Sources: Information compiled from various online articles and scientific sources (see full references at the end).
In the world of insects, there are records that leave us in awe. While some are so tiny they are almost invisible, others stand out because of their enormous length. Discover more about the tiniest and longest insect in the insect world.
Smallest Insect – Fairy Wasp (Dicopomorpha echmepterygis):
Photo: gbohne/Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0
The smallest known insects belong to the Mymaridae family, also called fairy wasps. The tiniest species, Dicopomorpha echmepterygis, is truly remarkable, with the males – blind and wingless – measuring just 0.139 mm in length. These tiny wasps are parasitoids, meaning their larvae feed on the eggs of other insects. The adult females search for these eggs in sheltered places like under leaves or in leaf litter. Once a stash is found, the female lays her eggs inside the host eggs, showcasing just how tiny these creatures are. The larvae then develop by consuming the nutrients of the host egg, ultimately killing it before emerging through a tiny hole in the surface.
Longest Insect – Stick Insect (Phryganistria chinensis):
Among the giants of the insect world, Phryganistria chinensis holds the record as the longest insect ever found in the wild. Discovered in the Guangxi region of China in 2014, this massive stick insect measured an impressive 62.4 cm in total length. Its elongated body and legs make it a master of camouflage, allowing it to blend seamlessly with tree branches and foliage to evade predators.
A larger specimen of Phryganistria chinensis, measuring 64 cm, was later bred in captivity at the Insect Museum of West China (IMWC). This individual holds the official Guinness World Record for the longest insect ever recorded. However, since it was not found in the wild, the naturally occurring 62.4 cm specimen remains the longest known insect in its natural habitat.
Photo: © Imaginechina Limited / Alamy Stock Photo
Whether incredibly small or impressively large, insects show us the versatility and adaptability of nature. These two records highlight the remarkable abilities and diversity of these creatures, which occupy a unique place in the animal kingdom.
Sources:
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BBC Science Focus. (2023). Top 10 largest insects in the world. Retrieved March 13, 2025, from https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/largest-insects-in-the-world
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University of Florida. (1998). Book of insect records – Chapter 38: Smallest adult. Department of Entomology & Nematology, UF/IFAS. Retrieved March 13, 2025, from https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/walker/ufbir/chapters/chapter_38.shtml
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Saunders, M. (2019). The real Tinkerbell: Don’t mess with these tiny fairy wasps. The Conversation. Retrieved March 13, 2025, from https://theconversation.com/the-real-tinkerbell-dont-mess-with-these-tiny-fairy-wasps-109796
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Insect Museum of West China. (n.d.). The discovery of the world’s longest insect: Crawling “tree branches”. Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved March 13, 2025, from https://artsandculture.google.com/story/the-discovery-of-the-world-s-longest-insect-crawling-tree-branches-insect-museum-of-west-china/LwUh5A_WKoT6Jg?hl=en
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Ka-news.de. (2024). Die erstaunlichsten Insektenrekorde der Welt: Größer, stärker, schneller. Retrieved March 13, 2025, from https://www.ka-news.de/insekten-spinnen/die-erstaunlichsten-insektenrekorde-der-welt-groesser-staerker-schneller-art-3266077
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Photo by gbohne on Flickr, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gbohne/7320601258/
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/