Top 20 Massive Insects That REALLY Exist
#20: Sabertooth Longhorn Beetle
With perhaps the coolest name in the bug world, Macrodontia cervicornis, better known as the sabertooth longhorn beetle, is one of the largest beetles in the world. Found in the rainforests of South American nations like Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador, the creature spends most of its life as a larva — sometimes up to ten years! Then, once it's an adult, it gets a few months of reproduction before perishing. Yikes. Including its jaws, the biggest recorded sabertooth was 17.7 centimeters long, just under 7 inches. Due to the elusive nature of the creature, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, also known as the IUCN, has the beetle status down as “vulnerable,” which hasn’t been updated since 1996.
#19: Imperial Moth
Fun fact, there’s a misconception that all adult moths eat clothes. In reality, most don’t. Some species, like the imperial moth, also known as the eacles imperialis, aren’t exactly big eaters. And due to its vast size, if clothes were on its menu, your jacket would be quickly destroyed. Found throughout North America and parts of South America, the moth is a beast that can have a wingspan of up to 17.5 centimeters, around 6.9 inches. Which is great since they have such beautiful colors. Once the moth graduates to wings and becomes an adult, it loses the function of its mouth. Then, it only survives for a week after the females have laid their eggs.
#18: Chan's Megastick
Sounding like an overpowered mystical weapon in anime, the Chan's Megastick, also known as the Phobaeticus chani, is a stick insect native to the Asian island of Borneo. In 2008, this critter held the title of the longest critter in the world. Datuk Chan Chew Lun, whom the species was named after, donated his specimen to the Natural History Museum in London, England. With its legs extended, the megastick came to 56.7 centimeters in length, around 22.3 inches. Its body alone is 35.7 centimeters or 14.1 inches! Thankfully, due to its color and skinny size, its natural camouflage helps this long creature blend in with the plants that it eats. Megastick eventually lost its long title in 2014 -- more on that later.
#17: Acanthacorydalis Fruhstorferi
In 2015, the dobsonfly species Acanthacorydalis fruhstorferi was inducted into the Guinness World Records as the “Largest aquatic insect (by wingspan).” The creature, native to water sources in Vietnam and China, was recorded to have a wingspan of 21.6 centimeters, around 8.5 inches! Despite being a terrifying size and appearance, the fruhstorferi consume tree sap during their adult lives. When they’re larvae, however, they feast on other bugs and small fish. The adult males have long mandibles that they use to fight each other to win the female's affection. They use their jaws to flip their competitor into the air to win the battle.
#16: Elephant Beetle
It’s not every beetle that’s turned into a quasi-cyborg for the US military to control and make it fly around. But the elephant beetle, also known as Megasoma elephas, is a unique creature. Found typically in rainforests in southern North America and Central and South America, they were discovered to be useful for the study due to their vast size and strength in carrying electronics. The beetles can be up to 12 centimeters in length, around 4.7 inches. With the male’s horns included, which the females lack, they can be up to 13.7 centimeters, around 4.9 inches. The males have two horns that are used for defense and to fight other males for food and mating.
#15: Gauromydas Heros
Flies are already pretty annoying. But imagine if they were massive…that’s terrifying. Well, unfortunately, we don’t need to fantasize about that as they exist with the Gauromydas Heros. Part of the Mydas fly family, the heros can be found in South American countries like Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia. However, due to their incredibly elusive nature, little is understood about them. But we do know the heros lava lives in ant nests, feasting on the younger creatures. Once it matures, the males feed on flowers while the females don’t eat. Considered the largest fly species in existence, the heros can be up to 7 centimeters in body length or 2.8 inches. It also has a whopping wingspan of 10 centimeters or 3.9 inches.
#14: Tropidacris Grasshopper
Imagine scoring at the World Cup, only to look down and see one of the biggest grasshoppers in the world chilling on your arm. Well, that happened to Columbia's James Rodríguez in 2014 with a Tropidacris collaris, also known as a blue or violet-winged grasshopper. Found throughout South America, the females can be up to 10.5 centimeters or 4.1 inches. On top of that, they can have a wingspan of up to 18 centimeters, nearly 7.1 inches. Another species, the Tropidacris cristata, or giant red-winged grasshopper, is even larger. Found in Central and South America, their wingspan can reach 24 centimeters or 9.4 inches, while their bodies can be 14.5 centimeters or 5.7 inches.
#13: Giant Burrowing Cockroach
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Cockroaches are already a despised insect by most folks. Yet, at least most of them are small. However, the Macropanesthia rhinoceros, also known as the giant burrowing cockroach or rhinoceros cockroach, isn’t tiny at all. Mostly found around Queensland, Australia, these big beasts have a length of up to 8 centimeters, 3.1 inches, and weigh a hefty 35 grams, or 1.2 ounces. As its name suggests, the cockroach creates burrows underground where it stores its food. If this creature looks like a friend to you, you might be delighted to know some people keep these cockroaches as pets. Their perks of being relatively low-maintenance, odorless, non-biting, and living up to 8 years make them a tempting family member to some… just not us.
#12: Asian Giant Hornet
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In 2019, North America was panicking as the Vespa mandarinia, also known as the Asian giant hornet and nicknamed the “murder hornet,” suddenly popped up in the continent. And just based on the size of them alone, it’s understandable that folks were nervous. Typically, the workers have a body length of 4.5 centimeters, or 1.8 inches, a wingspan of 7.5 centimeters, or 3 inches, and a stinger with 0.6 centimeters, or 0.2 inches. The queens are even bigger! Found primarily throughout Asia, especially in Japan, the hornet’s vast size, mixed with their potent venom, sparked fear across the US and Canada. However, no new colonies have been confirmed in North America since 2022, seemingly showing their destruction in the region.
#11: Chinese Mantis
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Typically, Tenodera sinensis, also known as the Chinese mantis, is native to several Asian countries. However, in 1896, a school teacher in Mount Airy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, messed up big time by accidentally releasing them into the area. Since then, this insect has spread, becoming the biggest mantis species in North America. The adults have a length of around 11 centimeters or 4.3 inches. For comparison, the native Carolina mantis can be up to 6 centimeters or 2.4 inches. The Chinese mantis are one of the most vicious insects around! On top of the females eating the males after mating, the mantis has been known to consume much larger animals, including hummingbirds!
#10: Hercules Beetle
You know with a name like Hercules, this thing’s not messing around. Small (compared to a human) but mighty, the Hercules Beetle is incredibly strong for its size, and able to lift objects much heavier than itself – up to 850 times its own body weight. The largest of the rhinoceros beetles (so named for their horns), Dynastes Hercules can grow up to 6.7 inches in length. They use their horn-like pincers for everything from dominance displays, to lifting and fighting -- talk about a serious multipurpose facial appendage. Despite their size however, they are surprisingly gentle and are non-aggressive. Good thing for us, right?
#9: Tarantula Hawk
What’s scarier than a huge wasp? One that literally HUNTS TARANTULAS. Yes, their name might make them sound like a 1980s prog-rock band, but these guys are the real deal. While they primarily use their toxic sting to take down those big, fuzzy, eight-legged nightmare-makers, according to humans who have been stung, the pain is like nothing else, and can be accompanied by up to five minutes of paralysis. At up to two inches in length, with a quarter-inch stinger, they are the largest wasp in the United States. One almost pities the arachnids they hunt. A tarantula hawk is the Bryan Mills of the insect world - as in, very skilled.
#8: Giant Water Bug
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Found in many places across the globe, in some regions, these creatures can grow up to 4.75 inches. We wish we could tell you that they only inhabit the most remote wilderness, but sadly, no. In urban areas near water, they’ve been known to seek out light in street lamps, where they are commonly mistaken for less harmful insects like June Bugs. While the latter might creep people out, they don’t generally bite. Unfortunately, these little predators do. Also known as Toe Biters or Alligator Ticks, they strike their prey with speed and power. Although generally more content to avoid humans, they won’t hesitate to attack if startled or threatened. So watch your step.
#7: Actaeon Beetle
Babies in the animal kingdom… they’re always so cute – (Nightmare Fuel Actaeon Beetle Larva) ARGH KILL IT WITH FIRE! Ahem. That “little” horror show is actually the larva of the Actaeon Beetle, another type of rhinoceros beetle. While it may start off looking like an extra from an old Cronenberg film, despite their size and off-putting origins, they are gentle giants. Also known as megasoma actaeon – which totally sounds like a classic kaiju – they can reach 2.75 inches in width, and roughly 4.75 inches in length. Thankfully... they seem to be on our side. Go on; give it a little pat on the back!
#6: Titan Beetle
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Another aptly named insect, the Titan beetle is arguably the biggest known beetle in the world, with the largest recorded specimen reaching a whopping 6.6 inches. While they are able to fly, their huge size impairs takeoff. Therefore, they have to climb and then launch themselves out of the trees to get going. In terms of self-preservation mechanisms, they rely on their powerful mandibles both defensively and to crush their prey. Found mainly in the rainforests of South America, they tend to keep to themselves, and quite frankly, we’re happy with that arrangement.
#5: Goliath Beetle
Found in the tropical forests of Africa, these beetles may not be the biggest in terms of length, but with bulk and weight combined they are considered one of the largest and heaviest bugs in the world, weighing up to 3.5 ounces at the larval stage. Like many insect species, and our other aforementioned beetles, they spend a lot of time in their pupal phase, and once they reach adulthood, they mate and … well, that’s sort of it. The adults only live for around 3 months. But while they’re around, they’re actually rather cute little guys. Or should we say… cute big guys?
#4: Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing
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Had enough of the creepy-crawlies? Okay, here’s a palate cleanser: meet Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing. These beautiful butterflies are the largest in the world. While specifically, the females of the species take the title for largest, the males, with their bright, vibrant coloring, are the more famous of the two. Found only in the Oro province of Papua New Guinea, the female Queen Alexandra can achieve a wingspan of nearly 10 inches. Given their beauty and size, both sexes are sought by collectors, but due to their endangered status, the buying and selling of the Q.A.B.s is 100% illegal.
#3: Atlas Moth
You might be noticing a pattern with the names here. But if something is going to be named after a Greek titan who holds up the entire earth, you bet it’s going to be big. The wingspan of the Atlas moth reaches nearly 10 inches. In fact, this colossal creature allegedly served as the inspiration for Godzilla’s flying foe Mothra. The Attacus Atlas had long been thought of as the largest moth in the world in terms of surface area, but recent studies have posited that the title actually goes to the Hercules moth. Atlas versus Hercules for title? We’d watch that! From a safe distance...
#2: Giant Weta
Science suggests that a species, when secluded, for example on an island, will tend towards one of two evolutionary paths: Dwarfism, or gigantism. The “island rule” factors in resources, climate, etc. Well… there must have been an abundance of just about everything when it came to the Weta, then. Their genus, Deinacrida, literally means “terrible grasshopper”, and we’ve got to agree with the Greeks on that one. Largely wiped out on mainland New Zealand, they have thrived on surrounding islands, growing up to nearly 4 inches (not including legs), and weighing, on average, about 1 ¼ ounces. However a few notable ones have weighed in at twice that, at almost 2.5 ounces. Before we unveil the big pick, here are a few honorable mentions: - Giant Burrowing Cockroach - Praying Mantis - Asian Giant Hornet
#1: Giant Stick Insects
Across the globe, one can theoretically find countless varieties of these bugs. But you’d have to spot them, and they don’t make it easy. Should you notice one, be warned - they are huge and a little freaky. The longest on record, a new species, was found in 2016 in China, measuring a whopping 24.6 inches, but little is known about it. In Australia however, a specimen, of the Ctenomorpha gargantua variety, named Lady Gaga-ntuan, has given birth to a daughter that has grown to an impressive 22.25 inches. As for their odd appearance, it’s evolutionary camouflage, and it seemingly works: less than half-a-dozen female Ctenomorpha gargantua have been found living in the wild. What insect creeps you out the most? Let us know in the comments!
