World's Biggest Aquatic Insect Specimen Found in China

[microrobert]

World's Biggest Aquatic Insect Specimen Found in China



If you have entomophobia (the fear of bugs), you might want to look away. The world's biggest aquatic flying insect, with huge, gross pincers, has been discovered in China's Sichuan province, experts say.

If you have entomophobia (the fear of bugs), you might want to look away. The world's biggest aquatic flying insect, with huge, gross pincers, has been discovered in China's Sichuan province, experts say.

According to the Insect Museum of West China, an expedition to the outskirts of Chengdu earlier this month brought back dobsonflies, boasting 8.3-inch wingspans and "giant snake-like fangs." This weird bug beat out the previous record holder for largest aquatic insect - the South American helicopter damselfly, which had a wingspan of 7.5 inches.

Even so, that's nothing compared to the aquatic insects that were around 250 million years ago: giant dragonflies with wingspans up to 30 inches, the museum said.

Large enough to cover the face of a human adult, this scary-looking insect is also known among entomologists as an indicator of water quality.

According to CNN, the aquatic critters are "highly sensitive to any changes in the water's pH as well as the presence of trace elements of pollutants." If the water is even "slightly contaminated, the giant dobsonfly will move on to seek cleaner waters."

More detailed information on the insect - of the order Megaloptera - is scarce for now. But experts do know that it can be found in other provinces in China, India's Assam state, and in northern Vietnam. This is the first time it has appeared in Sichuan province.

Though this disgusting bug may be one of the biggest on the planet, it's not the only impressive insect around. There's the giant stick insect that can grow up to two feet long, and the mammoth Atlas moth, which has a wingspan of at least a foot, the Huffington Post reported. Not to mention the cricket-like giant weta, a bug that can weigh more than a bird and is so big, it can eat a carrot.

World's Biggest Aquatic Insect Specimen Found in China : Biology : Nature World News

[Sergente Alligator]

damn thats a big ass insect

[Prisoner Of Ice]

Holy moly, just look at that thing. I do like dragonflies, though. Except when they make a suicide run on my pool while I am in it.

[FeederOfRavens]

Thread closed.

[Yehiel]

cool

[Anglojew]

I dispute the facts. They're obviously exaggerated.