As it might seem at first glance, the smallest insect is the miniature fruit fly, which flies over fruit in summer. But, in comparison with some microscopic insects, Drosophila appears as a giant.
An insect even smaller than an amoeba
The microscopic wasp megaphragm, in size ratio, is even more tiny than the unicellular organism of the amoeba or ciliate shoe. It belongs to the genus thrips - miniature insects, whose size does not exceed a length of one millimeter. Some members of this genus are even tinier. The size of the mega-frame is 200 micrometers, it is only 5 part of a millimeter. But this wasp is the third smallest insect on the planet.
Featherwing beetle
Belongs to the order of coleoptera. It is rightfully considered the smallest beetle on the planet. Its size, depending on the species, ranges from 0.3 to 1 millimeter. Their legs are so small that they seem to be undivided. Featherwing beetles usually live no more than 1 year, but some are able to survive without food for 10 years. Their larvae feed on mushrooms or humus. They live mainly in a humid environment.
The smallest spider
The smallest representative of arachnids lives on the coast of West Africa. Its size is only 0.37 mm. Scientists named it patu digua and attributed it to the family of Symphytognous spiders. The first specimen was found in moss over 600 meters above sea level.
This small spider has a brain so large that the nerve tissue extending from it is located even in its legs.
Little ants
In the US state of Ohio, specimens of ants of the Leptohorax species were found, whose size did not exceed 3 millimeters. They live in groups of 50-100 individuals and can live in one acorn or nut. Interestingly, the queens of these ants penetrate the colonies of other species and attach to the uterus of the hosts.
Little hunter
An even smaller insect lives in Central America. It is a parasitic dikopomorph rider. The males of these insects are smaller than the females, their length is 0.14 millimeters. The length of their antennae exceeds the length of the whole body. They live and parasitize on eggs of larger insects. According to scientists, the nervous system of these insects consists of 7,400 cells, while in ordinary flies or bees this figure is measured in hundreds of thousands.
Male dicopomorphs have no wings and are completely blind. They are guided only by smells.
Record holder Alaptus
Alaptus magnathimus is the smallest insect on the planet today. Its body length does not exceed 0.12 millimeters. Belongs to the detachment of parasitic riders. It lives on eggs and larvae of larger insects.
