What is the largest insect?
The largest insect ever known is Meganeuropsis, a prehistoric giant with an enormous wingspan. Among living insects today, some of the biggest include the goliath beetle (heaviest), the titan beetle (longest), and the atlas moth (widest wingspan).
Largest Insect Ever (Extinct)
Meganeuropsis:
- A giant dragonfly‑like insect from the late Paleozoic era
- Wingspan reached up to 28 inches (≈71 cm).
- Considered the largest insect in Earth’s history.
Largest Living Insects (Different Categories)
Heaviest: Goliath Beetle (Goliathus goliatus)
- Larvae can weigh at least 115 g and reach 11.5 cm.
Longest: Titan Beetle (Titanus giganteus)
- Often cited among the longest insects alive today (up to ~17 cm), though not in the provided sources, it is widely recognized in entomology.
Largest Wingspan: Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas)
- Wingspan can reach nearly 1 foot (≈30 cm).
You may also like to know what’s the smallest insect in the world : The Smallest Arthropod in the World – Size & Facts
Our learning resources
- Our Gumroad shop : https://arthropodinfo.gumroad.com/
- Dangerousness of arachnids ebook : https://arthropodinfo.gumroad.com/l/dangerousness-of-arachnids
