The largest larva. The largest insect in the world. Queen Alexandra's Birdwing
Of all 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 copy 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 inactive, so they are sometimes even kept at home in an aquarium. Stick insects eat leaves, choosing different tree species to get 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 up the hills and take off. Male woodcutter-titanium is quite susceptible to light, so they do not react to light traps of entomologists. 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 dying trees. Pupation occurs in the soil. The titan is not dangerous to humans, but it can bite on purpose, defending itself. His jaws are quite capable of biting the 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 as large. The body of insects is covered with small hairs, but it gives off a large horn from them. It is located on the head and directed forward, while it also has several teeth. Females simply do not have such an outgrowth. You can meet Hercules beetles in Central and South America, on the islands of the Caribbean. The female lays up to 1000 eggs, the growing larvae feed on wood. The grown creature lives up to six months, showing particular activity in the wet season.
Giant long-legged grasshopper. These insects live in Malaysia. They belong to the type of arthropods, order Orthoptera. Grasshoppers feed on plants. Their wings are rather unusual, they are very similar to leaves when extended, they are also embossed, with spots and even holes. However, long legs do not help grasshoppers 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 a couple. Males call loudly and piercingly 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, insects are quite heavy, the heaviest males reach a figure of 100 grams. This is a record figure among insects. And in length, such beetles grow up to 110 mm. During the day, goliaths fly, almost all the time hiding in the crowns of trees. On the ground, they can be found quite rarely. Interestingly, depending on the climate, the color of the beetles also changes. This is due to the body's requirements for temperature, 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 eggs, the female finally descends to the ground. She places them in natural cavities. Interestingly, beetle larvae can eat their younger relatives.
Rhino cockroach. This cockroach is one of the largest in the world fauna. Its length can reach 9 centimeters, and weight - 30 grams. Such an insect lives in Australia, where it lives in fallen leaves, which it eats. The rhinoceros cockroach is also the record holder in the field of longevity - it can live up to 10 years. Only after three years comes its maturity. And upon reaching full size chitinous cover is reset up to 12 times. adult cockroach 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 combat or courtship. Unlike other cockroaches, rhinos do not have wings, they are not even considered pests. On the contrary, this species is very useful for the ecosystem.
Giant ueta. This insect family 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 this case- hatching eggs in the abdomen. Ueta is a wingless insect with a large and thick body. Usually they are brown. For defense, hind legs with spikes are used, and when attacked, they are simply thrown forward. Ueta feeds on other insects, fruits and fruits. The insect is very important, as it spreads the seeds of plants by taking them as food. The gigantism of the ueta is due to the fact that in New Zealand, due to isolation, there were simply no small mammals, so the insects occupied an empty niche.
Owl 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 in general gray color, on which the pattern of dark spots. This type gives the insect a resemblance to a rather large bird, which can even scare a person in dark time days. The way of life of the scoop agrippina remains poorly understood, since it occurs mainly at night. They feed on the leaves of legumes. Butterflies love to sit on trees, at a height of 3-4 meters. The agrippina scoop has become so often caught simply for collections that the species is endangered.
Giant water bugs. People have a bias towards bedbugs. It seems that they either smell terrible, or generally feed on human blood. Water bugs can only accidentally bite in a pond, and they stand out primarily for their size. Representatives of this species live in the tropics - in South America, India, Thailand. They usually choose fresh water to live. Giant water bugs can reach a size of 15 cm. Nature specially made the hind legs of such insects suitable not for walking, but for swimming. The front legs are strong, slightly shorter. This is a great tool for capturing prey. Adult bugs cannot breathe underwater, so they have to rise to the surface to breathe. The respiratory organs are two tubes located on the abdomen. I must say that these bugs are predators. Their size allows them to hunt fry, tadpoles, amphibians and even small fish. Frozen on a stone or an underwater plant, the bug waits for prey, and then grabs it with its front paws. Proboscis saliva is injected into the body, which paralyzes the victim and liquefies it. Huge bugs can fly, however, they do it infrequently - moving or reacting to bright light. Fleeing from a larger predator, the bugs pretend to be dead or release liquid from the anus into the approaching enemy. In spring, males begin to carry eggs on their backs, which the female lays there. In the South East Asia amazing beetles have learned to cook for food.
Queen Alexandra's birdwing. This butterfly is the largest diurnal one, it belongs to the family of sailboats. Females grow larger than males, the wingspan reaches 28 cm. Sex differences are evenly pronounced in butterflies - males are smaller, and their wings are narrower, colored blue and green color, versus brown in females. For the first time, Europeans learned about such an insect in 1906. And the next year, butterfly collector Lord Rothschild named the new species in honor of the wife of King Edward VII. You can meet such an insect only in the humid forests of Papua New Guinea. In addition, the eruption of the Lamington volcano in 1951 destroyed a fairly large part of the distribution area. Deforestation also threatens the existence of the species. Today it is officially forbidden to catch and sell such insects. The butterfly develops within three months, the caterpillars grow up to 12 cm long and up to 3 cm wide. An adult individual lives only 4 months.
Insects are the largest group of "animals" on Earth, accounting for approximately 90% of all living things, and more than half of all living organisms. Some people are terribly afraid of bugs, some collect them, and many don't notice them at all. In any case, it will be interesting for both of them to learn about the largest insects, among which there are quite creepy specimens.
Actaeon Beetle This giant is named after the mythological hero Actaeon, who was trained by the centaur Chiron. But what is heroic in this huge beetle? First of all, this is the size - an insect from the Scarabaeidae family can reach more than 12 inches in length. Actaeon is the second largest beetle in the world, with a wide and heavy body, strong paws and large claws. Found in South America, the Actaeon beetle is in the larval and pupal stages for three years, and after birth has a lifespan of less than six months.
Giant water bug This biting crawling creature has latin name Belostomatidae. The giant water bug lives all over the world, and especially in North and South America, East Asia and Northern Australia. In different areas of the world it is called differently - but all the nicknames are equally creepy. This water bug is carnivorous, preying on crustaceans, fish and even aquatic reptiles. Faced with people, they pretend to be dead. If that doesn't work, they can bite, piercing flesh and squirting their saliva. This is one of the most painful stings in the world, although it does not pose any medical threat. In Thailand, these bugs are street food and a tasty treat fried in a spicy sauce.
The Queen Alexandra ornithoptera is the largest butterfly in the world. Native to Papua New Guinea, this giant butterfly is an endangered species. With a wingspan of up to 40 centimeters, and 30 centimeters long, the butterfly is endangered as the habitat of this beauty is invaded by lumberjacks and the cultivation of oil palm, coffee and cocoa. Butterfly Ornithoptera Queen Alexandra lives in the crowns of rainforest trees. The butterfly was discovered by naturalists in 1906 and named after the wife of Edward VII. This endangered insect is indeed very beautiful. Since its larvae feed on toxic plants, the butterfly has practically no enemies in nature, except for humans.
Giant burrowing cockroach This cockroach can grow up to 7.5 cm long and weigh up to 30 grams. In fact, this insect, which causes an instinctive reaction of pure disgust in most people, is quite docile. It is often kept as a pet. Most cockroaches have wings, but not this giant, who also plays an important role in nature! Feeding dry leaves to its offspring in small dug holes, this insect contributes to the natural process of fertilizing the earth - a kind of composting. The giant burrowing cockroach lives only in Australia, and often catches the eye of people. This insect can live up to 10 years, which also distinguishes it from the common cockroach.
Tarantula hawk This is the largest wasp in the world. They are so called because they hunt and feed on tarantula spiders (they actually feed the spider to their larvae). The tarantula hawk is huge and has the worst sting of any wasp, one of the most painful. The sting of the female wasp paralyzes the tarantulas, allowing them to be dragged to the wasp's lair. Bright colors act as a warning to predators, and the wasp's hooked claws can grab onto anything. The sting of a hawk can reach 7 mm in length.
Peacock-eyed Atlas Few people know that this largest moth was named (wing surface area is 62 cm2) in honor of the mythological Greek Titan because of the pattern on its wings. A subspecies of this colossus is said to be the inspiration for the Japanese monster from movies and literature, the Mothra, or kaiju in Japan. These creatures inhabit the subtropical and tropical dry forests of Southeast Asia and the Malay Archipelago. Their cocoons are not only beautiful, but also made of reliable silk used by local residents for their own needs.
Goliath Beetle Named after the biblical giant Goliath, these beetles are unsurpassed in their weight and gigantic size. These vegetarian beetles live in tropical African forests and eat fruit and tree sap, as well as animal excrement, recycling “used” material. Regardless of their usual nutritional preferences, in captivity they grow from an egg to a full-fledged beetle, eat cat or dog food, and need a lot of protein. Males can grow up to 12 cm in length and weigh up to 3.5 ounces. As a pet, the beetle can live for a maximum of a year in the last phase of its life. In the wild, Goliaths live even less due to predators.
Giant Weta This insect resembles a huge grasshopper and lives in New Zealand. 16 of the 70 known Weta species are endangered due to human impact (destruction of natural habitat) and the introduction of non-native predators such as hedgehogs, cats, rats, and mastelids (weasel family). These nocturnal beetles are primarily herbivores but also eat smaller insects. They can live anywhere from your home garden, to caves, forests, under rocks or rotting tree trunks, and even in self-dug burrows. It is worth noting that the heaviest insect found was the giant ueta, weighing 70 grams.
Giant stick insect The giant stick insect is the longest insect. An expert in camouflage, this guy is 55cm long and has very long legs. The representative of the Phasmida squad is a nocturnal creature. The giant stick insect hides during the day (under the leaves, which are its versatile snack) and comes out at night. It lives predominantly in tropical and subtropical regions, although there are varieties in more temperate parts. They are very tenacious and can easily lose a limb to escape a predator.
The Titanus giganteus beetle is one of the largest beetles in the world. The titan beetle lives in the Amazon rainforest, can grow up to seven inches in length, and has jaws so strong it can rip a pencil in two and bite flesh. Females are very rare: they spend their time waiting for the male to fertilize the eggs. Males, on the other hand, can be seen crawling through trees, and even flying short distances - they are so big that they often have trouble taking off from the ground! They spend their whole short life in beetle form, looking for a mating partner, and may not even eat, relying on their energy reserves from the pupal stage.
It's time to meet the largest, longest and heaviest insects on Earth. Naturally, the largest species lived in the prehistoric era, but even in modern world there are still incredible bugs that will give anyone goosebumps. From the creepy giant weta to the more famous praying mantis, here is a list of the 25 largest insects in the world.
25. Protodonata or Meganisoptera
Meganisoptera is not only the largest dragonfly that has ever existed on our planet, but also the largest insect in the world. With a wingspan of up to 75 centimeters, this gigantic insect soared through the skies from the Carboniferous to the end of the Permian era (approximately 317 to 247 million years ago). Meganisoptera lived long before the appearance of pterosaurs, birds and bats, which means that it had no equal in the sky.
24. Giant ueta
Photo: Dinobass
The giant ueta (weta) is a very large species of insect that lives mainly in New Zealand. An adult beetle can weigh 35 grams. Ueta prefers to hide in fallen leaves and bark of fallen trees, and rests mainly during the day. At night, the heavyweight leaves its shelter to move into other trees in search of food and more comfortable housing. Despite its impressive size, the giant ueta only lives for 6-9 months.
23. Lumberjack Titan
Photo: Bernard Dupont
Endemic to the rainforests of South America, the titan lumberjack is the largest known beetle not only in the Amazonian jungle, but also one of the largest insect species in the world. Titan grows up to 16.7 centimeters in length (according to unconfirmed reports - up to 22 centimeters), and hallmark of this giant insect are impressive claws, with which it can easily grab a pencil, for example. There are rumors that the Titan woodcutter can even tear through human flesh with his tongs. The most interesting thing is that entomologists have not yet been able to detect its larvae, and so far naturalists can only assume that the beetle spends the beginning of its life inside trees.
22. Australian walking cane
Photo: Rosa Pineda
The Australian cane (Extatosoma tiaratum) is a huge herbivore that lives in the tropical and temperate rainforests of Australia. These creatures are very similar to praying mantises, but entomologists distinguish them as two completely different species. Females are usually larger than males, they reach up to 20 centimeters in length and are covered with prickly spines. In turn, males also have something to brag about - they have as many as 3 eyes, and they can fly, unlike females, who have only the rudiments of wings.
21. Moth atlas
Photo: Quartl
This giant moth lives in the tropical and subtropical forests of Southeast Asia and is considered one of the largest Lepidoptera insect species on the planet. The tropical moth has a wingspan of 25 centimeters, and the surface area of the wings of the atlas is 400 square centimeters, which is more than any other insect in the world. At the same time, her life expectancy is only 5-7 days. This short-lived beauty, people have found quite a practical application - in India, a giant moth is bred for the production of silk thread.
20. Rhinoceros cockroach (Macropanesthia rhinoceros) 
Photo: Mark Pellegrini (Raul654)
The giant rhinoceros cockroach (also known as the burrowing cockroach) lives in the rainforests of Queensland, Australia and is the largest and heaviest cockroach in the world. An adult representative of this species grows up to 8 centimeters in length and can weigh up to 35 grams. The life expectancy of a burrowing cockroach is quite impressive - scientists have found individuals whose age reached as much as 10 years. You may be surprised, but among amateur entomologists, the giant rhinoceros cockroach is quite popular as a ... pet.
19. Elephant beetle
Photo: sdbeazley / flickr
This insect prefers the humidity of tropical forests and lowlands of Central and South America (especially Mexico). The elephant beetle (or megasoma elephant) is a large insect that grows up to as much as 13 centimeters in length. Impressive in size, these creatures live only 1-3 months, prefer night time, feed on tree sap and tropical fruits.
18. Phobaeticus chani 
Photo: P.E. Bragg
Phobaeticus chani is one of the longest insect species in the world. Its more common name is Chan's stick insect, which this insect received in honor of its explorer Datuk Chen Zhaolun (Datuk Chen Zhaolun). A giant stick insect was discovered not so long ago in a tropical forest in Borneo (Borneo), where a Chinese naturalist happened to examine an individual of incredible length - 57 centimeters! A variety of the beetle Phobaeticus chani is still not fully understood, since the insect lives on the most tall trees rainforest, which makes it too secretive for observation and research.
17. Queen Alexandra's Birdwing
Photo: Robert Nash
It is amazing beautiful creation was found in the rainforests of the province of Oro (Oro) in the east of Papua New Guinea. Another name for this bird wing is also known - Queen Alexandra's ornithopter, and it is recognized as the largest butterfly in the world. The wingspan of this giant creature reaches 30.5 centimeters, and it feeds mainly on the nectar of tropical flowers.
16. Giant water bug
Photo: Frank Vassen
The giant water bug (Belostomatidae) is also known as the "alligator flea", and it lives mainly in freshwater reservoirs, lakes, streams and rivers of North and South America, Northern Australia and East Asia. Water bugs are fierce predators, and cases of attacks of these bugs are known not only on fish and frogs, but also on small snakes and even turtles. Killer beetle? It sounds scary, but there is another no less predatory insect ahead of you. Be patient until the 11th point of our top ...
15. Giant Atlas Beetle
Photo: JohnSka
The Atlas beetle (Chalcosoma atlas) got its name in honor of the ancient mythical deity who held the vault of heaven on his shoulders. Another name for this beetle is the Caucasian beetle, and representatives of this species are considered one of the largest on Earth. Atlas is widely distributed in Southeast Asia, especially in Malaysia. Atlas males can reach as much as 13 centimeters in length.
14. Saint Helena earwig
Photo: wikimedia
In front of you is the giant earwig Labidura herculeana, the largest member of the order Leatheroptera, which is sometimes called the “Dodo of the earwig world” (Dodo is a giant bird, died out in the 17th century AD) or the St. Helena earwig. History knows about the 8-cm Labidura herculeana, but the last time a living adult of this earwig was seen was already in May 1967, and in 2014 scientists regretfully announced that the Dodo of the world of earwigs had finally died out.
13. Goliath beetle
Photo: fir0002
Endemic to tropical regions of Africa, goliath beetles are the largest insects in the world, both as adults and as larvae. It is believed that these beetles are the heaviest of all insects on Earth. Their larvae weigh up to 100 grams, and adults reach up to 12 centimeters in length.
12. Mustaches or lumberjacks
Photo: Hectonichus
The longhorn beetle in the photo is a gigantic species of beetle, easily recognizable by its beautiful dorsal pattern and enlarged jaws. There are other names for this insect - barbel, woodcutter, or scientifically Cerambycidae. The long-horned beetle lives in the tropical forests of South America, and despite its huge size (more than 17 centimeters in length), this species of insect can even fly.
11. Bird-eating hawk
Photo: wikimedia
The tarantula hawk is a large road wasp or pompilid that preys on tarantulas. The females of this species of insect paralyze the spider with a prick of their sting. On a successful hunt, these seemingly modest creatures are able to overcome a tarantula, which is most often 8 times heavier than a road wasp. This difference in weight does not prevent dragging the slain spider into the hole, where the female lays her larvae directly on the body of the prey. When new tarantula hawks are born, they initially feed on tarantulas stored in the hole.
10 Giant Wasp
Photo: Didier Descouens
9. Gauromydas heroes 
Photo: Biologoandre
Gauromydas heros are the largest flies in the world. This variety is long dipterous insect grows up to 7 centimeters, and its wingspan reaches 10 centimeters, which is quite a lot for a fly. Gauromydas heros lives in southern Brazil and prefers to lay its larvae in anthills. Scientists have not fully studied the lifestyle of this species, but adult males presumably feed on flower nectar, females probably do not, and the larvae of these flies eat leaf cutter ant larvae, in whose colonies they hide.
8. Macrotermes Bellicosus
Photo: ETF89
This termite lives in Africa and Southeast Asia. Macrotermes Bellicosus is the largest known member of its infraorder. This insect got into our list due to the fact that its uterus during the laying period reaches approximately 11 centimeters in length. The size of other members of the colony is much more modest - termite workers grow up to 3-4 centimeters, and soldiers are not much larger. Macrotermes Bellicosus live by hunting and gathering, and the peak of activity of this species of termites is observed during the rainy season.
7. Hercules beetle
Photo: Anaxibia
The Hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules) is one of the largest beetles in the world, and it lives mainly in the jungles of South America. Representatives of this genus are considered the largest and most famous of all rhinoceros beetles, close relatives of scarabs. Some males reach 17.5 centimeters, including the length of the monohorn.
6. Thysania agrippina
Photo: Acrocynus
Thysania agrippina is a night moth, better known by other names, including agrippa cutworm, agrippina cutworm, agrippina's thysania, agrippa, night moth, and even ghost moth. Agrippina scoop is one of the largest flying insects, and its wingspan reaches almost 30 centimeters. The largest night lives in Mexico, Central America and South America, and is also sometimes found in Texas (Texas).
5 Stag Beetle (Lucanidae)
Photo: Trevor Harris / geograph.org.uk
The stag beetle or stag beetle, also sometimes known as the comb beetle, is an insect that is easily recognizable due to its enormous size (about 12 centimeters long) and imposing mandibles (lower jaws) resembling tusks or horns. In appearance, the beetle looks very intimidating, but in fact it feeds on tree sap, and uses its lower jaws only in mating games or during fights with its own relatives. For humans, this insect is usually completely harmless.
4. Giant winged dragonfly
Photo: Steven G. Johnson
The largest dragonfly living on our planet, the giant damselfly is also known in the scientific world as Megaloprepus Caerulatus. The graceful insect is decorated with silver-blue stripes, as well as white and black spots. But don't be fooled by its beauty, this dragonfly is a dangerous predator. True, Megaloprepus Caerulatus poses the greatest threat only to spiders, which the equalwing catches directly from their cozy nets. The giant dragonfly lives in the tropical forests of Central and South America, and the largest wingspan of these insects is as much as 19 centimeters!
3. Mantis
Photo: Oliver Koemmerling
This insect is almost at the top of its food chain and feeds mainly on other representatives. native class, although there is evidence that praying mantises sometimes attack small reptiles, small mammals and even birds! The largest mantis known to entomologists was discovered in southern China in 1929, and its length was as much as 18 centimeters.
2. Stick Man Zhao
Photo: Joachim Bresseel, Jerome Constant
In 2014, in the southern province of Guangxi (Guangxi) was discovered the new kind insect. They became the stick insect Zhao (Phryganistria Chinensis Zhao), whose dimensions reached as much as 62.4 centimeters. The giant was discovered by the Chinese entomologist Zhao Li, and today it is the longest insect in the world. The stick insect was named after a Chinese explorer who hunted this incredible fastmatid for 6 years until he finally managed to catch one of these long-legged beauties.
1. Mosquito centipedes of the species Holorusia Brobdignagius
Photo: wikimedia
Long-legged mosquitoes or caramora are insects of the Diptera family of the long-legged suborder. Their favorite habitat is forests near fresh water bodies and swamps. Adults feed on plant nectar, while larvae feed on decaying plants. The largest of the caramors, holorusia brobdignagius grows up to 23 centimeters in length if the limbs are extended behind and in front of its body. This value allows us to consider this Chinese centipede the longest of its kind.
Incredible Facts
One of the amazing and mysterious human phobias (and one of the most common!) Is fear of insects.
There are many suggestions why most of us fall into a stupor, or begin to fuss in panic, seeing some kind of beetle or cockroach in our immediate vicinity.
Maybe it's because they are so different from us? Or, perhaps, it is mother nature that has programmed us to react in this way, since time immemorial, when a person could easily die from an insect bite?
Be that as it may, the fact remains we are afraid of them. However, many people noticed another amazing feature - being afraid of all sorts of small insects, they react quite normally to major representatives these types.
Would you like to check how you react to big and very big spiders, beetles and other cockroaches?
giant stick insect
This tropical insect is considered the most suitable view in order to keep him at home as a pet (it's no secret that there are such lovers!).
Although the name of the squad to which the giant stick insect belongs, frankly, does not inspire - ghostly(lat. Phasmatodea ). It comes from the Greek word "phasma" meaning phantom or ghost. These insects, depending on the species, may look like an ordinary knot, or a large leaf.
The giant stick insect is considered the longest creature in the insect kingdom. It can reach a length sixty or more centimeters! Many species from this order are characterized by the ability to reproduce asexually.
Giant stick insects are vegetarians, but very often eat their own shed skin. When such an insect feels threatened, it falls to the ground, pretending to be dead, or starts a strange long dance, swinging his extremely unusual little body from side to side.
goliath beetle
The goliath beetle is considered to be one of the largest insects on earth, judging by its size, weight and shape. The birthplace of this amazing creature is the African tropical jungle.
They can reach a length more than twelve centimeters, while in the larval state, their weight sometimes exceeds one hundred grams. The average weight of adults is two times less.
The goliath beetle boasts protective armor under which he has wings. When the beetle is about to take off, it spreads these wings and the sound that accompanies the flight is very similar to the crash of a children's toy helicopter!
Another distinguishing feature of this beetle is its horn located on the head of an insect. With the help of this horn, males sort things out by claiming a female or defending a territory.
The females also have a horn, although a slightly different shape. Yes, and it serves another purpose - with its help, females dig minks when they are preparing to lay their eggs. Although in wild nature Goliath beetles sit on a fruit diet and drink the sap of trees; in captivity, they may well eat food for dogs and cats.
Peacock-eye atlas
The peacock-eyed atlas was once discovered in Southeast Asia and began to rightfully be considered the largest moth in the world. Just imagine - the wingspan of this moth is about 26 centimeters.
This beautiful insect got its name thanks to the ornate patterns on its wings, which resemble a map in shape. The satin's wingtips are very similar to a snake's head..
In general, thanks to this unusual shape wings and their bright colors, this moth scares off predators. And females attract males not with wings, but by highlighting special pheromone from a special gland located at the bottom of the abdominal cavity.
Males by this smell are able to feel their partner for kilometers. After the female atlas leaves her cocoon, she almost immediately enters into adulthood, because the whole period of her life lasts one, maximum two weeks. Moths lay eggs, feeding on the reserves accumulated in the larval state, and then die rather quickly.
Birdwing of Queen Alexandra
Birdwing of Queen Alexandra ( scientific name Ornithoptera alexandrae ) was named after English queen Alexandra. This butterfly, which is the largest on earth, was first discovered in one of the provinces papua new guinea– provinces oro.
Females of this species are usually larger than males and have a wingspan of up to thirty-five centimeters. The birdwing feeds from a large herbaceous plant entitled aristolochia. This makes the eggs that this butterfly lays poisonous.
Caterpillars that appear later get a chance to avoid being eaten, as they have very unpleasant taste for birds and many other predators. Since 1989 this beautiful view is under the threat of extinction due to the damage that has been caused to it by people who cut down forests and settle in more and more new lands.
giant weta
The giant weta is considered the largest insect in New Zealand. It has more than ten centimeters in length and weighs about 85 grams.
A pregnant veta weighs more than a sparrow! Having no wings and leading a nocturnal lifestyle, the veta straightens its legs in case of danger. long hind limbs, hoping thereby to scare away some predator who intended to feast on it.
If this does not help, the veta falls on its back, pretending to be dead, while becoming completely defenseless. During the mating season, the males of these insects overcome up to 15 kilometers per night looking for a female.
Females, on the other hand, prefer to sit still, hardly moving more than a few tens of meters per night. For about a hundred years, this insect turned out to be under the threat of extinction within New Zealand. But now there are quite a lot of them on small nearby islands. The main enemy of these animals is a person who is developing new spaces for life and various predators.
Chinese praying mantis
The homeland of the Chinese praying mantis, as the name implies, is China. However, at the end of the 19th century, this insect was introduced to North America in order to control other insects that are considered pests.
It was believed that from this amazing insect you can prepare a miraculous potion that can cure, for example, impotence.
In addition, it was considered that if you fry the eggs that the female Chinese praying mantis lays and feed them to children with bedwetting, they are cured. This insect grows to a length of more than ten centimeters and is the largest praying mantis.
It feeds, as already mentioned, on other insects, but does not shun cannibalism. Females can even catch and eat small lizards and other amphibians. And sometimes a hummingbird can get into their clutches.
When a praying mantis is hunting, it takes "prayer" posture, folding the front legs together below its head. As soon as the right moment turns up, the praying mantis jumps and grabs its prey.
Mating is a highly unsafe process for males, who hop on the backs of larger females and may well become their prey. It's just that the female during intercourse can turn around and grab the male by the head, holding him in that position until the sexual intercourse is over in order to then devour the poor fellow.
giant dragonfly
Giant dragonfly (scientific name petalura gigantean
), which lives in Australia, has recently been included in the list of endangered insects.
Reason - drying out wetlands on the mainland. And although the giant dragonfly loves the marshland, it is, nevertheless, a terrestrial insect, since it spends most of its life on land.
How real predator, a giant dragonfly preys on other insects, which it immediately eats. She hunts in flight. The females of this insect usually have big sizes than males.
Their wingspan reaches fifteen centimeters. During the mating season, the females go about their usual business, fluttering over the swamps, and the males fly around them, choosing a mate.
If the female does not like the male, she wraps the back of the calf inside, and if the boyfriend is to her liking, she allows the male to approach and attach to her. Then they both turn into a kind of flying family tandem.
This unusual pairing does not end there. The male has two pairs of genitals and literally before fertilization, the male's sperm comes from his first genitals to the second! And later, the fertilized female lays eggs in peat moss in the swamp.
Giant burrowing rhinoceros cockroach
Homeland of the giant burrowing rhinoceros cockroach - north queensland, Australian state. It is the largest and heaviest of all cockroach species on the planet.
It can weigh up to 30 grams with body length up to eight centimeters! Since they do not have wings and are unable to travel long distances, these cockroaches are not considered pests.
They live in the bushes and their lifespan is up to ten years. Some insect lovers consider this cockroach a wonderful pet, as the rhinoceros cockroach loves cleanliness, does not have bad smell, and does not seek to leave his aquarium.
Nickname "digging" this cockroach received because of the ability to break through long and deep tunnels. So this cockroach is the only one in his team, which can equip itself with a dwelling underground. This insect prefers to eat fallen eucalyptus leaves. The female rhinoceros cockroach lays up to thirty larvae, and the cockroaches hatched from them spend up to nine months with their mother, until they themselves learn to settle down underground.
Giant water beetle
At first glance, the body of a giant water beetle looks like floor cleaning sponge. However, all these pimples on his back are just eggs, which, by the way, are carried only by males.
The largest beetle in the cicada family, the giant beetle grows up to 12 centimeters in length.. Its bite is very painful, so anyone who dives underwater in the habitat of a water beetle runs the risk of finding out for themselves.
In general, this beetle is considered the most biting of all others in the insect kingdom. Despite not very appetizing appearance, this insect is considered a delicacy (and very refined!), For example, in Thailand. The water beetle itself feeds on fish, small amphibians and crustaceans..
With its saliva containing paralyzing substances, the beetle immobilizes the victim, and then sucks out its liquid remains. When a beetle encounters prey that is too tough for it, or when it becomes the object of a hunt, for example, a person, insect pretends to be dead.
At the same time, an unpleasantly smelling liquid begins to flow from his anus. The females lay their eggs directly on the males who move with them as the eggs need air (to prevent mold from growing on them!).
Three weeks later, thanks to my father's efforts (my mother simply does not interfere!) The eggs turn into larvae.
