Despite not being the largest creatures, insects can move at great speeds, both relative to their body size and in absolute terms. For insects, speed is a key survival trait, necessary for acquiring food and avoiding becoming prey.
1 Water Striders, 4 km/h
Water striders live on the surface of the water. Their legs are covered with waxy hairs, creating a sort of “air cushion” that prevents them from sinking and allows them to glide easily on the water’s surface at speeds up to 4 km/h.
2 Cockroaches, 5.4 km/h
The world speed record set by a cockroach is 5.4 km/h. This is the fastest non-flying and non-jumping insect. Cockroaches are remarkably omnivorous, but can survive without food for several weeks and are even capable of surviving a nuclear explosion.
3 Fleas, 6.9 km/h
The fastest parasitic insect, fleas can jump at speeds up to 6.9 km/h. They move by hopping and can leap up to 1.9 meters despite their body length being only 1 mm to 1 cm. They easily relocate from one host to another and feed exclusively on the blood of mammals and birds.
4 Tiger Beetles, 7.2 km/h
Tiger beetles run very quickly and can jump-fly even faster at speeds of about 2 m/s. However, their flights are short. This ability allows them to escape danger rapidly. They can pursue prey both on the ground and in the air, but most of their catch is obtained by “pedestrian” means.
5 Locusts, 20 km/h
Locusts can move at speeds of up to 20 km/h and can travel about 100 km in a day. They migrate in the evening or early morning when it is still cool. High speed helps them quickly find food and easily move to areas where food is abundant.
6 Hornets, 25 km/h
Hornets can fly at speeds up to 25 km/h. They feed on nectar and sweet plant foods, but can also be predatory. With their large size, powerful jaws, and potent venom, they easily handle other insects like wasps, locusts, grasshoppers, and bees.
7 Hawk Moths, 54 km/h
The fastest butterflies in the world, hawk moths can fly at speeds up to 54 km/h. Their flight and flower pollination behavior resemble that of hummingbirds: they hover over blooms, rapidly flapping their wings, and use their long proboscis to reach nectar, sometimes being mistaken for these small birds.
8 Horseflies, 60 km/h
Horseflies inhabit areas where livestock graze, marshlands, stream and forest edges. Their range is broad, with horseflies present on every inhabited continent except in a few places like Greenland and Antarctica. They can reach speeds up to 60 km/h.
9 Bees, 65 km/h
Bees fly through the air as fast as a car travels through a city, reaching speeds up to 65 km/h while foraging for nectar. When their honey stomachs are full, their speed is halved to about 30 km/h. This is not surprising as a bee collects as much nectar in one flight as its own weight.
10 Dragonflies, 95 km/h
The fastest flyers, dragonflies usually fly at speeds up to 30 km/h but can accelerate to 95-97 km/h. As predators, they quickly calculate the trajectory of their prey’s flight and intercept it mid-air without tracking or chasing it. The prey essentially flies into their grasp.
