Different smallest and largest insects in the world may affect our lives in many ways. If you want to know – what is the smallest insect in the world among these different species of insects- this will be a good guide for you.
Quick answer: fairy fly (dicopomorpha echmepterygis) is the smallest insect in the world. But, you may also find other smallest insects like carebara bruni ants, pygmaea mantis, midget moth, dwarf dragonfly, patu digua spider, minimus scorpion, and others.
Here, I will show you the list of 9 top smallest insects in the world with their size (length). So that you may find the smallest insects from the world from the provided list.
I will describe these smallest insects (obviously fun facts) with pictures. You will also know the smallest but most poisonous or harmful insects from this article.
So, if you want to know the top smallest insects with their details facts (focus on fairy flies), let’s continue this article till the end.
What is the smallest insect in the world
The external anatomical facts of all true insects show almost similar features. There are millions of types of insects (the actual number is unknown yet) that vary in size.
Again, in the same insect species, you will find a great variation in its size. The size (length of the insect’s body) may divide into small, medium, and larger sizes.
If you are an insect lover and explore the information on them, you might find different smallest and largest insects in the world. Here, I will show – what is the smallest insect in the world.
Entomologists say the smallest insect is – fairy flies and carebara bruni ants.
I will describe the anatomical facts (including the shape and size) of these 2 smallest insects later. But in short, let’s know the size, shape, and other parameters of the smallest insects (fairy fly and carebrar bruni ant).
All information about the smallest insects is given in Table 1 –
| Smallest Insect in World | Fairy fly | Carebara bruni ants |
| Size | 0.5 – 1 millimeter | Below 1 millimeter |
| Distribution | USA, Australia | Sri Lanka, China |
| Width of head | 0.15 millimeter | 0.2 millimeter |
| Color | Black brown | Dark brown |
| Keep as pet | No | Yes |
The smallest fairy fly may be found in the world’s temperate and tropical regions. But, the largest numbers of these smallest insects are found in America, New Zealand, and Australia.
It is very hard to manage if you want to keep Carebrar bruni ants as the pet. But, as an insect lover, you may try to keep them as a pet.
If you are interested in keeping the ants as a pet, let’s read the following guide where I shared my personal experiences –
- How to start an ant farm (my personal opinion),
What is a fairyfly?
Fairyfly is an insect (but not a true fly) under the chalcid wasps with fairy-like wings. It is considered the only smallest insect in the world.
The average length of a fairyfly is about 0.5 – 1 millimeter. But its (fairyfly) actual body is about 0.2 millimeters long.
This insect (fairy fly) is under the mymaridae family, which consists of 2 species –
- Tinkerbella nana, and
- Kikiki nana,
You may easily identify the male and female fairy flies with the help of their antennae. The male fairy fly possesses thread – like antennae, whereas the female consists of club-like apical antennae.
Again, you may also differentiate them from ants, hornets, and vespids (Hymenoptera). The width of the fairyflies’ heads are about 0.15 – 0.2 millimeter, and they possess an H-shaped suture on their head.
Interesting facts about fairyfly
Now, I will show you some interesting facts about fairyflies compared to other insects. If you see the structure of the fairyfly (both external and internal anatomy), you will find a great variation compared to an ideal insect.
The morphology of the fairyfly is modified, and it possesses fewer cells than the other insect. This is due to adapt their smaller body size.
Though a fairy fly contains the smallest body, they have all the organs and systems like other insects. But, the digestive, muscular, and cardiovascular systems of the fairyfly are smaller compared to the true insect.
Whereas the reproductive and nervous systems of fairy flies are comparatively larger. So, they can manage all the body functions like the other insects despite being the smallest size.
They (fairy fly) contains fairy–like wings and can fly with them. But, they cannot fly for a long distance like the other ideal flying insects.
But, you may have the question of why you should know about this smallest insect. Do they have any importance in our ecology?
The answer is yes; they (fairy flies) are important in maintaining the ecology. Different biologists and entomologists use these fairyflies for biological research. Again, different researchers use this fairy fly as a biological pest control.
What is the smallest pet insect in the world
If you are keeping insects as a pet, you should also know – what is the smallest pet insect in the world. Among the insects’ pets, the pygmaea mantis and carebara bruni ants are the smallest.
Let’s know some interesting facts about carebara bruni ants as the smallest insect pet. There are some of the other smallest insect pets in the world that you may also keep as a pet (let’s see table 2).
Carebara bruni ants – one of the smallest pet insect
The carebara bruni ants are the smallest pet insect which measures below 1 millimeter. You will find 0.2-millimeter width in its head.
You will find these smallest carebara bruni ants generally in Srilanka and China. But, they may also distribute in different temperate and topical areas of the world.
The main color of the carebara bruni ants is dark brown. Here, the external anatomical facts are almost similar to the ideal insect.
So, you will find 3 major segments in the body of a carebara bruni ant. The head of the carebrara bruni ants is slightly longer than wide.
You will see the concave posterior border and faintly concave lateral side in the head of a carebrara bruni ant. There are 4 teeth in its mandible. Other external features of the carebrara bruni ant’s head are similar to the general insect of ants.
You will find several scattered punctures in the mandible and head of this ant. The bodies of the carebrara bruni ants are smooth and shining.
You will find the short and medium hairs in the body of carebrara bruni ants. Here, the short curved hairs are relatively numerous in its body compared to the medium hairs.
You will find different species under the carebrara genus (average length ranges between 0.5 – 1.5 millimeters), where the bruni ants are the smallest.
Top 10 smallest insects list in the world
As there are different smallest insects in the world, I would like to enlist the top 10 smallest insects from them. Here in table 2, I will show you the smallest insects with their size.
Okay, let’s see the top 10 smallest insects list in the world –
| Smallest insects in the world | Size | Rank |
| Fairy fly | 0.5 – 1 millimeter | First |
| Carebara bruni ants | 0.75 – 1 millimeter | Second |
| Pygmaea mantis | 4 – 8 millimeters | Fifth |
| Midget moth | 2 – 4 millimeters | Fourth |
| Dwarf dragonfly | 10 – 19 millimeters | Seventh |
| Patu digua spider | 0.6 – 0.75 millimeter | N/A |
| Minimus scorpion | 6 – 9 millimeters | Sixth |
| KiKiki huna (fairyfly) | 0.15 – 0.75 millimeter | First |
| Smallest mosquitoes | 1.75 – 2 millimeters | N/A |
| Duff millipedes | 2 – 3 millimeters | Third |
According to the size (length in millimeters), fairyfly and kikiki nana (another fairyfly species) are ranked first. Again, the carebara bruni ants hold the second position (smallest true insect) in the list.
The duff millipede is ranked in the third position according to the length of the body. But, the average length for these enlisted smallest insects may change (depending on the parameter and numbers of insects from every species during research).
I have already described a little about the interesting facts of the 2 most common smallest insects in the world –
- Fairy fly (same features found in kikiki nana), and
- Carebara bruni ants,
Now, let’s know some of the interesting facts (information) about the other smallest insects in the world (from the list provided in table 2).
Bolbe pygmaea mantis
Different entomologists believe that the bolbe pygmaea mantis is one type of praying mantis. They are the smallest type of insect among the praying mantis in the world.
The average length of the bolbe pygmaea mantis varies from 4 – 8 millimeters. In the list, it (bolbe pygmaea mantis) holds the fifth position (smallest insect) according to its body size.
The external anatomical facts of the bolbe pygmaea mantis show the 3 segments – head, thorax, and abdomen (like praying mantis). They have compound and simple eyes, a mandible, and a moveable joint in their head.
This bolbe pygmaea mantis also can turn its head and see its shoulder. If you want to know how the praying mantis (including this bolbe pygmaea mantis) turns their head, you may read the below-mentioned article –
- What is the only 1 insect that can turn it head?
Like the other praying mantis, the bolbe pygmaea mantises are also great hunters. They also have an exceptional life cycle, which I have already described in the suggested article.
Patu digua spider
There are different species of spider in the world where; the patu digua is the smallest. Though it is not a true insect, insects lover keep them (different pet spiders) as a pet.
You will find different friendly spiders which can keep as a pet. Here, the patu digua spider also keeps as a pet as they are inexpensive to maintain.
The average body size of the patu digua spider is about 0.6 – 0.75 millimeters. But the study shows there is the smallest patu digua spider which measures 0.35 millimeters.
The major numbers of the patu digua spiders are found in Columbia. But you may also find them in Australia and other parts of the world.
The external features of patu digua spiders are similar to the general spider. But, they (patu digua spider and other spiders) are not considered the true insect.
If you want to know why the spider (patu digua spider) is not an insect, you may learn it from the below-mentioned article –
- Why is a spider not an insect?
Duff millipedes – another smallest insect
You know, normally, the millipedes are the long wormlike Diplopoda that measure 250 millimeters (average). But what is the smallest millipedes insect in the world?
Well, you will find the duff millipede, which is one of the smallest insects in the world. The average length of the duff millipedes is about 2 – 3 millimeters.
In the smallest insect list (according to table 2), this duff millipedes hold the third position based on its length.
The bodies of the duff millipedes are flattened, rounded, or sometimes dome-shaped. The color of the duff millipedes also varies – they may be brown, black, or dark blackish.
They have (duff millipedes) two pairs of the jaw, simple eyes, and antennae (short and segmented). The duff millipedes usually live in the dark, damp habitats and eat decaying leaves and other vegetation.
You will find details information on different millipedes and their care (if you want to keep them as a pet) here on insectpet (pet millipedes section).
More inquiries on the smallest insects in the world
Insect lovers and beginner entomologists asked different questions about the smallest insects in the world. Here, I will try to enlist these questions (on the smallest insects) with their short answers.
But you might read the full guide on the top smallest insects in the world from this article (from start to end). Okay, let’s see the commonly asked questions on the smallest insects in the world by the insect lover or new entomologist –
Who is the only smallest insect in the world?
The fairy fly is the smallest insect in the world. Actually, there are 2 types of fairy flies in the world – Tinkerbella nana and Kikiki nana.
Here, the kikiki nana (fairy fly) is the smallest insect in the world (measuring 0.15 – 0.75 millimeters). But, you may also consider carebara bruni ants (measure 0.75 – 1 millimeter) as the smallest true pet insect in the world.
What are the top 10 smallest insects?
Let’s see the top 10 smallest insects in the world –
- Fairy fly – 0.5 – 1 millimeter,
- KiKiki nana (fairyfly) – 0.15 – 0.75 millimeter,
- Carebara bruni ants – 0.75 – 1 millimeter,
- Duff millipedes – 2 – 3 millimeters,
- Midget moth – 2 – 4 millimeters,
- Pygmaea mantis – 4 – 8 millimeters,
- Minimus scorpion – 6 – 9 millimeters,
- Dwarf dragonfly – 10 – 19 millimeters,
- Patu digua spider – 0.6 – 0.75 millimeter (not true insect), and
- Smallest mosquitoes – 1.75 – 2 millimeters,
What is smaller than a fairy fly?
If you think about the insect, then only the kikiki nana (one type of fly) is smaller than dicopomorpha echmepterygis and Tinkerbella nana. Sometimes you may find 0.15 millimeter-sized kikiki nana in the world.
What is smaller than an ant?
The fairy fly is smaller than the ideal-sized ant. Even if you compare the fairy fly with the carebara bruni ants, again, you will find them smaller.
If you notice the information in table 2, you will find the fairy fly length varies from 0.15 – 1 millimeter. In contrast, the ideal ant may be 1 – 2 millimeters (but the carebara bruni ant may be 0.75 – 1 millimeter.
Conclusion
So, the fairy fly, carebara bruni ants, bolbe pygmaea mantis, midget moth, and dwarf dragonfly are considered the smallest insects in the world. If you only want to know – what is the only one smallest insect in the world, then the answer is the fairy fly.
Though the fairy fly is the smallest insect in the world, they are used in biological research and pest control. Again, you may learn the details and interesting facts about all the smallest insects (enlisted in this article) from other articles.
