20 of the biggest insects in the world

- Size: 11-inch wingspan

The Atlas moth is immediately recognizable for its large wingspan, which is covered in a distinct orange-and-white pattern. The largest of the moth species, it is found only in tropical forests in Asia.

- Size: 5.1 inches long

Atlas larvae are notably defensive, known to bite anything that touches them, and will fight among each other to death if food is scarce. With a life span of 12 months, the species is found mostly in Indonesia.

- Size: 8 inches long, 2.5 ounces

The wētā derives its name from the indigenous Maori language, meaning "god of ugly things." It is endemic to New Zealand. Because the nation was void of mammals for an extended period, the wētā could evolve to a rodentlike size, though the introduction of actual rodents to the island has decimated much of its population.

- Size: 7 inches long

The horn takes up almost half of the body length of male Hercules beetles, though females lack this appendage entirely. The species has been rumored to be able to carry up to 850 times its body mass, though this may be closer to a still-impressive 100 times its body mass in reality.

- Size: 7 inch wingspan

Most of the imperial moth's life is dedicated to pupating, the stage in which it grows from larva to a mature adult. Because of this, it takes great care in choosing a place to settle and pupate, as it will be completely vulnerable to predators during that time. Once an adult, the moth doesn't waste any time eating, instead focusing entirely on mating before death.

- Size: 5.9 inches long

This insect is spread far and wide across the South American continent, observed in Argentina, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Panama, and Suriname. It is recognizable by its long black antennae and light brown wings.

- Size: 2.8 inches long, 3.9-inch wingspan

The Mydas fly's greatest defense is its ability to perform convincingly. By imitating the sting of more threatening wasps and bees, it successfully wards off predators. It is also a natural predator itself, commonly eating other flies.

- Size: 4 inches long, 2.5 ounces

Found across central Africa, this is the largest of all beetles, able to grow to nearly the size of a human hand. It typically nourishes itself on fruit, bark, and tree sap; it has also been raised in captivity on a diet of cat and dog food.

- Size: 4.7 inches long

If you haven't heard of a giant water bug, you might be thinking of one of its many nicknames, including "toe-biters, Indian toe-biters, electric-light bugs, alligator ticks, or alligator fleas." These bugs call freshwater streams and ponds its home. They are also a popular snack in Southeast Asia.

- Size: 3 inches long

The European stag beetle has long front mandibles, which males use for both courting females and wrestling opponents. The species' population is growing smaller, partly due to over-clearing in forests.

- Size: 6.7 inches long

This species has extra-long mandibles, thus earning the Macrodontia prefix (translating to "long tooth"). It spends most of its life as larvae, a stage extending for up to a decade. It is found in rainforests in Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Colombia, and Bolivia.

- Size: 3 inches long

These creatures are native to Australia and can weigh up to 1.2 ounces. Unlike other cockroaches, they do not have wings. They are natural composters, feeding on dead leaves.

- Size: 5.3 inches long

This beetle gets its namesake from Actaeon, a hero of Greek mythology who was transformed into a stag. It can be found across South America, including in French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Suriname, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela.

- Size: 5.1 inches long

The elephant beetle can be found in the rainforests of central and South America. Males use their horns to battle others over mating partners and food supply—not by injuring, but by forcing others away.

- Size: 11-inch wingspan

This species is the largest butterfly on Earth. It was named after Queen Alexandra of Britain, wife of King Edward VII, who sat on the throne at the beginning of the 20th century. It has marked sexual dimorphism, meaning males and females have very distinct appearances.

- Size: 2.7 inches long, 4.5-inch wingspan

True to its moniker, the tarantula hawk is a wasp with the remarkable habit of eating tarantulas, despite being dominated in size by the spider. To do this, they immobilize the tarantula by stinging them, dragging them away, and consuming them whole. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the tarantula hawk also packs a punch against humans, able to deliver a painful—but nonlethal—sting.

- Size: 25.2 inches long

The stick insect's name is the key to its natural defense system: When predators are nearby, this species camouflages itself among twigs and branches to hide. These insects can even lose (and later regenerate) limbs or play dead to further evade danger.

- Size: 7 inches long

Though this bright green insect mostly relies on other insects for nourishment, it has been observed to eat small reptiles and mammals from time to time. The species has a decently large population in the United States thanks to its eggs being commercially available to the public.

- Size: 6.6 inches long

The Titan beetle is an insect to be reckoned with: When cornered, it will make a hissing sound to ward off predators, and its jaw is strong enough to penetrate human skin if necessary. This beetle is also so large that it cannot take off through wing power alone; it needs to first launch itself off of a tree to fly.

- Size: 5 inches long, 9-inch wingspan

The Tropidacris grasshopper uses color to protect itself: Nymphs use black and yellow to ward off predators, while grown adults adopt green, yellow, and brown to camouflage themselves. It also hears via the belly: its tympanal organ, which is in the abdomen, completes this task. The antennae, on the other hand, house its sense of smell.