Get ready to meet some of the biggest, weirdest, and most jaw-dropping insects from around the world! From monster beetles to giant moths and even a bug with a detachable head, this countdown will make you see insects in a whole new way. Which gigantic critter wowed you most? Tell us in the comments and don’t forget to subscribe for more wild discoveries! #insects #animals #nature #wildlife #science
👉 This channel was created in collaboration with https://www.youtube.com/@noelpolotv
0:00 - Introduction to Giant Insects
0:41 - Giant Weta: A Rare Cricket
1:55 - Atlas Moth: Life Cycle and Size
3:15 - Tarantula Hawk Wasp Overview
4:26 - Giant Burrowing Cockroach Ecology
5:43 - Midas Flies and Hercules Beetle
7:41 - World's Largest Insects Countdown
17:14 - Closing and Community Engagement
👉 This channel was created in collaboration with https://www.youtube.com/@noelpolotv
0:00 - Introduction to Giant Insects
0:41 - Giant Weta: A Rare Cricket
1:55 - Atlas Moth: Life Cycle and Size
3:15 - Tarantula Hawk Wasp Overview
4:26 - Giant Burrowing Cockroach Ecology
5:43 - Midas Flies and Hercules Beetle
7:41 - World's Largest Insects Countdown
17:14 - Closing and Community Engagement
Category
🐳
AnimalsTranscript
00:00Insects really vary in size and appearance.
00:03In fact, there are over 900,000 different species of insects in the world,
00:08and that's about 80% of all living creatures on the planet.
00:11So it's not surprising that there are insects that are really bigger than others,
00:15and some of them are so huge they look like monsters from a nightmare.
00:19From beetles that look terrifying and are heavy,
00:22to wasps that can devour crabs or tarantulas.
00:26Because here are 15 of the largest insects discovered around the world.
00:31But before we start that, if you're new to our channel,
00:34please don't forget to subscribe so you'll always be updated.
00:41With our videos.
00:42Number 15, Giant Weta.
00:46The Giant Weta or Weta Punga is a very large insect,
00:51a type of wingless cricket that is found only on Little Barrier Island
00:55off the coast of North Island in New Zealand.
00:58These rare insects are believed to have fallen victim to disruptions in the food chain
01:02caused by predators.
01:04In the early 20th century, many wild cats lived on Little Barrier Island.
01:09These cats controlled the rat population, especially the Polynesian rats.
01:14However, when people arrived and decided to remove the wild cats,
01:18it was as if they invited the rats to spread.
01:21The rats eat the weta at night,
01:23and during the day, they are eaten by the saddleback birds.
01:27It's not surprising that they almost disappeared.
01:29But, as often happens,
01:32there were still people who figured out what happened,
01:34and decided to remove the rats.
01:36Slowly, the number of weta increased again.
01:39And now, this insect is also being introduced to other places where there are no predators.
01:44But, in reality, this kind of interference in the food chain is quite risky.
01:49And, there may come a day when we are overrun by huge insects.
01:55Moth, the Atlas Moth
02:01Has wings that are even wider than a human hand.
02:05That's why it's no surprise that it is considered one of the largest moths in the world.
02:10But, despite their size and frightening appearance,
02:14it's surprising that because of a flaw in their design,
02:16they can no longer eat.
02:18Once they emerge from their cocoon,
02:20they can no longer eat, and their lives become very short.
02:23As caterpillars, they are like always hungry worms,
02:27eating voraciously and restlessly until they pupate.
02:30But, in the final stage of their lives as Atlas Moths,
02:34they are destined to die soon.
02:36The wings of the Atlas Moth can reach up to 12 inches.
02:39And, that's just the edges.
02:41The total surface area of the insect can reach almost 62 square inches.
02:46Their caterpillars are also large,
02:49reaching about four and a half inches as they change before starting their transformation.
02:55They need to eat a lot because the food they consume will only last them for their short lifespan,
03:00which usually lasts just one to two weeks.
03:03During this time, they mostly just lie still,
03:06conserving their precious energy reserves,
03:09and then reproduce to lay eggs before their life comes to an end.
03:20To give you an idea of the size of the Taranto Entry,
03:24it's probably enough to just look at its name.
03:26The tarantula displays its favorite food and also turns it into a large tarantula graveyard.
03:31This insect is indeed large and can be found in Southeast Asia,
03:35India, America, Africa, and Australia,
03:38and almost all over the world except in cold regions.
03:42This particular spider wasp is the official insect of New Mexico,
03:46a unique state symbol that definitely attracts tourists.
03:50And like most insects, there are variations.
03:53But the females are usually larger, about three inches long,
03:57and have wings that are four inches wide,
04:01enough to cause nightmares incapable of facing a tarantula.
04:05These female creatures use their one and a quarter inch sharp sting to paralyze their victim
04:10and place it underground where they slowly remove and eat the spider.
04:15Though intimidating and with a sharp sting, their appearance is frightening.
04:18They rarely harm humans,
04:20but don't provoke them because they can attack if they feel threatened or annoyed.
04:25Even just a little.
04:26Number 12. Giant Berwing Cockroach
04:34The Giant Berwing Cockroach is known as the tallest and heaviest cockroach in the world.
04:39The fat and wide body of these cockroaches can reach almost three inches in length,
04:44and they can live up to ten years with some even being kept as pets.
04:50This unusual insect can be found in Australia,
04:53particularly in the forests of northern Queensland,
04:55where they build their burrows in the ground and live there permanently.
04:59This is where they do everything from burying their young,
05:03sometimes up to 30 at a time,
05:05to raising them and repeating the cycle.
05:08Although their large, brown, and shiny bodies may seem a bit frightening,
05:12they are an amazing part of the ecosystem.
05:14The way they move and use the soil helps recycle natural dead materials,
05:19turning them into rich soil on the forest floor.
05:22They build burrows and chambers underground and only come out to the surface at night to look for dry leaves.
05:29This simple activity is actually very important to the health of the entire ecology of the area,
05:34which is amazing.
05:35To think that even the smallest creature has an important role,
05:39and that no creature is without value.
05:42Number
05:44Flies
05:44The Midas flies are large flies.
05:48And depending on your perspective,
05:51whether they are colossal or not,
05:53the truth is,
05:54they are big enough to leave a nightmarish impression.
05:57They measure about 2 to 3 inches long,
06:00and just imagine,
06:01a 2-inch fly is really huge.
06:04Aside from their size,
06:05they usually live in large swarms,
06:07which makes them even more annoying and really more terrifying to look at.
06:11Midas flies are usually dark tan or black in color,
06:14with some red, yellow, or orange markings,
06:17and they only have one pair of wings.
06:19However,
06:20their antennae and eyes are different,
06:22which really makes them stand out from other flies.
06:24They can be found in North America,
06:27in forests,
06:28open areas with soil,
06:30and even in desert environments.
06:32They feed on nectar and pollen,
06:34and they also like beetle larvae,
06:37so you will often find them in decaying wood,
06:39digging for tasty snacks.
06:45Number 10.
06:47Hercules Beetle
06:50Although it's not officially the largest beetle,
06:52that title goes to the Goliath Beetle.
06:55The Hercules Beetle is still not a small insect.
06:58These large, creepy crawlies can grow as big as an adult man's hand,
07:03which is quite unsettling,
07:05especially when you include their alien-like horns
07:08that work together to form a pincer.
07:10The females don't have horns,
07:12and are usually a bit smaller,
07:13but they have the ability to release a very strong pheromone.
07:17If there's a male nearby,
07:19he will quickly find her,
07:20drawn to her,
07:21and the males really can't resist the scent coming from the female.
07:25There's also what's called the Beetle Enthusiast Trade,
07:29where insect fans are very fond of the Hercules Beetle.
07:32There are even some who are willing to spend almost $700
07:36just to add a Hercules Beetle to their collection.
07:41Number 9. Giant Water Bugs
07:45At first glance, the name Giant Water Bug sounds innocent,
07:50but don't be fooled.
07:51These insects have some rather scary and deadly eating habits.
07:55They are true predators that live in freshwater marshes,
07:59ponds, and pools in different parts of the world.
08:01They usually hide under aquatic plants,
08:04waiting for tasty prey to pass by.
08:06And when there is prey, they will grab it using their pincer-like appendage
08:10and inject the prey with their venomous digestive saliva.
08:15This unique liquid softens the internal organs of the prey
08:18so that the Giant Water Bug can simply suck out the insides without needing to chew.
08:23They can kill and suck the prey that is even bigger than themselves.
08:27And although they don't usually target humans,
08:29you can get bitten and hurt if you get too close to them.
08:32Their bite is actually not venomous,
08:35but it is extremely painful, so watch your feet.
08:40Number 8. Actaeon Beetle
08:45Here's another giant beetle for your enjoyment.
08:48The Actaeon Beetle.
08:50Another contender for the largest beetle crown.
08:53Its size is 4.7 inches long and 2.8 inches wide,
08:57while the largest one can reach almost 5.4 inches.
09:00Even though they are not the smallest insects and perhaps not the largest we've seen,
09:06they are the heaviest, which is quite remarkable.
09:10With the highest recorded weight of 8.04 ounces,
09:13this insect is not only the heaviest beetle, but also the heaviest among all insects.
09:18Another interesting thing about this beetle is its name.
09:22They were named after Actaeon, a famous hero in Greek mythology.
09:26The story of Actaeon is quite unusual.
09:29From being a hunter, he became a deer and was then chased and tormented by his own hounds.
09:35But how this beetle got its name remains a mystery.
09:39Number 7. Giant Darnard Dragonfly
09:45This beautiful and enormous dragonfly is the largest in the entire United States.
09:51The most noticeable thing about them is their bright blue and black color,
09:54which makes them easy to recognize.
09:57They are also large, and these big insects are often found in southern states
10:01such as Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico.
10:06And they prefer smaller areas.
10:09This is the ideal environment to protect their eggs and young from predators.
10:14And it also provides the right temperature and humidity for their biological makeup.
10:19The diet of the giant darnard consists of smaller insects,
10:22particularly mosquitoes, as well as flies and ants near ponds.
10:27Their main predator as adults is the hummingbird.
10:30But before they reach adulthood,
10:32their larvae are often eaten by fish and other aquatic insects.
10:37But it's truly impressive that some of them still manage to survive.
10:43Number 6. St. Helena Earwig
10:48The news about this is a bit sad because in 2014,
10:52the world's largest earwig was declared extinct.
10:55But of course, earwigs aren't exactly pleasant,
10:58but the loss of a species is truly sad.
11:01Before it completely disappeared,
11:03it held the title as the largest of all earwigs,
11:05reaching almost 3.1 inches.
11:08The problem is, these insects were only found in one place in the world,
11:12St. Helena Island, in the remote southern Pacific.
11:15And when they disappeared from there, it meant they were gone everywhere.
11:19And as usual, humans contributed to their disappearance.
11:23The removal of rocks from their habitat likely caused a significant decline in their population.
11:29In addition, the arrival of invasive species such as rats and spiders
11:33caused a major and irreversible impact on the delicate balance of the ecosystem.
11:41Number 5. Scolopendra gigantea centipede
11:48The centipede known as Scolopendra gigantea
11:51is usually found in tropical and subtropical forests in the northern part of South America.
11:56This is officially the largest of all centipedes in the world.
12:00So, it truly deserves to be given a crown, a badge,
12:03or even a certificate from the Guinness Book of World Records.
12:06However, these creatures are far too busy crawling around the leaves
12:10and decaying wood of the rainforest to worry about being part of the record book.
12:14These centipedes are usually more than 12 inches long
12:18and use their size to hunt large prey.
12:21Their favorite foods include other insects,
12:23especially spiders, crabs, and millipedes,
12:27as well as some mammals like rats and bats,
12:30and sometimes even ibises or frogs.
12:32This shows just how big this monster is.
12:35And before you think their victims are always small,
12:38humans are not safe from their venomous bite.
12:40There have been recorded cases.
12:42Death can be caused by the bite of the Scolopendra gigantea,
12:46which is quite terrifying, right?
12:50Number 4.
12:53The Arthoptera lived in North America and Great Britain
12:56during the Carboniferous period.
12:58This was a 20-foot-long millipede with a body made up of up to 30 armored plates,
13:03and it had one pair of legs and one plate per segment.
13:06They fed on dead wood and leaves,
13:08and they grew large because of the high concentration of oxygen
13:12in the atmosphere during that time.
13:14And because their eyesight was almost useless,
13:17it is believed that their sense of smell and touch
13:19were more developed to help them find food
13:21and sense other animals around them.
13:24Even though this was the largest invertebrate that ever lived,
13:27this creature was purely vegetarian.
13:30And the only thing you should be afraid of
13:32is if it crawls onto your face while you're sleeping.
13:36Number 3.
13:38Giant African Stick Mantis
13:41The Giant African Stick Mantis
13:43is a type of praying mantis
13:45that some people like to keep as a pet.
13:47It's true,
13:48they look unusual and have unique characteristics.
13:50But what kind of interaction can you really get from a predatory insect?
13:55And if you know anything,
13:56share it in the comments.
13:58Why are they so attractive as pet insects?
14:01Aside from being a favorite of some domestic insect keepers,
14:04the Giant African Stick Mantis
14:06is the largest in the entire mantis family.
14:09They can reach several inches or more,
14:11and the longest one recorded was over half a foot.
14:15Usually they live for at least a year,
14:17and after reaching maturity,
14:18they don't live as long as dogs.
14:20They have some distinctive features,
14:22and they are stick mimics,
14:23so they're perfect at camouflaging among tree branches.
14:27This helps them catch prey and avoid predators.
14:30These insects really look like they're from a science fiction film,
14:34with alien-eyed heads,
14:36extremely frightening bodies,
14:38and scary movements
14:39that are perfect inspirations for nightmares.
14:41In addition,
14:42the well-known trait of the female
14:44is sexual cannibalism,
14:46where they eat the male's head after mating.
14:49This may seem psychotic,
14:50but it is believed to help with reproduction,
14:52and, of course,
14:54benefits the female since the male is gone.
14:592. Wallace's Giant Bee
15:04The Wallace's Giant Bee
15:05The Wallace's Giant Bee
15:06is the largest known species of bee in the world.
15:08It is critically endangered
15:09and was once thought to be extinct
15:11until it was rediscovered in 1981.
15:14People also sometimes think it is extinct
15:17when no specimens are found for many years.
15:20However, in 2019,
15:21a live female Wallace Giant Bee
15:24was caught on camera,
15:25so there is still hope that a population remains
15:27and total extinction has been avoided.
15:29The remaining bees are black crescent bees
15:31with large jaws that are not dangerous.
15:34They are 0.9 to 1.5 inches long
15:37and have a wingspan that reaches up to 2.5 inches
15:41enough to be noticeable.
15:42The large jaws are special to the females,
15:44and this is what sets them apart
15:46from other types of bees.
15:47They use their jaws to collect resin,
15:50form it into a large ball,
15:51and use it to build their nest
15:53inside the termite nest.
15:54It's a bit unusual,
15:56but that's really how the world of insects is.
16:01Number 1. Alligator Bug
16:06At first glance,
16:08the alligator bug looks like an ordinary insect.
16:10It has wings, legs,
16:12and all the usual features of a bug,
16:14but its head tells a completely different story.
16:17It's also known as the peanut bug,
16:19and some creatures in the rainforest
16:21find it very tasty.
16:23Because of this,
16:24this tiny insect needs various unique adaptations
16:27to survive.
16:28The alligator bug has many defense mechanisms
16:31built into its body.
16:33One of these is camouflage
16:34with markings and colors
16:36that make it easier for them
16:37to blend into their environment.
16:39Their peanut-shaped alligator head
16:41is another mechanism
16:42that looks like the big head
16:43of an alligator or a snake,
16:45making them appear scary
16:46instead of tasty to eat.
16:48Their head is detachable
16:49and can be removed,
16:51so if a predator tries to bite it,
16:53the bug still has a chance to escape.
16:55They also have a large eye-like pattern
16:57on their wings,
16:58so if the predator isn't scared
17:00by their appearance,
17:01they can show this big eye pattern
17:03to frighten the attacker.
17:05And as a last defense,
17:06they can release a foul-smelling liquid,
17:08just as bad as a skunk's odor
17:10to stop a hungry predator.
17:14Now, how about you?
17:15Are you a fan of big insects?
17:17Share your opinions
17:18in the comments section.
17:20And of course, before we end,
17:21hit the subscribe button
17:22so you'll always be updated
17:24on our upcoming videos.
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