A 64 cm praying mantis, discovered in China, holds the record for the longest insect, surpassing previous records and remaining unmatched despite recent discoveries.
A giant praying mantis discovered
In 2014, entomologist Zhao Li found an unusually large praying mantis in Guangxi, southern China. The insect, later named Phryganistria chinensis, had a body length of 62.4 centimeters when its legs were extended, surpassing the previous record held by a Malaysian mantis.A record broken in captivity
In 2017, a descendant of the original mantis, raised in captivity at the Western China Insect Museum, reached 64 centimeters. This made it the longest insect ever measured, according to the Guinness World Records, and it is this captive-bred specimen that currently holds the record.The scientific status of the species
Despite its size, the species Phryganistria chinensis has not been officially described in scientific literature. Its name remains informal, pending a formal academic publication that would confirm its classification and taxonomic status.The previous record holder
Before the Chinese discovery, the longest insect was a Malaysian praying mantis found in 1989 and described in 2008. It measured 56.7 centimeters and is now displayed at the Natural History Museum in London.Recent challenges to the record
In 2025, Australian researchers discovered a new species, Acrophylla alta, which measures 40 centimeters. While notable, it is significantly smaller than the Chinese mantis, which still holds the record for the longest insect ever measured.
