For residents middle zone In Russia, accustomed to the miniature size of insects, it may be a discovery that there are quite large individuals of buzzing and fluttering creatures that can frighten anyone not only with their size, but also with their terrifying appearance. This article we decided to devote to the largest insects of the planet, or rather to the ten largest representatives of the class of invertebrate arthropods.

Giant wasp

The last place in our list of the largest insects on the planet goes to the tarantula hawk. This is one of the types of wasps. The body length of the insect reaches 5 cm, and sometimes a little more. The predatory wasp has a serious sting: up to 7 mm. It is with this that she pierces the flesh of the tarantula spider, which is her main enemy and prey. It is worth noting that the wasp does not eat spiders, but simply paralyzes them, while she herself prefers flower nectar and pollen. However, its actions in relation to the tarantula are completely justified: after inflicting a wound, the tarantula hawk injects poison that paralyzes the victim, and then the huge wasp lays eggs in the victim’s body. These develop into larvae that feed on the flesh of the tarantula. By the way, such wasps live in North America, Mexico, Peru, the Caribbean, French Guiana and number up to 15 various types. Characteristic feature individual is its bright color: black with bright orange wings.

A grasshopper is heavier than a sparrow

The weta grasshopper should be placed in the penultimate place on the list of the largest insects in the world. This creature can be up to 9 cm long and weigh 85 grams. Such grasshoppers, of which there are more than 100 different species, can be considered real heavyweights of the Orthoptera order. By the way, sometimes giant weta are also called Weta, which is essentially the same thing. They live in New Zealand. The isolation of this protected area and its distance from other continents allowed grasshoppers to avoid natural enemies, and also remain unchanged for many millions of years. Unfortunately, settling Europeans began to hunt these amazing creatures due to their incredible size for study purposes. Researchers have more than once come across individuals that are significantly heavier than a mouse and a sparrow.

Cockroach digging holes

A huge representative of the insect world is a resident of Australia - the rhinoceros cockroach. It feeds exclusively on eucalyptus leaves. The largest insect among the truly impressive in size representatives of the order of invertebrate animals reaches 9 cm in length. Its peculiarity is the constant desire to dig up the ground in the hope of building a reliable hole for itself. By the way, such cockroaches prefer to live in deep burrows reaching a meter in depth. It is noteworthy that the rhinoceros cockroach is more like a beetle: there are no wings on its body, but there are powerful thick spines on its front legs. Adults are predominantly burgundy in color. Such a cockroach is often called a burrowing cockroach.

Palm-sized beetle

The goliath beetle reaches 11 cm in length. It weighs 100 grams. This may seem incredible to many, but one sparrow weighs about 20 grams. Goliaths disguise themselves as the environment in which they live. And in order to take off, the beetle is forced to heat its body to a temperature that allows it to rise into the air. By the way, this insect does not disgust even the most fearful people; on the contrary, the giant inspires respect.

Rolling bug

The giant water bug is a serious predator that even attacks adult frogs. It's so smooth because of its streamlined shape. However, there are many small balls on his back that should prevent him from moving through the water. But the smoothie copes well with this problem: it turns over on its back and moves almost silently along the surface of reservoirs. Bedbugs live everywhere, because their population is growing rapidly, and they are forced to develop more and more new spaces for living. quite large: from babies 3 mm they can grow up to 15 cm. Distinctive feature- ability to swim and fly. It feeds by injecting poison into its prey, which liquefies its insides. Such a bug is not dangerous for humans, but a bite from one of the largest insects in the world is unlikely to bring pleasure even to extreme sports enthusiasts.

Giant representative of stick insects

The middle position in the ranking is rightfully occupied by the tree lobster. This insect is otherwise called a giant stick insect. Its body length is 12 cm. Only recently it was confirmed that the species is not extinct. Scientists reproduced several individuals that were found. A surprising fact is that females can successfully reproduce without males. They simply create clones of themselves by laying eggs.

Mantis

Among the largest insects, photos of which can be seen in the article, the Chinese mantis takes 4th place. Its size is truly amazing - 15 cm of living length. By the way, Chinese praying mantises are considered beneficial insects, because they destroy locusts. Currently, not only in China, but also in other countries, this insect is a pet. It gets used to people and does not show aggression towards humans, whereas in nature it is considered an aggressive predator. It is nocturnal and capable of comfortable conditions live up to 6 months. Interestingly, after mating, females kill males, who are much smaller. Females are able to hunt frogs and even small birds, but weak males choose insects as food. The giant's color is often green, but sometimes it can take on a brown tint.

Bronze and silver medalist

An honorable 3rd place in the ranking of the 10 largest insects on the planet is occupied by the titanium woodcutter beetle. Its length is 22 cm. If you take the insect in the palm of your hand, it will take up almost the entire free space hands of an adult. Collectors take trips to the Amazon (the insect's habitat) to capture the amazing creature for their entomology kits. Despite the fact that the beetle lives only 3-5 weeks, it does not feed at all. Nature has decreed that the accumulated fat deposits obtained by the insect during the development of the larva are enough for the beetle to last for the entire period of its short life. The jaws of a titan lumberjack can bite through a branch one centimeter in diameter. By the way, the price of a dried specimen of a huge beetle among experts and collectors can even reach up to $1,000 per unit.

The beautiful peacock-eye atlas takes second place in the list of the largest insects in the world. Photos of this butterfly are amazing, not to mention what it's like to see it in real life. The span of its powerful wings reaches 24 cm. Life cycle is only 10 days. Like the Titan lumberjack, Atlas lives off nutrients, accumulated during her time as a caterpillar. The color of the huge insect is predominantly brown. For habitat, it chooses places on the planet with a tropical or subtropical climate: southeast Asia, Thailand, Indonesia, southern China, Kalimantan, the island of Java.

Leader

The answer to the question of what is the largest insect living on planet Earth is the following: the Queen Alexandra birdwing butterfly. The wingspan of this natural wonder can reach 27 centimeters. The beauty lives in the tropics of New Guinea. Unfortunately, the population of these creatures has declined greatly. Currently, measures have been taken to protect the insect from attacks by poachers. Hunting of the birdwing butterfly is prohibited. Violations are punishable by serious fines and sometimes actual prison sentences. By the way, female birdwings are much larger than males (sexual dimorphism is developed), and also differ from them in color. Females are often brown, while males are bright: blue-green. The butterfly's wings are unusual: they are rounded at the ends.

Every insect is unique and worth living. To preserve everything that nature has created over thousands of years, you don’t need much: keep it clean and hunt living creatures exclusively with a camera.

“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 residents 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 only be found in the most secluded corners islands.

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

in favorable tropical conditions it grows up to 12 cm. Bedbugs are true 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. The life cycle of these butterflies does not exceed ten days. It is noteworthy that during their short existence, peacock eyes do not feed on anything, since they do not have a mouthparts. 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. IN lately The population has declined significantly due to human fishing.

Length 27 cm

tops the list of the largest insects in the world. In addition, she 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.

Although the vast majority of mosquitoes, spiders, flies and beetles have very small sizes, among them there are real giants. They invariably arouse great interest, so the top list of the largest insects in the world presented below will help you better understand who is who in the world of these unusual creatures living next to us.

10th place

The length of the body is 10 cm and the weight is up to 70 g. These are the parameters of the giant weta, or, as it is called in Latin, Deinacrida heteracantha. These beetles live in New Zealand. They are rightfully considered one of the heaviest in the world, since some individuals have a body weight greater than that of the well-known sparrow. Interestingly, the reason for the “excess weight”, and, no joke, the gigantism of this superbug, is the absence of small mammals in its island habitat. Thus, having no enemies and not experiencing a shortage of food, giant weta over millions of years as a result of natural selection were able to become real heavyweights, and therefore occupy the last but honorable place in the top 10 largest insects in the world.

9th place

The giant stag beetle also claims the title of “largest insect in the world.” Some individuals of this species living in North America reach a length of 4.5-8 cm. They also have European and Asian relatives, but they are much smaller and do not cause such surprise as Yankee beetles.

Scientists say that it’s all about the nutrition of the larvae, so small individuals appear in “hungry” years, when there is little rain, and it is difficult for the female to find rotting wood rich in nutrient fiber for laying eggs. As for the record holders, the largest specimen today is kept in the British Museum - its size is 8.7 cm.

8th place

Many people believe that the largest insect in the world is the goliath beetle. The body length of males of this species usually ranges from 8 to 11 cm with a weight of about 47 g. There are eyewitness accounts that several decades ago even caught goliath beetles weighing about 100 g. These insects live in the central and southeastern regions of Africa. Except heavy weight, they are distinguished by their exquisite black and white color, which allows us to add to the title of “the largest insect in the world” (by body weight) also the title of one of the most beautiful representatives of the arthropod family.

7th place (I)

Some of the largest insects in the world, photos of which are of constant interest, became extinct many centuries ago, and we can only guess what they really looked like. Until recently, it was believed that the giant stick insect, which was originally discovered on Lord Howe Island, should also be included among them. Before the arrival of Europeans, this insect multiplied in huge numbers, since it had no enemies in the wild. The situation changed when black rats settled on Lord Howe, having escaped from the holds of English ships that landed on the island in order to stock up. fresh water and provisions. In just a few years, they destroyed the entire population, and no one had heard of the giant stick insect for almost 2 centuries.

Fortunately, it turned out that this insect (120 mm long and 15 mm thick) was preserved on Balls Pyramid Island, located a few kilometers from Lord Howe, off the coast of Australia. In total, about 30 adult specimens of the giant stick insect were discovered, which in appearance can easily be confused with a dry grass stalk

7th place (II)

It cannot be said that the leaf beetle is the largest insect in the world, but it can safely be considered the most well-camouflaged. It is enough to look at his photo to be amazed at how much his female resembles several green leaves lying on top of each other. The amazing capabilities of this insect do not end there, since it is capable of reproducing parthenogenetically, that is, without the participation of a male.

The body length of the leaf beetle is no more than 12.5 cm, so we can consider that it deservedly shares 7th place in the list called “The largest insect in the world” with the giant stick insect.

6th place

In sixth position in the ranking of the largest insects on the planet is Queen Alexandra Birdwing. Under such a magnificent name, more reminiscent of the title of an august person, hides a giant butterfly with a very beautiful color. To ensure the survival of its offspring, this largest insect in the world (36 cm is its wingspan) among its subclass has successfully mastered unique way self-defense: it feeds on pollen poisonous plant Aristolochia schlecteri. Thanks to this circumstance, the Queen's caterpillars are poisonous and do not become victims of birds.

5th place

If you're wondering what the world's largest insect is, Natgeo has plenty interesting information. However, let’s return to our rating, the fifth position of which is confidently occupied by the dung beetle. The length of its body can reach 7 cm. In total, 500 varieties of this insect are known with brown, black, yellowish and purple colors. The dung beetle is not only a large insect, but also an exceptionally hardworking and strong insect. With a light weight of only 2 g, this tireless worker can move a ball of manure weighing 35-40 g.

4th place

Some giant water bugs reach a length of 15 cm. They live in fresh water bodies in South America, as well as in the tropics of the Asian continent. Interesting feature of these insects is that their hind legs are designed for swimming and are a kind of flippers. In addition, they are known to be fierce predators and successfully hunt juveniles, salamanders, tadpoles and even frogs. The main weapon of these insects is their saliva, which can completely paralyze even a fairly large victim and turn it into internal organs into a jelly-like, easily digestible mass.

3rd place

The peacock butterfly is one of the top three in the category “The largest insect in the world.” She has a wingspan of up to 26 cm, making her slightly smaller than the aforementioned Queen Alexandra. However, the wings of this insect are somewhat larger and longer. In addition, it has an exceptionally beautiful color. By the way, some varieties of peacock eye, in the process of transforming from a caterpillar into a butterfly, form cocoons that are used to obtain natural silk.

The habitat of this insect is the tropics and subtropics of Asia and America. As for the moderates climatic zones, then 10 species of peacock butterflies can be found in Europe, and 12-15 in our country.

2nd place

Chan's megastick insect is recognized as one of the largest insects on the planet. The length of its body, which can easily be confused with a dry branch, can reach 37 cm. Even more impressive figures are obtained if we also take into account the size of its legs. In particular, with straightened limbs, the megastick insect has a length of up to 56 cm. The local habitat of these insects is the island of Kalimantan, where they are very difficult to find, and all thanks to their exceptional camouflage abilities.

On at the moment Only 3 specimens were found. All of them were caught in the state of Sabah (Malaysia). However, neither their lifestyle nor the characteristics of reproduction have yet been studied.

First place

So, it remains to find out which insect is the largest in the world. Scientists claim that it is a titan woodcutter. The body length of this beetle, which lives in South America, is 21 cm. It is also considered the most expensive of insects, since collectors are willing to purchase the largest specimens at a crazy price from 600 to 1000 dollars and even more. For comparison, we can give the following example: the majority of even the most rare species beetles and butterflies cost between $20-300.

The titan woodcutter is also included in the famous Guinness Book of Records, and one of the largest representatives of the species is exhibited in National Museum Bolivia and is the pride of its natural science collection.

Interestingly, these insects have quite short life, amounting to only 20-35 days. Moreover, all this time they do not eat anything, maintaining their strength from energy reserves made by the body at the larval stage, which lasts about two years. Thus, the entire life cycle of the titan woodcutter is 24-25 months and ends immediately after the female lays eggs, from which the next generation should appear.

Now you know which “spider bugs” belong to the category “The largest insects in the world.” Photos of these representatives of the animal world amaze the imagination and make us once again admire the creations of Mother Nature, who is capable of creating such perfect creatures that can survive in any conditions.

Of all the living creatures living on our planet, insects are the most numerous class. There are about a billion species alone. It’s good that these creatures are small and for the most part coexist peacefully with humans.

After all, even fantasies about huge spiders or cockroaches can become a nightmare for us. After all, not all insects are small. The largest representatives of this class will be discussed below.

Stick insect. This insect is noticeably larger than its competitors. The record specimen was found in the forests of Kalimantan in 1989. Its length with elongated limbs was 56 cm. The name of the insect appeared due to their resemblance to leaves or sticks. In total, there are about 3 thousand varieties of stick insects. They usually live in the subtropics, but can be found in Australia and even Europe. These creatures are very sedentary, so they are sometimes even kept at home in an aquarium. Stick insects eat leaves, choosing different tree species to obtain a complex of useful substances.

Lumberjack titan. The largest beetle in the world is found in Brazil, French Guiana, and indeed in the Amazon. It is believed that an adult can reach a length of up to 22 cm. The average size is 79-168 mm. Dried specimens of the largest representatives of the species can cost up to $1,000. These beetles are nocturnal; at dusk they begin to crawl out of their hiding places, climb to heights and take off. Male titan lumberjacks are quite sensitive to light, so they do not respond to entomologists’ light traps. Interestingly, the life of the larvae remains a mystery, since they have not yet been discovered. Most likely they are 2-3 cm in size, and develop in the roots of dead trees. Pupation occurs in the soil. The titan is not dangerous to humans, but it can bite on purpose in self-defense. His jaws are quite capable of biting through a little finger.

Hercules beetle. This representative of the lamellar family has a rather unusual appearance. Females grow up to 80 mm in length, but males can reach twice that size. The body of insects is covered with small hairs, but they have a large horn. It is located on the head and directed forward, and also has several teeth. Females simply do not have such growth. You can meet Hercules beetles in Central and South America, on the islands Caribbean Sea. The female lays up to 1000 eggs; the growing larvae feed on wood. The grown creature lives up to six months, being especially active during the wet season.

Giant long-legged grasshopper. These insects live in Malaysia. They belong to the phylum of arthropods, order Orthoptera. Grasshoppers feed on plants. Their wings are quite unusual; when spread, they are very similar to leaves, the same in relief, with spots and even holes. However, long legs do not help grasshoppers to jump. The insect prefers to move slowly and occasionally fly. During the day, grasshoppers tend to sit still to avoid being hunted by predators. But at night, with the help of their long antennae, they begin to look for food and mates. Males scream loudly and shrilly to attract females. Most of these grasshoppers feed on leaves, but some are active predators, preying on other small insects.

Goliath beetle. This genus of large beetles lives in Central and Southeast Africa. At the same time, the insects are quite heavy; the heaviest males reach 100 grams. This is a record figure among insects. And such beetles grow up to 110 mm in length. During the day, goliaths fly, hiding almost all the time in the treetops. On earth they can be found quite rarely. Interestingly, the colors of the beetles also change depending on the climate. This is due to the temperature requirements of the body, which makes it possible to fly. The main food of such beetles is overripe fruits and tree sap. Adults live for about six months. To lay her eggs, the female finally descends to the ground. She places them in natural cavities. Interestingly, beetle larvae can eat their younger relatives.

Rhinoceros cockroach. This cockroach is one of the largest in the world fauna. Its length can reach 9 centimeters and weight - 30 grams. This insect lives in Australia, where it lives in fallen leaves, which it eats. The rhinoceros cockroach is also a record holder in the field of longevity - it can live up to 10 years. Only after three years does he reach maturity. And when it reaches full size, the chitinous cover is shed up to 12 times. The adult cockroach is brown, wide and convex. This is a strong and stubborn insect that some hobbyists keep in their insectariums. Cockroaches do not like to be disturbed and begin to hiss. Similar sounds are made during fighting or courtship. Unlike other cockroaches, rhinoceroses do not have wings, and they are not even considered pests. On the contrary, this species is very useful for the ecosystem.

Giant weta. This family of insects lives in New Zealand. Females can reach a length of 8.5 cm and weigh up to 70 grams. However, it should be noted that most of the weight in in this case- gestated eggs in the abdomen. Weta - wingless insect with a large and thick body. They are usually brown in color. Hind legs with spikes are used for defense, and when attacked they are simply thrown forward. The weta feeds on other insects, fruits and vegetables. The insect is very important because it distributes plant seeds by eating them. The gigantism of the weta is due to the fact that in New Zealand, due to its isolation, there were simply no small mammals, so insects occupied the empty niche.

Scoop agrippina. Although the body length of this insect is small, its wingspan is impressive. The record specimen was caught in 1934 in Brazil. The individual had a wingspan of 30 cm. In general, such butterflies live in Central and South America. Wings mostly gray, on which there is a pattern of dark spots. This appearance gives the insect a resemblance to a rather large bird, which can even frighten a person in the dark. The lifestyle of the moth agrippina remains poorly understood, as it occurs mainly at night. They feed on legume leaves. Butterflies love to sit on trees, at a height of 3-4 meters. The armyworm agrippina has become so often caught simply for collections that the species is in danger of extinction.

Giant water bugs. People have a prejudiced attitude towards bedbugs. It seems that they either smell terrible or even feed on human blood. Water bugs can only accidentally bite in a pond, but they stand out primarily because of their size. Representatives of this species live in the tropics - in South America, India, Thailand. They usually choose fresh water bodies for habitat. Giant water bugs can reach 15 cm in size. Nature specifically made the hind legs of such insects suitable not for walking, but for swimming. The front legs are strong, slightly shorter. This is an excellent tool for capturing prey. Adult bedbugs cannot breathe underwater, so they are forced to rise to the surface to breathe. The respiratory organs are two tubes located on the abdomen. It must be said that these bugs are predators. Their size allows them to hunt fry, tadpoles, amphibians and even small fish. Frozen on a stone or underwater plant, the bug waits for prey and then grabs it with its front paws. Proboscis injects saliva into the body, which paralyzes the victim and liquefies it. Huge bedbugs can fly, however, they do this infrequently - when moving or reacting to bright light. To escape from a larger predator, bedbugs pretend to be dead or release liquid from the anus at the approaching enemy. In spring, males begin to carry eggs on their backs, which are laid there by the female. In Southeast Asia, they learned to cook amazing beetles as food.

Queen Alexandra's Birdwing. This butterfly is the largest day butterfly; it belongs to the swallowtail family. Females grow larger than males, their wingspan reaches 28 cm. Butterflies have clearly expressed sexual differences - males are smaller, and their wings are narrower, colored blue and green, versus brown in females. Europeans first learned about such an insect in 1906. And the next year, butterfly collector Lord Rothschild gave the new species a name in honor of the wife of King Edward VII. This insect can only be found in the rainforests of Papua New Guinea. In addition, the eruption of Mount Lamington in 1951 destroyed a fairly large part of its distribution area. Deforestation also threatens the existence of the species. Today it is officially prohibited to catch and sell such insects. The butterfly develops within three months, the caterpillars grow up to 12 cm in length and up to 3 cm in width. An adult individual lives only 4 months.

Among all living creatures that exist on Earth, insects are one of the most numerous classes. The number of their species reaches 1,000,000,000. People are very lucky that these tiny but numerous creatures for the most part live in peace with them.

After all, even giant spiders and cockroaches from Hollywood horror films can become a real nightmare for all humanity. But among insects there are also quite large varieties. In this material we will introduce you to the largest representatives of this class.

The largest butterfly on Earth is the Queen Alexandra ornithoptera, which belongs to the family called Swallowtails. The wingspan of this giant is 28 cm.

This variety was described at the beginning of the last century by A. Mick. The name of the butterfly was given by the banker W. Rothschild in honor of the wife of the British king, Alexandra.

The largest insect in the world can only be seen in the tropics of Papua New Guinea near the town of Popondetta. The eruption of a volcano called Lamington in the middle of the last century led to the destruction of more than 250 km2 of the habitat of this species of butterflies, which was the main reason for their extremely rare distribution. In addition, due to the decline in the population of these insects due to the destruction of forests, they were included in the list of animals that cannot be caught for sale.

Male ornithopters are smaller than females. With a weight of 12 g, an abdomen length of 8 cm, the wingspan of females is 28 centimeters. The belly and wings are dark brown in color with patterns of yellow and cream shades. Males are very different from females. Their dimensions are no more than 20 centimeters. They have narrow wings of green and blue shades. Their main diet consists of the leaves of a plant called Aristolochia.

The Atlas peacock-eye is one of the largest butterflies on Earth. Its wingspan is 25 cm. Its name is associated with the character ancient greek myths Atlas, who held the firmament on his own mighty shoulders. These giant butterflies live in Indonesian, Chinese, Thai subtropical and tropical forests. They live only 10 days. Moreover, during this time the butterflies do not feed on anything, since they do not have a mouthparts. They live thanks to the substances they received as caterpillars. Due to the hunting organized by humans, the number of this species of butterfly has decreased extremely.

The Titan Lumberjack is the largest beetle on our planet. Its body length can be 22 centimeters. So says the famous entomologist Martins, who managed to catch an adult beetle exactly 22 centimeters long. Museums display specimens of the beetle measuring 17 centimeters or more. However, you must agree that such dimensions cannot but impress.

But like this large sizes only some individuals can have it. Average length This bug does not exceed 13 centimeters. This giant can be found in South America. Some businessmen in the summer and winter periods organize special tours to South America to capture this giant.

The beetle weighs 25 g and can be dark brown or reddish-brown in color. Females are noticeably larger than males and have a different structure. Woodcutters adhere to a nocturnal lifestyle, and during the day they hide in tree hollows or rotten stumps. Moreover, the most susceptible to the effects of light are males, who are extremely rarely caught in the light traps created by entomologists.

This representative of giant insects has a very impressive size. The body length of some individuals of this species reaches 15 cm. It is a nocturnal predator. It lives in China. The praying mantis gained popularity and love from farmers due to its ability to destroy all kinds of pests. The Chinese praying mantis feeds on locusts and flies. Large adults can also feast on small birds. Typically, females eat males during the breeding process. The Chinese keep praying mantises as pets. They very quickly get used to a person and take food from his hands without fear. At home, insects do not show aggression and are extremely calm.

The tree lobster is also called the giant stick insect. This is one of the largest insects on our planet. Today there are very few of them left in the world. For a long time, the giant stick insect was considered a completely extinct species, until several of these insects were found on one small Australian island. Scientists managed to increase their population. Despite the lack of wings, the tree lobster is able to move quickly. The reproduction process of this species has its own unique characteristics. The giant stick insect does not need a male to reproduce. When laying eggs, the female creates her own clone.

The largest freshwater insects are considered to be giant water bugs, which are classified as Hemipterans. This family is divided into two main types: carnivores and herbivores. Their body length is 10 cm. They feed by introducing special, irritating substances into the bodies of victims. The victims of these insects are mainly small snakes and turtles. However, giant water bugs also often bite people. The sensation of being bitten by this giant insect according to the Schmidt scale, according to which pain and strength are measured, it reaches 4 points - the highest level of the scale. For comparison: a wasp sting does not exceed 2 points. In addition, the bite can cause permanent damage to the muscles.

These beetles are the heaviest beetles on our planet. Their weight reaches 100 grams, which corresponds to the weight of 5 sparrows! In addition, they are very strong and quite difficult to hold in your hands.

The length of females is 80 mm, and males are 110 millimeters. The width of the belly of females is 5 cm, and that of males is 6 centimeters. In addition to their size, males also have external differences from females: they have a Y-shaped horn on their head; females do not have a similar process, but they have a shield with which they dig holes to lay eggs.

The colors of goliath beetles depend on their habitat. To be active, they need to maintain a certain level of body temperature, which is why in shady places many beetles have a dark color with barely noticeable white stripes. Thanks to this coloring, their body quickly heats up.

These wonderful creatures can be seen in the equatorial and southeastern parts of Africa. Due to the specifics of their adaptation in South Africa light color predominates, and in the Central region it is dark. In total, there are up to six varieties of goliaths, each of which has its own unique coloring.

Goliaths spend most of their lives in the treetops. There they feed on tree sap and all kinds of overripe fruits. Ini also love to eat pollen. These beetles rarely descend to the ground. In conditions wildlife Goliath beetles live only 6 months.