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Do you have a science question about southeastern Idaho that you have been wanting to ask, but haven't? Well, what are you waiting for!? E-mail your questions to us at [email protected] and a local scientist will answer them for you in the Ask A Scientist column or on the Ask A Scientist website. Today’s Question by: Q: What is the largest insect? Mrs. Hall’s Class A: In order to answer this question, you really need to specify what you mean 6th Grade by “biggest”. There are a number of ways to defend an insect as being the White Pines Charter School “biggest”, so let’s examine a few. Answered by: If length is what you are interested in then you can't beat a female Giant Dr. Heath Ogden Walking Stick (Phobaeticus serratipes). This stick insect belongs to the Department of Biological order Phamatodea and is found in Malaysia and Singapore. In the wild it Sciences can be perfectly camouflaged among the twigs and branches where it crawls about. I think that the longest Idaho State University Giant Walking Stick specimen on record measure something like 21.8 inches. These insects can be raised as pets. So there you have it, the longest living insect currently described on the planet today. Although the Giant Walking Stick wins for length, for sheer weight you'll have to turn to the giant wetas (Deinacrida heteracantha) of New Zealand. A pregnant female can top the scales at over 2 ounces! Of course many argue that beetles are the most massive insects taking into account size and weight. The South American Longhorn Beetle (Titanus giganteus) of French Longhorn Beetle Guyana makes perhaps the most impressive showing with a body length over 6.5 inches. However, if you are going to take into account the wings, then you can measure the wingspan or surface area. By these standards, lepidopterans (butterflies and moths) may be considered the biggest and perhaps individuals of these species are in mix: Thysania aggripina (from Brazil measures almost 12 inches across its wings); Atlas Moth (Attacus atlas) with upwards of 65 square inches surface area; and Alexandra’s Birdwing (Ornithoptera alexandrae). There are well over 1 million insect species known, with an estimated 10 million still undocumented. However, the title of world's biggest insect remains a matter of what constitutes "biggest" to you: length, weight, mass, wingspan or total wing area! Build a Bug Vacuum Materials: Clear-sided empty film canister or small clear container with a lid, sharp pointed object, 2 bendable drinking straws, small 1” square of pantyhose material, small rubber band or tape 1. Ask your mom or dad to punch 2 holes in the lid of the film canister. 2. Push the 2 straws through these holes. Place the shorter end of the bendable straws into the holes. . 3. Stretch the pantyhose over one of the straw ends that will be inside the canister and fasten with tape or rubber band. Replace the lid and you are done! 4. When you spot a small insect you’d like to collect, simply aim the straw without the pantyhose cover at the bug and suck on the straw with the cover. Do not use the bug sucker for large insects such as bees and butterflies. They can’t fit up the tube, and the suction may damage their wings. For more information about these topics, coordinating lesson plans, and applicable content standards, go to Complied by Stoller ESER www.stoller-eser.com/nie/