Insects are invertebrates and belong to the largest group within the arthropod phylum. The word "insect" comes from the Latin word insectum, meaning "with a notched or divided body", or literally "cut into", from the neuter singular perfect passive participle of insectare because insects appear "cut into" three sections.
They found in everywhere in the world from the oceans to polar ice caps and mighty mountains to hot volcanic springs. Their outer body shell is called exoskeleton which is made up chitin and body is categorised into three segment- head, thorax, and abdomen. They have pair of antennae on the top their head.
Importance of insect in the Environment
1. Ecological importance: They perform many important functions like pollination, act as decomposer etc.
2. Economic importance: They produce useful substances like honey, wax, lacquer, and silk.
3. Important part of food web: It is used as food by amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals; sometimes by human.
4. Medicinal importance: Some of the insects are used for the medicinal purposes. For example- Gangrene.
Biggest Insects in the World
The top 10 list of biggest insects in the world are given on the basis of their body size.
10. Goliath Beetle
Scientific name: Goliathus
Size: 60–110 millimetres (2.4–4.3 in)
Found in: Africa
9. Giant Water Bug
Scientific name: Lethocerus americanus
Size: 2-12 cm (0.8 in to 4.5 in)
Found in: Asia
8. Tarantula Hawk
Scientific name: Pompilidae
Size: 5 cm (2 in)
Found in: Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, and the Americas.
7. Acteon Beetle
Scientific name: Megasoma actaeon
Size: 5–12 centimetres (2.0–4.7 in)
Found in: South America, particularly in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela