{"id":31049,"date":"2023-07-24T17:30:50","date_gmt":"2023-07-24T15:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/?p=149214"},"modified":"2023-07-24T17:38:32","modified_gmt":"2023-07-24T15:38:32","slug":"top-10-largest-insects-in-the-world","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/rss_feed\/top-10-largest-insects-in-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 largest insects in the world"},"content":{"rendered":"

Slimy, yet even more satisfying. <\/p>

By James Cutmore\n \t\t<\/p>

2023-07-24 15:30:50<\/p>

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Insects come in many different forms and in all sorts of shapes and sizes, encompassing a huge range of diverse species from the smallest ant<\/a> to the largest cockroach<\/a>. They are all hugely important \u2013 they make up over half of all living organisms on Earth. They help to pollinate plants, make foodstuffs such as honey<\/a> and can be used in medicines.<\/p>\n

But which is the biggest? And which ones look like they have been photoshopped and cannot possibly be real?<\/p>\n

We bring you the biggest bugs in the world, from the longest to the heaviest. So put that bug spray and swotter away and let us bee (ahem) intrigued.<\/p>\n

Top 5 by length:<\/h2>\n

5. Phobaeticus kirbyi \u2013 <\/em>Stick insect<\/h2>\n
\""Light\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
A stick insect (Phobaeticus kirbyi<\/em>) photographed in the Lambir Hills National Park, Malaysia. Photo by Alamy<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

This species of stick insect is native to the island of Borneo, with its huge rainforests and swamps. They tend to be brown or green in colour, with a large head and small eyes.<\/p>\n

A specimen located at the Natural History Museum in London measures 54.6cm with the legs fully extended. For many years, this was thought to be the longest insect in the world.<\/p>\n

4. Phobaeticus serratipes \u2013 <\/em>Giant Malayan stick insect<\/h2>\n
\""Green\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
A close-up image of a stick insect of the species Phobaeticus serratipes.<\/em>\u00a0Photo by Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

The giant Malayan stick insect is mostly found in the Malaysian Peninsula, as well as in Singapore and the island of Sumatra. It is a popular species with people who keep stick insects as pets.<\/p>\n

One female individual was measured at 55.5cm with her legs extended, although their bodies tend to be relatively short in comparison.<\/p>\n

3. Ctenomorpha gargantua \u2013 <\/i><\/em>Gargantuan stick insect<\/h2>\n
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
A gargantuan stick insect (Ctenomorpha gargantua<\/em>) more than lives up to its name. Photo by Shutterstock<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

This stick insect is native to the rainforests of Queensland, Australia, where they reside high in the canopy and out of harm\u2019s way. The females have been measured at a whopping 56.5cm, although it is thought that larger specimens might exist.<\/p>\n

The males can actually fly in order to find a mate but are considerably smaller than the females for this reason. And if they don\u2019t make it, the females are able to reproduce without the help of a male.<\/p>\n

2. Phobaeticus chani \u2013 <\/em>Chan\u2019s megastick<\/h2>\n
\""phobaeticus\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
A Chan\u2019s megastick cautiously makes its way up a human arm. Photo by Shutterstock<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Another stick insect native to the island of Borneo, Chan\u2019s megastick is an impressive insect. Its total length with legs extended has been measured at 56.7cm, but unlike a lot of stick insects on our list, its body is also long, at a maximum length of 35.7cm.<\/p>\n

First described in 2008, it held the record of the world\u2019s longest insect until 2014.<\/p>\n

1. Phryganistria \u2018chinensis\u2019 \u2013 <\/em>Undescribed species<\/h2>\n
\""Huge\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Zhao Li, a Chinese entomologist, demonstrates the world\u2019s longest insect Phryganistria \u2018chinensis\u2019<\/em>. Photo by Alamy<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

The longest insect in the world is the Phryganistria \u2018chinensis\u2019, an undescribed species of stick insect. A wild example of this new species was measured at 62.4cm, but since then a captive-bred example of this species reached 64cm in length, making it the longest insect in the world. Now all it needs is a name.<\/p>\n

The bug was discovered in 2014 in Liuzhou, Guangxi, China, by researcher Zhao Li, who has gone on to breed more examples in captivity. They are as long as the average adult human arm and can live for up to a year.<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/b><\/p>\n