The Top 10 Most Unusual Insects Around The World

The natural world contains some truly bizarre and unusual insects that seem almost alien in appearance and behavior. While most people are familiar with common bugs like flies, ants, and butterflies, there are many more obscure and exotic insect species that possess unique traits and adaptations.

The top 10 most unusual insects that inhabit regions across the globe.

#1 – Giant Weta

Hailing from New Zealand, the giant weta is the largest insect in the world. These unusual insects can grow up to 4 inches long and weigh over 2 ounces. Giant wetas are orthopterans, related to crickets and grasshoppers. Their most distinctive feature is their large body size and disproportionately large head. Giant wetas are flightless but can jump small distances to evade predators. They have a docile temperament and primarily eat vegetation. These unusual insects have a rich cultural history in Maori traditions.

#2 – Goliath Beetle

This is the heaviest insect in the world, capable of reaching 4 inches long and 4 ounces in weight. Goliath beetles have an unusual anatomy with a ridged exoskeleton and powerful mandibles used in mating competitions. They are found in the tropical forests of Africa and feed on tree sap and rotting fruit. The larvae live in decaying logs. Males have long horns on their heads used to fight other males. Their large size and prehistoric appearance make goliath beetles truly unusual insects.

#3 – Lubber Grasshopper

Lubber grasshoppers are known for their unusual body proportions. They have a short abdomen but an extremely large thorax and head. Unlike other grasshoppers, lubbers are slow moving and clumsy fliers. They secrete a foul-smelling foam as a defense mechanism. Lubbers feed on a wide variety of plants and occur in several striking color forms like red, yellow, pink or black and orange. These unusual insects grow up to 3 inches long and are found in the southern United States and parts of South America.

#4 – Atlas Beetle

This unusually large beetle from Southeast Asia gets its name from the mythological titan Atlas, who held the world on his shoulders. They have unusual rounded and pointed shell-like wings. Their defining feature is the elongated horns that protrude forward from the head and thorax in the male. Females lack these horns. Atlas beetles are valued in the pet trade but face habitat loss in the wild.

#5 – Walkingstick

Walkingsticks belong to the order Phasmatodea and are known for their unusual body shape and camouflage abilities. They have long slender bodies and legs that allow them to resemble twigs and blend into foliage. Some species have wings while others are flightless. Walkingsticks can be up to 21 inches long but very light. They are herbivorous and found in tropical to temperate forests worldwide. Their unique cryptic appearance makes them one of the most unusual insects.

#6 – Giant Leaf Insect

Found in the dense jungles of Southeast Asia, the aptly named giant leaf insect has an unusual flattened leaf-like body. They grow up to 5 inches long but are hard to spot due to their impressive leaf mimicry. They have fringed wings and legs shaped like leaf veins. Their heads are triangular. Giant leaf insects are docile and feed on leaves and twigs. Their unusual adaptations allow them to evade predators.

#7 – Hummingbird Hawkmoth

This unusual insect has adapted to hover and feed on flower nectar like a hummingbird. Their wings beat incredibly fast, producing a humming or buzzing sound. Hummingbird moths have long straw-like mouthparts which unroll to sip nectar while hovering. They are important pollinators. Their unusual appearance resembles a hummingbird but they belong to the insect order Lepidoptera. Hummingbird hawks occur across North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

#8 – Dragonfly

While dragonflies may seem common, they are highly unusual insects due to their size and flying abilities. They have multifaceted eyes, two sets of strong transparent wings, and a long slender abdomen. Dragonflies zip around at fast speeds, even able to fly backwards! They can migrate across oceans. Dragonflies begin life as aquatic nymphs before metamorphosing into their aerial adults. With 3000 species, these skilled fliers display an unusual diversity.

#9 – Orchid Mantis

This unusual predatory insect has coloration and anatomy that allows it to perfectly mimic flowers like orchids. They have elongated lobed legs and thick flattened bodies that resemble petals. This allows them to ambush prey that approaches to pollinate the ‘flower’. Orchid mantises occur in tropical Asia and come in pink, white, yellow, green and brown floral patterns. Their incredibly cryptic appearance makes them unmatched ambush predators.

#10 – Tailor Ant

Found in Africa, tailor ants have a uniquely symbiotic relationship with a special caste of workers that act as living sewing needles. These unusual ants have enlarged razor-sharp mandibles that are used to stitch leaves together to create nests for the colony. The soldier ants hold the edges of leaves together while the tailors sew them up. Their unusual adaptation allows tailor ants to build complex nests out of living plant material.

The diversity of insects is astounding, with many more unusual species still being discovered. The weird and wonderful bugs listed here show some of the most extreme adaptations and appearances found in the insect world. Everything from body armor to chemical defenses to cryptic camouflage has evolved over millions of years. Unusual insects never cease to amaze us with their otherworldly forms. Exploring their biology and ecology provides a window into nature’s boundless creativity.