Interesting Insect Facts , From the Largest to the Deadliest

Although ants are small in size, some species possess the capacity to take the life of animals and humans. In this article, you will learn information about ants, beetles, and an interesting web spun by a specific spider species.

Strongest Spider Webs

The spider is an indoor/outdoor insect known for spinning webs and having eight legs. When it comes to creating the strongest spider web, the honors go to the insects belonging to the genus Nephila. The spiders are capable of weaving webs that are strong enough to capture small birds and frogs. The webs are also able to slow down mammals and humans when they come in contact with the material. Spiders that belong to the species that live in tropical Africa actually have a line in their web used for disposing the sucked-out remains of small birds and other prey.

Largest Beetle

The beetle known as the largest (in terms of weight) is the goliath beetle, which lives in Africa. It is the heaviest insect that can weigh up to 100 grams (or five ounces) when in its juvenile stage.

Beetle with Chemical Defenses

When the bombardier beetle feels threatened, it relies on two harmless chemicals stored in a special section of its stomach. Scaring the beetle triggers the release of the liquid into a second chamber in its body, which mixes with an enzyme that creates a violent chemical reaction. The result is the release of high temperatures from the anus, which can reach up to 212 degree F.

Deadliest Ant

There are thousands of species of ants scattered across the globe. However, the one that presents the largest threat is the bulldog ant, which lives in the coastal regions of Australia. Since 1936, the ant has been responsible for killing at least three humans. When it attacks a victim, it uses a sting and its jaws at the same time.

An Indestructible Beetle

A small species of beetle known as the Niptus hololeucus is the most indestructible species of beetle. Interestingly, a researcher stated that 1,547 specimens had been in a bottle of casein (a chemical found in milk) that had been sealed with a stopper for 12 years. The beetles were still alive and thriving. A collection of the beetles was also found living inside a can of leaves from a plant with a strong poison for 15 years.

Beetle with Longest Snout

Snouts on a beetle are a useful feature to have. For example, the snout is used for drilling holes in cycad seeds, which is where the eggs of the long-snouted cycad weevil (a South African beetle) are laid. The beetle has the longest snout of any other beetle, which measures around 2 centimeters of its 3-centimeter long body.