There are many insects in the world that live in almost all parts of the world. They make up more than 80% of all species. Currently there are about 900 thousand various types insects, and supposedly a million are still waiting to be discovered.
Different insects have different behavior, feeding habits, reproduction habits, etc. However, among them there are many record holders in different categories. Today here are the 10 fastest insects.
Unlocks the 10 fastest insects, being in the tenth position - locusts, which can reach speeds of up to 20 km/h in search of food. With a sufficient amount of food, the insect predominantly leads a solitary lifestyle. But if locusts gather in a large swarm, then this is a real natural disaster, which causes serious damage agriculture. A swarm of locusts can eat about 192 million kg of plants in a day.
No one can compete on the surface of the water with water striders, who easily glide through the water at a speed of 4 km/h. These are thin, miniature insects that are usually no more than 5 mm in length. When there is not enough food available, water striders are known to prey on each other.
Among the 10 fastest insects are hornets. These insects can make 100 swings per second and fly at a speed of 25 km/h. The hornet's main diet consists of other small insects. A provoked insect can sting with a poisonous sting. Hornets are found in most parts of the world. Their diet also consists of vegetation, which is rich in sugar and nectar.
Hawkmoths are the fastest in the world. Capable of flying at a speed of 50 km/h. Very often they are confused with due to their seemingly similar appearance. They, like hummingbirds, do not sit on a flower, but hover in the air above it. The smooth, streamlined body of hawk moths is ideally suited for fast flight.
Having collected nectar, a bee is able to fly at a speed of 30 km/h. Adult representatives vary in size from 2 mm to 4 cm. Bees are completely dependent on flowers. Their practical value as pollinators is extremely greater than the value of their honey and wax. To gain 1 kg. nectar, a bee needs to make up to 150 thousand flights from the hive. As a result, in one such flight the insect covers up to 3 km.
Horseflies
Adult horseflies are fast, strong fliers, capable of reaching speeds of up to 60 km/h. They are usually found around streams, swamps and wooded areas. May be carriers various diseases animals such as anthrax, tularemia and trypanosomiasis. Horseflies overwinter in the larval stage, pupate in the spring, and emerge as adults by the end of June.
The top three of the 10 fastest insects is opened by the jumping beetle. Sometimes its speed is more than 2 meters per second. Slender, long-legged adults are 10 to 20 mm in length and have a wide variety of bright eyes: blue, green, orange, scarlet, which provide keen vision. Although jumping beetles are found throughout the world, most species are found in subtropical and tropical regions. Species that inhabit sandy areas are often light-colored and consistent with their surroundings.
The record holder among land insects is the cockroach. The species Periplaneta americana set a record in 1991 - it reached a speed of 5.4 km/h. Cockroaches are terrible scavengers; they can eat glue, grease, soap, skin, and hair. They are able to survive for surprisingly long periods of time without food. Some species can last up to 6 weeks! In nature, cockroaches provide an important service by consuming organic waste.
The absolute winner of the 10 fastest insects is the dragonfly, which flies at a speed of 97 km/h. Dragonflies are most often found near water and tend to stay within a few kilometers of where they hatched. During the larval stage, the dragonfly eats tadpoles or small fish. Adults feed small insects, primarily mosquitoes.
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Maximum flight speed is characteristic of insects such as dragonflies, hawk moths and higher flies. But even among the land forces there are their own record holders. They can move at lightning speed, which plays a huge role for them. For some species, fast movement helps them feed themselves, while others help them escape from other predators and avoid becoming their dinner.
Presented to the attention of readers fastest insects in the world- top 10.
Capable of reaching speeds of up to 20 km/h in search of food. Thanks to this factor, it is included in the list of the fastest insects. When there is an abundance of food, the insect leads a solitary lifestyle, but when there is a shortage of food, it forms huge colonies (numbering tens of millions of individuals), which begin an active search for areas rich in food. Colonies make high-speed flights mainly in the morning or evening, over distances of up to 100 km.
They are considered the fastest insects that live on the surface of the water. The average speed of movement across a body of water is 4 km/h. Water striders easily glide across the surface of ponds and streams as if on ice. How do they manage to “walk on water” and remain completely dry? A detailed study of the surface of the water strider's legs provides a surprising answer. Many insects stick to the surface of water when they touch it, and water striders' feet are covered with wax and thousands of fluffy tiny hairs, known as microhairs, that trap air and form a floating cushion.
One of the fastest flying insects in the world with a maximum flight speed of up to 25 km/h. Its main food, which it is constantly in search of, is nectar and plant foods rich in sugar. Adults also hunt many insects, which they kill with their stingers and powerful jaws. Due to their size and the strength of their venom, hornets can effortlessly kill fairly large insects, including bees, grasshoppers, wasps and locusts. The victim is completely chewed, but not eaten immediately, but in the form of a suspension is fed to the larvae that develop in the nest. Considering the fact that hornets eat various pests, they can be classified as beneficial insects, although with some reservations.
These are butterflies that are considered the fastest in the world. When flying, lepidopteran insects are capable of reaching speeds of up to 54 km/h. They fly better than all other butterflies. They spend a lot of time in the air, and are able to hover over a flower and suck nectar from the flowers with their long proboscis. Thanks to this, they play an important role in pollinating flowers with deep corollas. They flap their wings very quickly, like hummingbirds, as if they “stand” in the air above a flower, and they are sometimes confused with these birds. Some genera of hawk moths fly during the day.
Bee
The list of the fastest insects in the world rightfully includes. The bee's flight speed is 65 km/h, which is approximately the same as the speed of a car in the city. In one flight, a bee collects almost as much nectar as it weighs. With a full honey ventricle, a bee can reach speeds of up to 30 km/h. To collect 1 kg of nectar, a bee will have to make up to 150 thousand flights from the hive. On average, a bee travels up to 3 kilometers in one flight. To produce a kilogram of honey, a bee needs to fly an average of 450 thousand kilometers. This means that the distance a bee flies is similar to the distance it would take to circle the Earth's equator approximately 10 times.
They are considered very fast flying insects, capable of reaching speeds of up to 60 km/h during the mating period. Horseflies inhabit all continents except Antarctica. They are also absent from Iceland, Greenland and some oceanic islands. Largest quantity Horseflies, both in numbers and in the number of species, are found in wetlands, on the boundaries of different ecotopes, and in areas of livestock grazing. Their number only increases from the proximity of humans.
It is one of the fastest among insects, the speed of movement of which can sometimes exceed 2 meters per second. It can be classified as a beneficial insect that destroys pests in gardens and vegetable gardens. One horse can destroy more than 400 harmful insects over the summer. They go hunting in sunny weather. The beetle flies at high speed, but only for short distances. Sensing danger, he instantly rises into the air and, having flown a short distance, falls down. These arthropods can hunt on the fly, but obtain their main food on the ground, chasing insects or larvae. Being one of the fastest runners among his relatives, the hunter easily catches up with the fastest prey. Having grabbed hold of the prey with its powerful jaws, the beetle generously pours gastric juice with digestive enzymes onto it. Under the influence of juice internal organs The caught prey is partially digested, and after some time the mezhnyak can only suck out the nutritious gruel.
The fastest runners of all land insects. In 1991, a world record was set: a representative of Periplaneta americana reached a speed of 5.4 km/h or 50 cockroach body lengths per second. If a person ran at such a speed, then there would be no need for cars. In this case, people could reach speeds of up to 330 km/h.
It is considered the fastest insect in the world, which can reach flight speeds of up to 97 km/h. The normal flight speed is 30 km/h. They are classified as predatory insects. When scientists began studying dragonflies in 1999, they learned that dragonflies don't "track" their prey by flying through the air, they "intercept" it. In other words, dragonflies ensure a precise kill of the prey by flying to where the prey will be after some time. This indicates that dragonflies calculate three things when hunting: the distance to their prey, the direction in which it is moving, and the speed at which it is flying. Within milliseconds, the dragonfly calculates the angle from which it should approach, and, like in a horror film, the unfortunate victim is already waiting on the spot, who flies into its claws, without knowing it.
The fastest insects in terms of the ratio of movement speed and body size are jumping beetles. They are capable of reaching speeds of up to 2 (!!!) meters per second. If we transfer this speed to the size of a person, then the person would run at a speed of 225 km/h!
Subfamily: Horses
Family: Ground beetles
Class: Insects
Order: Coleoptera
Type: Arthropods
Kingdom: Animals
Domain: Eukaryotes
| Parameter name | Meaning |
| Jumping beetle size | Depends on the species. Most often 1 - 2 cm. The largest representatives are up to 7 cm. |
| What does the jumping beetle eat? | Jumping beetles are predators by nature. The favorite food of horses is ants. They can also feed on small invertebrates, mosquitoes, beetles, etc. |
| Where does the jumping beetle live? | This type of beetle can be found almost all over the world, except for the mainland of Antarctica, the island of Tasmania and some other islands in the World Ocean. |
Adults of the jumping beetle are capable of flight. Sensing danger, they quickly take off and fly 1-2 meters away. After landing, they observe what scared them. They can catch prey in the air, but most often they easily catch up with it on the ground. They have a very strong jaw. When the victim is clamped in its jaws, the jumping beetle rolls it into a ball and pours gastric juice on it, which dissolves the tough parts of the insect. After this, the beetle eats the softened parts. This type of digestion is called extraintestinal.
Jumping beetle video
Jumping beetles have very long and thin legs, which help them gain such high speed. They are active during the day, and some species are active at night.
Reproduction of the jumping beetle
These beetles reproduce around the beginning of summer. The female lays eggs in the soil. The eggs hatch into a larva. The larva begins to dig tunnels. She conducts her hunt from the hole - only the head remains on the surface - as soon as the insect gets close, the larva attacks it.
Jumping beetle larva:
The larva also spends the winter in a hole. After pupation, the larva develops into an adult insect.
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There are many insects in nature. Some have been studied, some are quite hidden and cannot be observed. Entomologists emphasize that insects differ from each other in character, habits, and reproduction. But which of them is the fastest? Let's analyze the rating list, starting with the slowest one. Perhaps something unusual and surprising will emerge.
10 Locust
Developing speeds of up to 20 km/h, it flies over long distances to get food. The nature of the insect depends on the living conditions. If there is enough food, then it leads a solitary lifestyle, eating up to the size of its weight per day. As soon as there is not enough food, the harmless “grasshopper” turns into a real disaster. Uniting in flocks, they destroy crops. With a tailwind, they are characterized by long flights (up to 500 km per day). During the day the flock moves, and at night it begins to intensively absorb the found plants. The jungle and rain are not acceptable to her.
9 Flea
This small insect moves by jumping. In one jump she covers a distance of up to two meters. They have a special apparatus for piercing the skin, because the food for it is animal or human blood. The body is covered with bristles and forceps. This is for convenience. Usually, in order not to look for a source of food, fleas remain on the body constantly, hiding between the feathers and fur. Or folds of clothing, if we are talking about a person.
8 Water striders
The insect's name comes from its ability to float on the surface of the water. Stiff hairs located on the body and tips of the legs allow them to glide across the pond. Two pairs of legs, thin and long, serve as support, and the front pair, like an “engine,” changes direction and speed. Water striders not only see well, but also perceive information in the form of water vibrations. They feed on what falls on the blue surface. The prey is paralyzed with a special liquid, released through the proboscis. With the onset of cold weather, insects move into old stumps to survive the frost.
7 Hornet
These insects fly at a speed of 25 km/h. In a second they manage to make 100 movements with their wings. Hornets build nests by collecting material from rotten stumps and birch branches. Honeycombs are made up to 10 tiers. The larvae feed on flies, bees and small wasps. Adults feed on fruit juices and nectar. If there is an allergic reaction, an insect bite can be fatal for a person. Therefore, provided on time health care protects against the effects of a poisonous sting.
6 Bee
An insect, collecting nectar, does two useful things at once: it pollinates a flower and catches juice on its proboscis. To accumulate 1 kg of honey, a bee needs to fly out of the hive 150 thousand times. In flight, it reaches speeds of up to 30 km/h. To attract her fellow creatures, she makes peculiar dance movements. Flying in circles around itself indicates that there is a plant where bees can profit. From the outside, you might think that the flight is chaotic. But in a bee family a certain order is observed and everyone fulfills their duties.
5 Hawk Moths
Appearance butterflies are very similar to birds, so they are easily confused when watching how they skillfully overcome distances. Of course, at a speed of 50 km/h it is not difficult to cover long distances. Hawkmoths tend to be picky eaters. When choosing one type of plant, insects enjoy the taste and do not want to change their diet. Butterflies are sometimes spotted in gardens. Damaging fruit and stone fruits, they harm the crop. Activity occurs at any time of the day.
4 Horseflies
The insect is found on almost all continents. Their direct purpose is to be food for larger animals. Horseflies love wetlands and grazing areas. Females feed on the blood of animals, mammals and birds. Males prefer plant nectar. They are often carriers of diseases and fly up to 60 km/h. Insects secrete saliva, which has toxic effects. The resulting wound and subsequent swelling of the skin can lead to serious consequences.
3 Jumping beetle
Their favorite place to stay is tropical and subtropical regions. They are able to move at a speed of 2 m per second. Their steps are choppy. Acute vision helps to find prey. They love ants. Enzymes found in saliva break down food so that it is impossible to determine what food is being consumed. Therefore, many moments from the life of a horse have not been studied. The worst enemies are birds, lizards and roaches. The larvae of the jumping beetle also become food for hymenoptera insects.
2 Cockroach
The word cockroach means to run away, to disperse. They eat everything they come across along the way: glue, fat, soap, leftover food. In nature, their purpose is to eat organic waste. The ability to go without food for a long time helps them survive. Fixed long term– 6 weeks. Insects are mobile and hardy. Even radiation is not scary for them. Some species fly.
1 Dragonfly
The insects are quite large. They have a movable head, large eyes, short antennae, and an elongated body. Dragonflies are very active and catch their prey in flight. The speed during movement reaches 97 km/h. They bring great benefits to humans: they exterminate blood-sucking insects and those pests that destroy crops in the fields. They have excellent spatial orientation, are heat-loving, and feed mainly during the daytime.
To be in harmony with nature, you need very little - to be interested in the world around you and try to preserve what your ancestors left us. Despite difficulties and climate changes, insects fulfill their mission. Now it’s up to man, who, with the development of technological progress, is increasingly becoming completely indifferent to flora and fauna.
Among animals, the cheetah can reach the highest speed - up to 130 km per hour! At short distances it will easily overtake a car. In the water, no one can compete with the sailfish, which covers 110 km in one hour. The peregrine falcon, a bird of prey, rushes at a speed of 350 km per hour when diving. What are the fastest insects you know? They will be discussed in the article.
Australian dragonfly
In the course of scientific research, entomologists have found out which is the fastest insect on our planet. This is the Australian dragonfly, or Austrophlebia costalis. Behind big sizes she is often called " south rocker". In one hour of flight, it covers at least 60 km! This achievement is even listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Some scientists claim that the dragonfly is capable of flying at a speed of 100 km/h, but so far there is no documentary evidence of this theory.
How does the Australian dragonfly fly? This is the fastest insect on Earth, flapping its wings 100-150 times in one second. When she needs maneuverability in pursuit of prey, she flaps her hind and front wings alternately, and to develop super speed, she flaps them simultaneously. It is known that dragonflies are capable of covering enormous distances, moving more than a thousand km from home.
What other fastest insects live in our world? Read about them further.
Honey bee
Like a dragonfly, a bee can fly at a speed of 60 km per hour. But she often flies with nectar, which weighs as much as one insect. With a full honey ventricle, the worker bee already flies at a speed of 30-33 km per hour, which is why it ranks second in the “Fastest Insects” rating.
But in terms of the distance that a bee can cover, it is far ahead of a dragonfly: to produce just 1 kg of honey, an insect flies at least 450 thousand km, which is about 10 Earth equators!
American cockroach
Periplaneta americana, or the American cockroach, takes third position in our ranking. He is the fastest runner among insects. In 1991, this red creature was recorded to move at a speed of 5.4 km/h. Not impressive? But if you recalculate the cockroach’s speed in relation to human standards, it turns out that having the height of an average man, Periplaneta americana would move at a speed of 350 km/h! And a cockroach can change the direction of its run 25 times in just one second.
This is the fastest land insect and also the most tenacious. A cockroach is capable of not eating for a month and not drinking for 8-10 days without harming itself, holding its breath for 45 minutes, but the most amazing thing is that it can live without a head, while dying of hunger! Another amazing fact is that after one mating, a female is able to retain a seed within herself, later being fertilized on her own several more times.
For comparison: a person can withstand up to 500 units of radiation exposure, other living beings - from 350 to 1500, but the red cockroach can easily withstand 6500 units. This means that after a nuclear war there will be only cockroaches left on Earth...
Jumping beetle
These beetles are distributed almost throughout the planet. They have an elongated body 10-40 mm long; only the genus Manticore, which lives in Africa, reaches a length of 70 mm. The color can also be different - bright green, spotted, black. Jumping beetles are different big eyes, long antennae, and most importantly, thin high legs on which they run very quickly. Their actual speed of movement is 7.5 km/h, so their prey rarely escapes these predators. Scientists have calculated that if these fastest insects were the size of a person, they would easily cover 300 km in an hour (slightly less than red cockroaches). Also, jumping beetles fly well, developing quite high speeds over short distances.
Horsefly
This large, fleshy fly with large wings and simply huge eyes ranks fifth among record-breaking insects in terms of speed. It flies very quickly, covering 50-55 km in an hour. Horseflies are amazingly hardy, easily adapt to even the most unfavorable living conditions, and they are also very voracious - one individual drinks at a time as much blood as 70 mosquitoes can handle.
Other record holders
This is what the top 5 fastest insects in the world look like. But there are other representatives that move on land or fly through the air very quickly. For example:
- hawkmoth butterflies in flight reach a speed of 45-50 km/h, they are also able to hover motionlessly over a flower for a long time, sucking nectar from it with their proboscis;
- hornets cover 25-28 km in an hour;
- water striders run on the surface of the water at a speed of 4 km per hour, while their paws remain completely dry! Another mystery of nature;
- fleas - these nasty insects move in jumps at a speed of 6 km per hour;
- locusts - in search of food, they cover 20 km or more in an hour.
Now you know what the fastest insects live in the world, what features they differ from.
