Scientists have not yet come to a definitive conclusion on the issue. But most of them put the hawkmoth moths at the top of the list of fast-moving insects. “They usually fly at night and their wings are shaped like a hang glider”, says entomologist Sérgio Antônio Vanin, from the University of São Paulo (USP). When they’re in a hurry, these moths are capable of reaching an incredible 54 km/h! This means that if one of them challenged the Olympic champion of the 100 meters dash, the American Justin Gatlin, the moth would win the race hands down, crossing the finish line in 6.6 seconds, more than 2 seconds ahead of Gatlin. Other flying insects that are also good sprinters are some species of butterflies and flies. Among the terrestrial group, the leadership of this animal ranking would certainly belong to a type of tiger beetle: the Cicindela hudsoni. “It can run at up to 9 km/h”, says biologist Thomas Merritt, from the Department of Entomology at the University of Florida, in the United States. With that speed, that beetle would not be able to win the Olympic gold, but he would leave behind a lot of grown men doing jogging…
UP IN THE AIR
Moth that is a rocket…
Sphinx moths, champions of aerial speed, can fly at 54 km/h. Their wing flapping is so fast that it generates absurd heat. In order not to catch fire, moths have a cooling system that moves the heat generated to the abdomen, from where it is dissipated into the air.
…and other speedsters
West Indian butterfly (Prepona species) – 48 km/h
Bighorn fly (Cephenemyia pratti) – 47 km/h
Locust (Desert locusts) – 33 km/h
IN THE LAND
Quick beetle…
The fastest terrestrial insect is the Cicindela hudsoni beetle, which is part of a large family of about 2,300 species. It reaches 9 km/h when running away from predators or capturing prey. The Cicindela hudsoni is found almost everywhere on the planet, except Antarctica, Tasmania and some remote islands.
…and other speedsters
Cicindela eburneola beetle – 6.6 km/h
Cockroach (Periplaneta americana) – 5.4 km/h