Top 10 Heaviest Insects by Body Weight in the World
The ten heaviest insect species in the world, ranked by body weight — from the goliath beetle and the giant wētā to the atlas beetle and the titan beetle.
Insects are the most diverse group of animals on Earth, with over a million described species. While most insects are tiny, a handful of species reach remarkable sizes. The heaviest known insects are beetles and wētās, with the goliath beetle larva reaching over 100 grams — heavier than a house mouse. Among adult insects, the record belongs to the giant wētā, a flightless cricket native to New Zealand.
This list ranks the ten heaviest insect species by confirmed maximum body weight in grams. Both larval and adult stages are noted where relevant, but rankings are based on the heaviest confirmed specimen of the species, whether larval or adult.
The goliath beetle, native to the tropical forests of Africa, is the heaviest insect in the world. While the adult beetle weighs 50–60 g, the larval stage can reach an astonishing 115 g (4.1 oz) — heavier than a tennis ball. The goliath beetle is one of the largest beetles by both size and weight, with males reaching 11.5 cm in length. The larvae feed on protein-rich decaying organic matter, building up the massive body mass needed for metamorphosis.
Type: Beetle (Coleoptera)Range: Tropical AfricaAdult weight: 50–60 gAdult length: Up to 11.5 cm
2
Giant Wētā (Deinacrida heteracantha)
The giant wētā, also known as the Little Barrier Island giant wētā, is the heaviest adult insect ever recorded. A gravid (egg-bearing) female caught on Little Barrier Island, New Zealand weighed 71 g (2.5 oz) — the highest confirmed weight for an adult insect. This flightless cricket relative is endemic to New Zealand and is one of the largest insects by both weight and body size. Wētās are sometimes called 'the world's heaviest insect' because unlike beetles, their weight doesn't come from a larval stage that shrinks during metamorphosis.
Type: Wētā (Orthoptera)Range: New ZealandAdult weight: Up to 71 gAdult length: Up to 10 cm
3
Actaeon Beetle (Megasoma actaeon)
The Actaeon beetle, found in the Amazon rainforest of South America, is one of the heaviest beetles in the world. Adult males commonly exceed 50 g and can reach up to 70 g (2.5 oz), with a body length of up to 12 cm. The beetle is named after Actaeon, a figure from Greek mythology. The larvae are similarly massive, feeding on decomposing wood in the rainforest floor for 1–2 years before pupating.
Type: Beetle (Coleoptera)Range: Amazon rainforest, South AmericaAdult weight: Up to 70 gAdult length: Up to 12 cm
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4
Elephant Beetle (Megasoma elephas)
The elephant beetle, native to Mexico and Central America, is one of the heaviest beetles in the Americas. Adult males commonly exceed 50 g and can reach weights of up to 60 g (2.1 oz), with a body length of up to 13 cm including the prominent cephalic horn. The males use their horns in combat with other males over territory and mating rights. The species name 'elephas' refers to its large size and elephant-like appearance.
Type: Beetle (Coleoptera)Range: Mexico, Central AmericaAdult weight: Up to 60 gAdult length: Up to 13 cm (incl. horn)
5
Hercules Beetle (Dynastes hercules)
The Hercules beetle, found in the rainforests of Central and South America, is one of the largest beetles in the world by length, reaching up to 17 cm including its massive horn. While not as heavy as the goliath or elephant beetles, adult males can weigh up to 50 g (1.8 oz). The Hercules beetle is named for its immense strength — it can carry up to 100 times its own body weight. The larvae are also exceptionally large, reaching up to 12 cm in length.
Type: Beetle (Coleoptera)Range: Central and South AmericaAdult weight: Up to 50 gAdult length: Up to 17 cm (incl. horn)
6
Titan Beetle (Titanus giganteus)
The titan beetle, found in the Amazon rainforest, is one of the largest beetles by body length (up to 16.7 cm), but its body weight is a more modest 40 g (1.4 oz). The titan beetle is the longest known beetle species, though its slender body makes it lighter than the bulkier scarab beetles. Adult titan beetles do not eat — they live only long enough to mate, relying on fat stores built up during their larval stage.
Type: Beetle (Coleoptera)Range: Amazon rainforest, South AmericaAdult weight: Up to 40 gAdult length: Up to 16.7 cm
The giant wetapunga, or Poor Knights giant wētā, is the second-largest wētā species, found only on the Poor Knights Islands off the coast of New Zealand. Gravid females can reach weights of up to 30 g (1.1 oz). The species is named 'wetapunga' which means 'god of ugly things' in the Māori language. Like other wētās, the wetapunga is a flightless, nocturnal herbivore that has survived on predator-free offshore islands.
Type: Wētā (Orthoptera)Range: Poor Knights Islands, New ZealandAdult weight: Up to 30 gAdult length: Up to 8 cm
8
Giant Wetapunga (Deinacrida fallai)
The giant burrowing cockroach, also known as the rhinoceros cockroach, is the heaviest cockroach species in the world, reaching weights of up to 35 g (1.2 oz). Native to Queensland, Australia, these cockroaches are unusual among cockroaches in being wingless, burrowing insects that live in deep tunnels in sandy soil. They are long-lived for insects, with a lifespan of up to 10 years, and are popular as pets due to their docile nature and lack of wings.
Type: Cockroach (Blattodea)Range: Queensland, AustraliaAdult weight: Up to 35 gAdult length: Up to 8 cm
9
Atlas Beetle (Chalcosoma atlas)
The Atlas beetle, found in Southeast Asia, is one of the largest beetles in Asia, with adult males reaching weights of up to 25 g (0.9 oz). The beetle is named after Atlas, the Titan who held up the sky in Greek mythology, referring to its immense strength relative to its size. Males have three prominent horns — one on the head and two on the thorax — which they use in combat with rival males over feeding sites and females.
Type: Beetle (Coleoptera)Range: Southeast AsiaAdult weight: Up to 25 gAdult length: Up to 12 cm (incl. horns)
10
Giant Stick Insect (Phryganistria chinensis)
The giant stick insect, Phryganistria chinensis, discovered in Guangxi, China in 2014, is the longest insect in the world at up to 62.4 cm in length, but its body weight is a slim 25 g (0.9 oz). The species was discovered by a Chinese entomologist who was inspired by the 2008 Sichuan earthquake's impact on insect habitats. While not the heaviest, its extreme length-to-weight ratio makes it one of the most remarkable insects on Earth.
Type: Stick insect (Phasmatodea)Range: Guangxi, ChinaAdult weight: Up to 25 gAdult length: Up to 62.4 cm
Insect species are ranked by the heaviest confirmed body weight in grams (g) as documented in peer-reviewed entomological literature, university collections, and verified records from institutions such as the Natural History Museum London, the Smithsonian Institution, and the New Zealand Department of Conservation. Only scientifically verified weights are included. Extinct species are excluded. For species that reach maximum weight in the larval stage, the larval weight is used as the ranking metric.
FAQ
What is the heaviest insect in the world?
The heaviest insect is the goliath beetle (Goliathus goliatus), whose larvae can reach 115 g (4.1 oz) — heavier than a tennis ball. However, if you count only adult insects, the record belongs to the giant wētā (Deinacrida heteracantha), a gravid female of which was confirmed at 71 g (2.5 oz).
Why do beetle larvae weigh more than the adults?
Beetles undergo complete metamorphosis: egg → larva → pupa → adult. The larval stage is the feeding and growth phase, during which the insect stores massive amounts of energy. During pupation, the larva's body is broken down and rebuilt into the adult form, which is lighter because it has wings, harder exoskeleton, and reproductive organs — but no longer needs the massive fat reserves.
Where do the heaviest insects live?
The heaviest insects are found in tropical and subtropical regions where the climate allows year-round growth and abundant food. The goliath beetle lives in tropical Africa, the giant wētā is endemic to New Zealand's offshore islands, and the heaviest beetles (Actaeon, Hercules, Titan) are found in the Amazon and Central American rainforests. Many of the heaviest insects are island endemics, having evolved large size in the absence of mammalian predators.