Insects may be small compared to mammals and birds, but some species defy expectations with their massive size and weight. From towering stick insects to bulky beetles, these creatures showcase the incredible diversity of the insect world.
The Largest Insects by Length
Phryganistria ‘chinensis’ (Chinese Stick Insect)
📏 Length: Up to 64cm
🌍 Location: China
This record-breaking stick insect holds the title for the longest insect in the world. Its twig-like body helps it blend seamlessly into its surroundings. Found in the Guangxi region of China, this stick insect was only discovered in 2014 and is yet to be formally described!
Titan Beetle (Titanus giganteus)
📏 Length: Up to 16.5cm
🌍 Location: South America
One of the largest beetles by body length, the Titan Beetle is known for its powerful mandibles, which can snap pencils in half. Titan beetles spend one to two years as larvae before pupating. Once they emerge as their adult beetle form they only live for a few weeks.
Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas)
📏 Wingspan: Up to 30.5cm
🌍 Location: Southeast Asia
The Atlas Moth is one of the largest moths in the world, with wings resembling snake heads to deter predators. The Atlas moth has a total wing surface area of 147 square centimetres! Moths and butterflies are both members of the Lepidoptera order, but the largest members of this group are all moths.
The Heaviest Insects by Weight
Giant Wētā (Deinacrida heteracantha)
⚖️ Weight: Up to 71 grams
🌍 Location: New Zealand
This flightless cricket-like insect is one of the heaviest in the world, sometimes outweighing small birds. This cricket is a prime example of “island gigantism”, where the ancestors of these mighty crickets arrived in New Zealand and evolved to grow to a massive size in comparison to their mainland cousins. Island gigantism occurs because their new island homes had a lack of predators, reduced competition and new ecological niches to exploit!
Goliath Beetle (Goliathus goliatus)
⚖️ Weight: Up to 100 grams
🌍 Location: Africa
The Goliath Beetle is a true heavyweight and considered the heaviest beetle in the wild. Goliath beetle larvae are even heavier than adults, weighing up to 115 grams! Adult males have a Y-Shaped horn on the head which they use to fight other males. Thy are also very strong and can lift up to 850 times their own body weight.
Extinct Giants: Giant Griffinfly (Meganeuropsis Permian)
📏 Wingspan: 71cm
⚖️ Weight: 450 grams
📅 Time period: Early Permian period (~290 million years ago)
While today’s insects are impressive, prehistoric species were even larger. The Meganeuropsis permiana, an ancient dragonfly-like insect was the largest insects to ever exist. Giant griffinflies were able to grow so big because the Permian atmosphere had up to 30% more oxygen than today. The body size of all insects is limited to how much oxygen can be delivered by their tracheal breathing system.
These colossal insects prove that size isn’t just for mammals and reptiles! Which one fascinates you the most?
