There are no more mysterious creatures on the planet than insects. Their appearance is striking and evokes thoughts of extraterrestrial origin. Our today's Top 10 contains the largest insects in the world.
Such a company may frighten someone, and arouse a lot of curiosity in someone. But for sure, no one will remain indifferent when they see a twenty-centimeter beetle. By the way, according to many scientists, the discovery of species previously unknown to science is most likely among insects. So it is quite possible that our current top ten will be replenished with new members in the very near future.
10. Giant Ueta (Deinacrida heteracantha)
Body length - 10 cm excluding legs, weight reaches 70 grams. These wingless insects live in New Zealand. Ueta are considered one of the heaviest insects in the world. A record weight of 71 grams was recorded while weighing a pregnant ueta female.
9. Giant stag beetle (Lucanus elaphus).
Reaches a length of 30-40 mm without mandibles or 45-60 mm, including mandibles. These large beetles of the genus Lucanus of the stag family live in North America. The European relatives of the American stag beetle are slightly smaller and are called Lucanus cervus.
8. Goliath beetles (Goliathus)
Body length in males is 80 - 110 mm, in females - 50 - 80 mm, weight - about 47 grams. According to some eyewitnesses, there are individuals weighing about 100 grams. Goliaths live in Central and Southeast Africa. The large size combined with the contrasting black and white color make this beetle one of the most beautiful insects in the world.
7. Giant stick insect (Dryococelus australis)
Reaches a length of 12 cm with a thickness of 1.5 cm, lives on the Australian island of Lord Howe. This insect, which resembles a dry grass stalk, is one of the rarest on Earth. Until 2001, the species was even considered extinct, however, scientists have discovered colonies of 20-30 individuals on Lord Howe and neighboring islands.
6. Queen Alexandra Bird Wing
– the largest butterfly in the world... The wingspan of the female reaches 35 cm. This species lives in Papua New Guinea. The survival of the offspring is ensured in a very unusual way - the caterpillars of this species are inedible for predators, since the butterflies feed on the poisonous pollen of the Aristolochia schlecteri plant.
5. Dung beetle (Geotrupidae)
Is a family of large beetles with over 500 species. The body length of the dung beetle can be from 3 to 70 mm, the color can be black, brown, purple or yellowish.
4. Giant water bug (Belostomatidae)
Reaches a length of 15 cm. These large insects live in fresh water bodies of South America, East and Southeast Asia (India, Thailand).
3. Peacock-eye butterfly (Attacus atlas)
Has an impressive wingspan - up to 26 cm. Beautiful red-brown color in combination with white "eyes" looks very elegant and makes it the most beautiful butterfly in the world.
2. Mega-stick Chan (Phobaeticus chani)
– the longest insect in the world... The length of the body, resembling a dry branch, can reach 37 cm, and taking into account the legs - 56 cm. These insects live on the island of Kalimantan and are simply champions of camouflage - it is almost impossible to find a stick insect among the branches.
1. Titan lumberjack (Titanus giganteus)
– the largest insect in the world... The body length of this beetle reaches 21 cm. The species is very few, but lives in the vast territory of Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Suriname, Guyana, Bolivia and Brazil.