Everyone knows that the largest insects lived in the prehistoric era, but even in the modern world you can still find large enough representatives of this class, from the sight of which goosebumps run on the skin.
Meganisopter
The Meganisopter (or Griffinfly) is the largest dragonfly that has ever lived in the world, as well as the largest prehistoric insect. This giant with a wingspan of 75 cm reigned in the skies about 317 to 247 million years ago, long before pterosaurs, birds and bats appeared.
Giant New Zealand Grasshopper
The weight of a grasshopper can reach 35 g. During the day, it usually hides among fallen leaves or under rotten trees, but at night it leaves its secluded place. Despite its huge size, the grasshopper lives only 6-9 months.
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Lumberjack Titanium
Native to the rainforests of South America, this beetle is the largest insect in the world. Reaching 16.7 cm in length, this giant insect can easily break a pencil in half with its mites. There were times when these ticks stuck into human flesh.
Australian stick insect
This huge insect feeds on plants and lives in Australia. In females, the body is covered with thorny spines, in males it is smooth. Females are larger than males and can reach a length of up to 20 cm. Although outwardly they look like praying mantises, the connection between them is not close.
Peacock eye atlas
This large butterfly lives in the tropical and subtropical forests of Southeast Asia. Wingspan up to 25 cm. These beautiful creatures fascinate with their bright colors. But they live only 5-7 days.
Giant burrowing cockroach
Mainly lives in the tropical parts of the Australian state of Queensland. It is one of the largest and heaviest cockroaches in the world. It reaches a length of 8 cm and weighs up to 35 g. Also known as a rhinoceros cockroach. Some people keep it at home as a pet. He can live up to 10 years.
Elephant beetle
Native to the rainforests of Central and South America (especially common in Mexico). This amazing beetle reaches a length of 13 cm. It is active mainly at night. The beetle feeds on tree sap and fallen tropical fruits.
Chen's Mega Stick
This is one of the longest insects in the world (up to 57 cm). It was recently discovered in a rainforest on the island of Borneo. This species of stick insect remains largely unexplored because it lives in the treetops where it is very difficult to spot.
Queen Alexandra's Birdwing
The largest butterfly in the world, which can be found in the rainforests of the Oro province in the east of Papua New Guinea. This giant creature has a wingspan of 30.5 cm, the butterfly feeds on liquid nectar of tropical flowers.
Giant water bug
This large insect can be found in freshwater ponds, lakes, streams and rivers in the Americas, Northern Australia, and East Asia. These ferocious predators are known to attack small fish and frogs, but they can also kill small snakes and even turtles. The bug is also known by other names - "biting fingers" and "alligator ticks".
Rhinoceros beetle
Also known as the Caucasian Beetle. This particularly large species is found throughout Southeast Asia, especially in Malaysia. Males can reach a length of 13 cm.
Saint Helena earwig
The largest earwig species that once lived on Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. Body length reached 8 cm. The last confirmed meeting with a live earwig took place in May 1967. In 2014, this remarkable species was officially declared extinct.
Goliath beetle
Native to the tropical regions of Africa, goliath beetles are striking in their size, their larvae are also very large and heavy (can weigh up to 100 g). Adults reach a length of 12 cm.
Lumberjack Titanium
Found in the tropical forests of South America. The beetle is easily recognizable by its beautiful pattern and large jaws. Despite its huge size (over 17 cm in length), this species is well adapted to flight.
Wasp tarantula hawk
The wasp hunts for spiders, including tarantulas. The females of this species paralyze the spider with their bite. They then drag the spider, which may be 8 times their weight, into the burrow, where they lay their eggs in it. The wasp larvae then feed on the tarantula and eventually develop into adults.
Scoliosis wasps
Solitary wasps living on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Java. Their wingspan is 11.5 cm. At the larval stage, these wasps parasitize on the larvae of the giant rhinoceros beetle.
Stag beetle
The beetle is distinguished by its large size (up to 12 cm), frightening appearance and impressive jaws, similar to ticks. However, this giant feeds on plant sap and uses its jaws only during courtship or in fights for females. It usually poses no danger to humans.