that it could reach 60 mph, most experts dispute these figures. Nevertheless, the title of the fastest insect remains contested among dragonflies, hawk moths, and horseflies, with various unverified measurements circulating for each species.
5. Most Feared Insect - Migratory Locust
The migratory locust (Locusta migratoria) is widely regarded as the most feared insect species. While mosquitoes are responsible for the most human deaths, the locust has terrorized humanity throughout history. Although locust swarms are rare today, devastating plagues still occur in some regions, such as the recent outbreak in Madagascar or the 2004 locust infestation that wreaked havoc across several West and North African countries, causing agricultural damage worth around $2.5 billion.
4. Most Resilient Insect - German Cockroach
It's no surprise that cockroaches have earned a reputation for surviving extreme conditions, including nuclear fallout. However, here's a story that might still raise a few eyebrows: a German cockroach nymph (Blattaria germanica) managed to survive in a rather hostile environment—the human colon. The nymph likely ended up there after being accidentally ingested by a 52-year-old woman while she was eating, and somehow managed to endure the digestive enzymes of her stomach.
3. Biggest Insect Colony - Argentine Ants
Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) have recently been identified as the species with the largest insect colony in the world, a colony that may even rival human dominance. Scientists have found that colonies across America, Europe, and Japan are actually part of the same global supercolony, as the ants refuse to fight each other. Experiments suggest that these super colonies might form one massive worldwide colony, with ants recognizing each other's familiar pheromone scent even when separated by thousands of miles. This phenomenon, which has been inadvertently fostered by human activity, began when humans introduced Argentine ants to different continents from their native South America.
2. Loudest Insect - Water Boatman
The water boatman (Micronecta scholtzi), a species of cicada, is the loudest animal on Earth in relation to its size. While the cicada family is known for its volume (with some species reaching up to 120 db), the water boatman, at just two millimeters long, can produce a sound reaching 99.2 db. This noise is comparable to standing in the front row of a loud orchestra or hearing a jackhammer from fifty feet away.
1. Rarest Insect - Lord Howe Island Stick Insect
The Lord Howe Island stick insect, a sizable member of the stick insect family, inhabits Lord Howe Island, located between Australia and New Zealand. It is an example of the Lazarus effect, where a species thought to be extinct is rediscovered. The wild population of Dryococelus australis is believed to consist of fewer than fifty individuals (with only 24 found when rediscovered), making it critically endangered. However, efforts to conserve the species are underway, with the Melbourne Zoo successfully breeding over nine thousand individuals as part of a dedicated breeding program.
