There are over 1 million described species of insects in the world, making them the most diverse group of animals on the planet. With so many types of bugs out there, from beetles and butterflies to ants and bees, it can be difficult to determine which one is the “coolest.” When evaluating how cool a bug is, factors like appearance, abilities, rarity, and wow-factor need to be considered. Based on these criteria, here are some contenders for the coolest kind of bug:
Jewel beetles
Jewel beetles (family Buprestidae) are brightly colored beetles that have an iridescent, metallic-looking exoskeleton. There are approximately 15,000 species of jewel beetles found all over the world, except Antarctica. What makes jewel beetles so dazzling is their shimmery wing covers that come in colors like emerald, gold, ruby, sapphire, and amethyst. Some species, like the rainbow jewel beetle, have an oil coating their wings that makes them shine like oil slicks with colors that change depending on the angle.
In addition to their striking metallic appearance, jewel beetles also have elegant, elongated bodies with long, spiny legs, kind of like a miniature dragon. Their larvae are also unusual, called “flatheaded borers” because they have a flattened, armored body segment right behind their heads. Overall, with their glittering, gem-like wings and sleek figures, jewel beetles have an alluring beauty about them that is hard to match in the insect world.
Atlas beetle
Native to Southeast Asia, the Atlas beetle (Chalcosoma atlas) earns points for being one of the largest beetles in the world. Their bodies can reach up to 6 inches (15 cm) in length, with huge antler-like horns projecting from the head and thorax that can span over 12 inches (30 cm) tip to tip. They really live up to their namesake, the Atlas Titan of Greek mythology who held up the celestial heavens.
What’s also neat about Atlas beetles is that the horns are much larger in the males than females, making them extremely sexually dimorphic. The male’s giant horns are used to battle other males to win over a mate. Their large size and combat behavior makes Atlas beetles seem almost mythical or prehistoric. Atlas beetles come in a range of colors like green, orange, and yellow, and have an iridescent sheen to their hardened wings. Overall, it’s hard not to be wowed by their massive size and imposing appearance.
Orchid mantis
This master of camouflage, the orchid mantis (Hymenopus coronatus), is found in parts of Southeast Asia and Indonesia. As their name suggests, they can remarkably resemble a pink or white orchid flower, blending in with petals and stamens. This allows them to lay in wait and ambush prey that comes along trying to pollinate the “flower.”
Up close, the orchid mantis has a cute face and large eyes, almost like a puppy, which belies its fierce predatory nature. When food approaches, the front legs shoot out rapidly to grab prey like flies and moths. They come in white, pink, yellow, and brown morphs to match different colored orchids in their environment. The orchid mantis exhibits both camouflage through its appearance and behavior – swaying gently in the breeze just like a real flower. For its creativity in disguising itself and lethal strikes, the orchid mantis is one of the most ingenious hunters in the insect world.
Emerald cockroach wasp
With its metallic green hue and jewel-toned wings, the emerald cockroach wasp (Ampulex compressa) almost looks too beautiful to be real. Found in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands, these wasps use their stunning looks to their advantage when hunting. The emerald cockroach wasp is a solitary parasitic wasp that specifically targets – you guessed it – cockroaches, particularly the larger Periplaneta species.
What makes its hunting technique so fascinating is that it aims for precise nerve strikes to first paralyze the cockroach by stinging its mid-section to immobilize the back legs. The wasp then delivers a more precise sting to the head ganglion to disable the escape reflex but keep the roach alive. Once paralyzed, the wasp grabs the cockroach’s antenna and leads it back to its burrow like a zombie on a leash. It then lays an egg on the hapless cockroach, sealing it in the burrow as living food for its larva. For its surgical accuracy and ability to subdue its prey with nerve toxins, the emerald cockroach wasp has one of the coolest hunting strategies in the insect kingdom.
Hercules beetle
Related to the Atlas beetle, the Hercules beetle (Dynastes hercules) is one of the largest beetle species in the world, reaching up to 7 inches (17 cm) in length. It is aptly named after Hercules, the Roman mythological god of strength. Native to the jungles of Central and South America, the male Hercules beetle sports a massive forward-facing horn that is used to battle other males during mating competitions. For its size, the Hercules beetle is surprisingly able to fly, although not particularly gracefully with its heavy armor and horns throwing it off balance.
The Hercules beetle comes in black, brown, and green color forms, covered in a hard, pebbly exoskeleton. Its enormous size and formidable horns make it a standout in the beetle world as a modern-day insect gladiator ready for combat. Beetle collectors highly prize Hercules beetles for their imposing appearance.
Goliath beetle
[table]
[tr] [td] Species name [/td] [td] Goliathus goliatus [/td][/tr]
[tr] [td] Location [/td] [td] Tropical Africa [/td][/tr]
[tr] [td] Size [/td] [td] Up to 4.5 inches (11 cm) [/td][/tr]
[tr] [td] Diet [/td] [td] Tree sap and fruit [/td][/tr]
[/table]
The Goliath beetle (Goliathus goliatus) earns its biblical name for a massive size rivaling the Hercules beetle. They can grow to over 4 inches (10 cm) long and have a striking appearance with black and white markings on their bodies. Goliath beetles have an intimidating helmet-like shell covering their head and pronotum, the armor-like segment right behind the head.
While the males have a Y-shaped horn on their heads, the females have a wedge-shaped head instead that they use to block males during unwanted mating advances. Goliath beetles are found in tropical forests across the equatorial Africa, where they feast on tree sap and fruit. For its colossal size and defensive armor, the Goliath beetle is one of the most fearsome insects to encounter in the wild.
Death’s-head hawkmoth
With a name like death’s-head hawkmoth (Acherontia atropos), you know this is going to be one creepy bug. Found in Europe, Asia, and Africa, this large moth has an unusual marking on its back that looks eerily like a human skull. This serves as a defense to startle and intimidate predators, as if saying “back off, I’m already dead.” When threatened, the death’s-head hawkmoth also makes a chilling squeaking sound by forcing air out of its proboscis.
In an example of mimicry, the death’s-head hawkmoth’s eerie appearance imitates a toxic or dangerous species to avoid being eaten. Beyond its skull-like appearance, the death’s-head hawkmoth is a remarkable pollinator with a long, fan-shaped proboscis that can reach deep into flower blossoms. While arguably more Halloween than beautiful, the death’s-head hawkmoth certainly has one of the most surprising and macabre looks in the insect world.
Giant weta
[table]
[tr] [td] Species [/td] [td] Deinacrida heteracantha [/td][/tr]
[tr] [td] Location [/td] [td] New Zealand [/td][/tr]
[tr] [td] Size [/td] [td] Up to 4 inches (10 cm) [/td][/tr]
[tr] [td] Diet [/td] [td] Omnivorous – eats plants, fruit, insects [/td][/tr]
[/table]
Looking like something out of prehistoric times, the giant weta is the world’s largest insect and resides on the islands of New Zealand. There are 11 species of giant weta, with heavy bodies armored with thick exoskeletons and strong, spiny legs. They use their extremely powerful mandibles to crack into fruit and seeds. Some species have sharp spikes on their back legs that can inflict painful stings if handled.
Despite their intimidating appearance, giant wetas are solitary, gentle creatures who prefer to hide during the day. The Little Barrier Island giant weta holds the record for the heaviest insect in the world, weighing over 2.5 oz (70 g), rivaling the weight of some sparrows and mice! For its comically gigantic size, prehistoric aura, and status as an icon of New Zealand wildlife, the giant weta is truly one of the most astounding insects on the planet.
Giant burrowing cockroach
[table]
[tr] [td] Species [/td] [td] Macropanesthia rhinoceros [/td][/tr]
[tr] [td] Location [/td] [td] Australia [/td][/tr]
[tr] [td] Size [/td] [td] Up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) [/td][/tr]
[tr] [td] Diet [/td] [td] Dead plant material [/td][/tr]
[/table]
Despite most people’s aversion to roaches, the giant burrowing cockroach of Australia is pretty remarkable. As their name suggests, they are huge compared to average roaches, growing up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) long with a weight of around 1 oz (28 g). That’s about the size of a human thumb! They have shiny oval bodies and shovel-like heads specialized for digging elaborate burrows.
Interestingly, giant burrowing roaches are compassionate parents. Females carry around a special pouch containing 30-40 eggs until they hatch. Then she lets the nymphs crawl back into the pouch when they need protection or transport to new burrows. For being such caring mothers, having brawny bodies built for digging, and their atypical giant size, giant burrowing roaches are definitely VIP (Very Important Pests) in the insect world.
Atlas moth
[table]
[tr] [td] Wingspan [/td] [td] Up to 1 foot (30 cm) across [/td][/tr]
[tr] [td] Location [/td] [td] Asia [/td][/tr]
[tr] [td] Status [/td] [td] Largest moth species in the world [/td][/tr]
[tr] [td] Lifespan [/td] [td] Only 1-2 weeks as an adult [/td][/tr]
[/table]
Rivaling some small birds in wingspan, the Atlas moth (Attacus atlas) lays claim to having the largest wingspan of any lepidopteran. Their huge silky wings can reach over 1 foot (30 cm) across! These giant moths are found in Southeast Asia from India to Indonesia, where they earned their name from Atlas, the Greek god who held up the heavens. Their wings are bordered with a wide brown and white pattern that resembles a snake’s head, which may help deter predators.
Despite their size, Atlas moths are delicate creatures that live only 1-2 weeks as adults. They do not eat during this final life stage, focused entirely on finding a mate. Their caterpillars, however, make up for it by voraciously munching leaves for several months until forming an emerald green pupa. For having wings larger than your hand and flaunting an impressive snake illusion pattern, the Atlas moth earns top points as the mightiest moth in the world.
Conclusion
There are so many types of fascinating, beautiful, and downright strange insects occupying nearly every habitat on Earth. Based on appearance, abilities, rareness and wow-factor, some of the leading contenders for coolest bug include jewel beetles, orchid mantises, Atlas beetles, Hercules beetles, Goliath beetles, Atlas moths, giant wetas, and emerald cockroach wasps. But the huge diversity of insects means there are likely many more unusual bugs waiting to be discovered. One thing is certain – insects will continue to astound us with their variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and astounding adaptations. The intricate nature of even the tiniest insect reveals just how complex and elegant natural selection can be.
Summary
To summarize, here are some of the top reasons why certain bugs can be considered the coolest:
– Stunning metallic colors and patterns, like in jewel beetles and orchid mantises. Mimicry of flowers and other objects also factors in.
– Impressive sizes, such as Atlas beetles, Hercules beetles, and giant wetas that rival small rodents.
– Extreme sexual dimorphism with large horns and armor for battling, like stag and rhinoceros beetles.
– Bizarre appearances like the death’s head hawkmoth’s “skull” pattern.
– Incredible adaptations like the emerald cockroach wasp’s nerve stings and the orchid mantis’ camouflage and ambush hunting.
– Important ecological roles as pollinators, decomposers, predators, and prey.
– Rarity or uniqueness to a certain habitat or region around the world.
– Evolutionary curiosities representing ancient lineages, like walking sticks.
– Underappreciated groups like cockroaches with great diversity and adaptable biology.
Of course, “coolness” is subjective, but insects with unusual traits and abilities compared to most others of their kind could be considered among the most intriguing. Different people are fascinated by different aspects of insects, whether it be their beauty, ferocity, or sheer weirdness in nature. With over a million species, there are more than enough awesome bugs to appreciate and discover.
