World Record Bugs
November 30, 2011 2:14 PM   Subscribe

 
Least Specific Sucker of Vertebrate Blood
Tsetse flies: Lawyers of the insect world.

Thanks zamboni, this is awesome.
posted by Kabanos at 2:27 PM on November 30, 2011 [1 favorite]


I favorited this before I clicked on a single link. I do so love the insects.
posted by jquinby at 2:28 PM on November 30, 2011 [1 favorite]


very interesting!
posted by gypseefire at 2:38 PM on November 30, 2011


If only I were more chitinous, I'd be in with a shout in the shortest reproductive life category :(

Ace post!
posted by Abiezer at 2:40 PM on November 30, 2011


I have a challenger for the Loudest category:

The water boatman Micronecta scholtzi can produce a song as loud as 99.2 dB SPL at 1m, according to this recent paper. If my calculations are correct, that adjusts to 110.62 dB SPL at 50cm, beating out the current cicada champion. And this from a little guy only 2mm long.

Of course, the water boatman produces this sound in the water, so I'm not sure if that's cheating.
posted by Kabanos at 3:16 PM on November 30, 2011


Did not see an entry for baddest ass praying mantis. If you go to youtube and search for "praying mantis vs" there is a really long list.
posted by bukvich at 3:30 PM on November 30, 2011


This is a really cool idea, but it's a shame there are no photos. Buprestis aurulenta, for example, is really beautiful. The idea of world records as a theme to generate interest in insects is great, but the most powerful tool is great photos.
posted by snofoam at 4:12 PM on November 30, 2011


Well as long as they're competing, I think Insecta get a gold medal as The Most Successful Class of Animals on Earth. And looking to future awards: Animals That Survive After Homo sapiens is Extinct. Amazing animals indeed!
posted by binturong at 5:46 PM on November 30, 2011


Double, but I thought they'd have added stuff by now, but looks like the latest chapter is dated 2005.
posted by dhruva at 8:05 PM on November 30, 2011


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