Many people consider insects the creepiest and scariest creatures on the planet, and we can understand that. Finding a huge cockroach in your bed is anything but a nice encounter, that is for sure. On the other hand, some insects can actually be very cool. Adapted to survive in nearly all environments, insects are the most diverse group of animals on Earth, including more than a million described species and representing more than half of all known living organisms. Scientists estimate insects potentially represent over 90% of the differing animal life forms on Earth, which is truly an astonishing number. Considering the incredible abundance of insects, it comes as no surprise that there are also some really bizarre insect species out there. While some insects might shock us just with their appearance, others are capable of things that will put other animals and even us humans to shame. To give you just a little glimpse of how amazing the insect world actually is, we compiled this post with 25 Incredible Insects Sure to Leave You Amazed. To find out what insect can make you deaf, how long a termite queen can live or what insect´s bite is compared to being shot by a gun, check out these incredible insects that are sure to amaze you.
FLOWER MANTIS
Flower mantises are those species of praying mantis that mimic flowers. Their behavior varies, but they usually climb a plant until they reach a suitable flower and then they stay still until their prey comes within range.
DESERT LOCUST
Potentially the most destructive insect, the desert locust has threatened agricultural production in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia for centuries. Capable of eating their own weight every day, the locusts gather in huge swarms. A single swarm can cover up to 1,200 sq km (463 sq mi) and can contain up to 80 million locusts per 1 sq km (0.39 sq mi).
TAURUS SCARAB
A little oval-shaped dung beetle, the taurus scarab is considered the world´s strongest animal in terms of proportional strength. In a laboratory experiment, the beetle was recorded to pull 1,141 times its own body weight. That’s equivalent to a person lifting about 82 tons.
GIRAFFE WEEVIL
Indigenous to Madagascar, the giraffe weevil has one the weirdest body proportions in the animal kingdom. Males have markedly extended necks that can be several times their own body lengths. Measuring about 2.5 cm (1 in), the giraffe weevil uses its prolonged neck for nest building and fighting.
DRAGON FLY
The ultimate insect predator, the dragonfly hunts prey both in its larval stage and as adult. Scientists have found out that dragonflies are brutally effective killers, managing to capture their prey in midair more than 95 percent of the time, which makes them arguably the most efficient hunters of all animals.
