Largest Flying Insects in the World
White Witch Moth When it comes to wingspan, you won’t find many insects out there larger than the white witch moth (Thysania agrippina). While other species of flying insects may have the white witch moth beat when it comes to wing area — specifically the Atlas moth and the Hercules moth — this “ghost moth” has the largest wingspan.
Balloon Fly During courtship or copulation some animals exchange nuptial gifts, ranging from nutritious gifts like insects or nuts to non-nutritional gifts like twigs – with the size of the gift being a huge determinant in how long copulation lasts and the likelihood of successful sperm transfer. The adult male dance fly is no exception and often wraps the prized possession in silk secreted from its dermal glands, located in its forelegs.
Titan Beetles While the white witch moth may be the largest flying insect in the world based on wingspan, the titan beetle is one of the largest beetles in the world — as well as one of the largest flying insects! The titan beetle (Titanus giganteus) is the only species in the Titanus genus. Specimens have been found as large as 6.6 inches long — around the same length as a pencil.
Goliath Beetles So far, most of the largest flying insects live in Central and South America. However, the Goliath beetle (genus Goliathus) takes us across the Atlantic Ocean to Africa, specifically the tropic forests dotting the continent.
Atlas Moth Animal Crossing fans may recognize this super-sized flying insect. Attacus atlas, or the Atlas moth, takes us even further east to the forests of Asia (although a single specimen was found in England in 2012). While the Atlas moth’s wingspan is a bit smaller than the white witch moth’s at 9.4 inches, they have a large wing area — around 25 square inches.
Tarantula Hawk The tarantula hawk can be found in most places in the world, from the deserts of the United States to Europe and even as far south as Australia. While their size of 2 inches makes them one of the smallest of the largest flying insects in the world, they’re still one of the largest wasp species.
Queen Alexandra’s Birdwings With around 17,500 species of butterflies in the world, it’s no surprise that at least one has made its way onto the list of the largest flying insects. Ornithoptera alexandrae, also known commonly as Queen Alexandra’s birdwing, is the largest species of butterfly in the world.
Mydas Fly At a glance, the Mydas fly can be intimidating. Not only are they one of the largest flying insects in the world (as well as the largest species of fly) but they also resemble an oversized wasp. However, despite their daunting appearance, the Mydas fly is harmless to humans.
Hercules Beetle The Hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules) is a type of rhinoceros beetle, a subfamily of beetles known for their large sizes and unique horns. You can find them in Central and South America, typically in the rainforests.
Tropidacris Grasshoppers Tropidacris is a genus of grasshopper with three species all found in Central and/or Southern America. They’re some of the largest species of grasshoppers in the entire world, as well as some of the largest flying insects, with wingspans up to 9.1 inches.
Giant Water Bug When you think of water bugs, you probably don’t think of an airborne insect. However, despite spending the majority of its time in the water, the giant water bug is also capable of flying. Like many of the largest flying insects in the world featured on this list, the giant water bug can grow to lengths around 2.5 inches.