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The biggest wingspans

Wingspan is how wide the open wings are, from one wing tip to the other. The biggest moths and butterflies are as wide as a dinner plate!

  1. 1Atlas mothMoths30 cm (12 in)
  2. 2White witchMoths30 cm (12 in)
  3. 3Queen Alexandra's birdwingButterflies28 cm (11 in)
  4. 4Goliath birdwingButterflies28 cm (11 in)
  5. 5Hercules mothMoths27 cm (11 in)
  6. 6Black witchMoths24 cm (9.4 in)
  7. 7Giant wood mothMoths23 cm (9.1 in)
  8. 8African giant swallowtailButterflies23 cm (9.1 in)
  9. 9Giant dobsonflyOther insects22 cm (8.5 in)
  10. 10Giant peacock mothMoths20 cm (7.9 in)
  11. 11Comet mothMoths20 cm (7.9 in)
  12. 12Giant swallowtailButterflies19 cm (7.5 in)
  13. 13Blue-winged helicopterDragonflies and damselflies19 cm (7.5 in)
  14. 14Cecropia mothMoths18 cm (7.1 in)
  15. 15Imperial mothMoths18 cm (6.9 in)
  16. 16Rajah Brooke's birdwingButterflies17 cm (6.7 in)
  17. 17Forest giant owl butterflyButterflies17 cm (6.7 in)
  18. 18Two-tailed swallowtailButterflies16 cm (6.5 in)
  19. 19Giant hawkerDragonflies and damselflies16 cm (6.4 in)
  20. 20Giant petaltailDragonflies and damselflies16 cm (6.4 in)
  21. 21Tropical swallowtail mothMoths16 cm (6.3 in)
  22. 22Witchetty grub mothMoths16 cm (6.3 in)
  23. 23Regal mothMoths16 cm (6.1 in)
  24. 24Double drummerTrue bugs and cicadas15 cm (5.9 in)
  25. 25Polyphemus mothMoths15 cm (5.9 in)
  26. 26Giant cave cockroachCockroaches and termites15 cm (5.9 in)
  27. 27Peanut bugTrue bugs and cicadas15 cm (5.9 in)
  28. 28Emperor gum mothMoths15 cm (5.9 in)
  29. 29Puriri mothMoths15 cm (5.9 in)
  30. 30Great MormonButterflies15 cm (5.9 in)
  31. 31Japanese silk mothMoths15 cm (5.9 in)
  32. 32Giant blue morphoButterflies15 cm (5.9 in)
  33. 33Cairns birdwingButterflies15 cm (5.9 in)
  34. 34Eastern tiger swallowtailButterflies14 cm (5.5 in)
  35. 35Ulysses butterflyButterflies14 cm (5.5 in)
  36. 36Paper kite butterflyButterflies14 cm (5.5 in)
  37. 37Orchard swallowtailButterflies14 cm (5.5 in)
  38. 38Paris peacockButterflies13 cm (5.2 in)
  39. 39Tomato hornwormMoths13 cm (5.1 in)
  40. 40Eastern dobsonflyOther insects13 cm (5.1 in)
  41. 41Green grocerTrue bugs and cicadas13 cm (5.1 in)
  42. 42Bush giant dragonflyDragonflies and damselflies13 cm (5.1 in)
  43. 43Palamedes swallowtailButterflies13 cm (5.1 in)
  44. 44Ailanthus silkmothMoths12 cm (4.9 in)
  45. 45Blue morphoButterflies12 cm (4.7 in)
  46. 46Death's-head hawk-mothMoths12 cm (4.7 in)
  47. 47Mopane emperor mothMoths12 cm (4.7 in)
  48. 48Privet hawk-mothMoths12 cm (4.7 in)
  49. 49Pink-spotted hawk-mothMoths12 cm (4.7 in)
  50. 50African moon mothMoths12 cm (4.7 in)
bonus

Prehistoric giants

Long before the dinosaurs, some bugs were much bigger than any bug alive today.

  1. 1MeganeuraPrehistoric giants not an insect75 cm (30 in)
  2. 2MeganeuropsisPrehistoric giants not an insect71 cm (28 in)
  3. 3MazothairosPrehistoric giants not an insect56 cm (22 in)

Sizes are the biggest ones in our sources, and most top speeds are estimates. Only the bugs on Bug Wiki are counted, and there are millions more out there! Tap a bug to see where its numbers come from.