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“Biggest insect” depends on what is being measured. A stick insect can win by total length when its legs are stretched out, while a beetle may be heavier or have a longer solid body. Wingspan creates another category altogether.
The insects below include the best-documented living examples, using the measurement that makes each one exceptional. Some are longer than a ruler; others are surprisingly heavy. The figures are based on records and museum or research sources, including Guinness World Records, Queensland Museum, the Natural History Museum, and Te Papa.
The 10 biggest insects in the world
| # | Insect | Size record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giant stick insect (Phryganistria chinensis) | 64 cm total length |
| 2 | Gargantuan stick insect (Ctenomorpha gargantua) | About 56.5 cm total length |
| 3 | Highlands giant stick insect (Acrophylla alta) | About 40–42.5 cm; 44 g female |
| 4 | Chan’s megastick (Phobaeticus chani) | 35.5 cm body; 56.6 cm with legs |
| 5 | Hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules) | Up to 19 cm including horns |
| 6 | Titan beetle (Titanus giganteus) | About 16.7 cm body length |
| 7 | Actaeon beetle (Megasoma actaeon) | Larvae can exceed 200 g |
| 8 | Giant wētā (Deinacrida heteracantha) | 71 g; about 10 cm body |
| 9 | Atlas moth (Attacus atlas) | About 30 cm wingspan |
| 10 | Queen Alexandra’s birdwing (Ornithoptera alexandrae) | About 27 cm wingspan |
1. Giant stick insect (Phryganistria chinensis)
Guinness World Records identifies the giant stick insect as the longest recorded insect. A captive-bred specimen measured 640 millimeters (25.19 inches) with its legs fully outstretched.
That qualification matters: 64 cm is the insect’s extended leg-to-leg measurement, not the length of its central body. Like other stick insects, it has a narrow, twig-like shape that helps it blend among branches.
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2. Gargantuan stick insect (Ctenomorpha gargantua)
Australia’s gargantuan stick insect can reach approximately 56.5 cm (22.2 inches) in total length. Queensland Museum describes it as Australia’s largest—or at least longest—insect, and Museum Victoria recorded a captive-reared female of that size.
Despite the dramatic name, this is a stick insect known for its great length. Its record size is based on a captive-reared specimen, not a claim that every individual reaches this measurement.
3. Highlands giant stick insect (Acrophylla alta)
Described scientifically in 2025, the Highlands giant stick insect reaches roughly 40–42.5 cm (15.7–16.7 inches). A female weighed 44 grams, making it the heaviest insect yet scientifically described from Australia.
Researchers have not presented that figure as proof that it is the heaviest insect in the world. The species comes from the Wet Tropics of northeastern Australia, as reported by James Cook University and the scientific description in Zootaxa.
4. Chan’s megastick (Phobaeticus chani)
Chan’s megastick has the longest documented insect body. Its record specimen had a body measuring 355 mm (14 inches). With its legs fully extended, the specimen measured 566 mm (22.3 inches), according to Guinness World Records.
The specimen is held by London’s Natural History Museum. Its record is often confused with the record for the longest insect overall, but the two titles use different measurements. Phryganistria chinensis is longer when total outstretched length is counted; Phobaeticus chani has the longer measured body.
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5. Hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules)
The Hercules beetle is generally considered the longest beetle when a male’s horns are included. A large male can reach 19 cm (7.5 inches) from the tip of its horn to the end of its abdomen, according to the Natural History Museum.
The forked horns are used by males in contests with rivals. A female lacks the spectacular horns and is therefore much shorter overall. This is a good example of why size comparisons should state whether projections such as horns are included.
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The titan beetle reaches about 16.7 cm (6.6 inches) in body length, excluding its antennae. It lives in tropical South America and is one of the largest beetles by solid body length, according to the Natural History Museum.
Its powerful jaws and defensive spines give it an intimidating appearance. The long antennae make the beetle look even larger, but they are not included in the body-length figure.
7. Actaeon beetle (Megasoma actaeon)
The Actaeon beetle belongs among the heavyweight insects, but the most extreme numbers apply to its larval stage. Actaeon beetle larvae have been recorded at more than 200 grams, according to the Natural History Museum.
That is substantially heavier than the adult beetle. Claims that an adult Actaeon beetle weighs 200 grams are misleading because they transfer a larval measurement to a different life stage. “Adult weight” and “maximum weight at any stage” are not the same category.
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8. Little Barrier Island giant wētā (Deinacrida heteracantha)
The giant wētā, or wētāpunga, is one of the heaviest living adult insects. The largest recorded female weighed 71 grams, had a body up to about 10 cm long, and could have a leg span approaching 20 cm, according to Te Papa and New Zealand’s Department of Conservation.
It is native to New Zealand’s Little Barrier Island. The 71-gram figure describes an exceptional female specimen, not the normal weight of every giant wētā. Wētā are relatives of crickets and grasshoppers.
9. Atlas moth (Attacus atlas)
The atlas moth is one of the largest moths, with a wingspan of about 30 cm (11.8 inches), according to Guinness World Records. It is native to South and Southeast Asia.
It is often incorrectly called the world’s largest butterfly. It is a moth, not a butterfly. Adult atlas moths have no functional mouthparts and survive briefly on energy stored during the caterpillar stage.
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10. Queen Alexandra’s birdwing (Ornithoptera alexandrae)
The female Queen Alexandra’s birdwing is the largest butterfly by wingspan, reaching approximately 27 cm (10.6 inches). It lives in the rainforests of Papua New Guinea and is endangered, according to the Natural History Museum and the American Museum of Natural History.
Females are considerably larger than males, which is why the record specifies the sex. The species’ restricted rainforest habitat and conservation status make it one to learn about through reputable museums and conservation organizations rather than remove from the wild.
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Which insect is actually the biggest?
There is no single winner unless the measurement is specified:
- Longest overall: the giant stick insect, at 64 cm with its legs fully outstretched (Guinness World Records).
- Longest body: Chan’s megastick, with a body measuring 35.5 cm (Guinness World Records).
- Heaviest living adult commonly documented: a 71-g female giant wētā (Te Papa; New Zealand Department of Conservation).
- Heaviest insect at any life stage in this comparison: Actaeon beetle larvae, which can exceed 200 g (Natural History Museum).
- Largest wingspan among living moths in the standard record: the atlas moth, at about 30 cm (Guinness World Records).
- Largest butterfly: the female Queen Alexandra’s birdwing, at about 27 cm (Natural History Museum).
The white witch moth (Thysania agrippina) has a reported female wingspan of 30.8 cm, slightly larger than the commonly cited atlas moth figure. However, Guinness World Records retains the atlas moth as the standard record holder for overall moth size in its cited record category.
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What about the biggest insect ever?
Living insects are not the all-time size record holders. The extinct griffinfly Meganeuropsis permiana had an estimated wingspan of up to 71 cm (28 inches), according to Guinness World Records. It lived during the Permian period, long before modern butterflies, moths, and beetles evolved.
That estimate is based on fossils, so it cannot be compared as directly with a ruler measurement from a living specimen. Even so, it was larger by wingspan than any known living insect.
Can these giant insects be kept as pets?
The record list describes wild species and specimens, not pet suitability. Before buying any unusual insect, check local laws, the species’ conservation status, and whether the seller can document captive breeding. Never release a non-native insect, its eggs, or its larvae.
For most households, observing these animals through a reputable museum, zoo, or conservation program is a better choice than attempting to keep a giant insect.
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FAQ
What is the longest insect in the world?
The longest recorded insect is the giant stick insect, Phryganistria chinensis. A captive-bred specimen measured 64 cm (25.19 inches) with its legs fully outstretched, according to Guinness World Records.
What is the heaviest insect in the world?
The answer depends on life stage. Actaeon beetle larvae can exceed 200 grams, while a 71-gram female giant wētā is commonly cited among the heaviest documented living adult insects (Natural History Museum; Te Papa).
Is the atlas moth the biggest butterfly?
No. The atlas moth is a moth. The female Queen Alexandra’s birdwing is the largest butterfly by wingspan, reaching about 27 cm. The atlas moth has a wingspan of about 30 cm (Natural History Museum; Guinness World Records).
Are giant insects suitable pets?
The dossier does not establish pet suitability for these record-holding species. Check local laws and conservation status before considering any insect, and never collect protected species from the wild or release non-native insects.
The Bottom Line
The giant stick insect is the longest recorded insect when fully extended, but Chan’s megastick has the longest body, giant wētā are among the heaviest adult insects, and the atlas moth and Queen Alexandra’s birdwing lead separate wingspan categories. “Biggest” only makes sense when the measurement—and the insect’s life stage—is clear.
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