Welcome to this week’s version of the world ranking. Have you ever been pestered while at home, work or anywhere else really by pesky annoying insects that are just too fast for you to swipe at? After successfully swiping the pest, have you ever wondered what the fastest insects in the world are?. Well, wonder no more because today we at world rankings wish to present to you a list of the TOP 10 INSECTS IN THE WORLD.

| INSECT | SPEED (KM/H) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | COCKROACH | 5.4 |
| 9 | GERRIDAE | 6.1 |
| 8 | SILVERFISH | 7 |
| 7 | TIGERBEETLE | 9 |
| 6 | LOCUST | 14.4 |
| 5 | HAWK MOTHS | 19 |
| 4 | HONEYBEE | 22-32 |
| 3 | HORNET | 25-35 |
| 2 | DRAGONFLY | 56 |
| 1 | HORSEFLY | 145 |
#10.COCKROACH(5.4KM/H)
For the 10th spot on our list, we have the cockroach which has a speed of 5.4km/h. They are mostly native to the Middle East and Africa.
Despite being native to a particular region in the world, they can now be found globally due to the increase in global trade and commerce. They are opportunistic feeders, as they are known to eat almost anything in sight, be it meat, fruit, clothing, human flesh, and even themselves. They are known to be able to last an entire month without feeding, but not up to a week without water.
#9.GERRIDAE(6.1 KM/H).
For the 9th spot on our list, we have the Gerridae which has an average speed of up to 6.1km/h. They are also aptly named water striders or Jesus bugs. This is due to their ability to walk very fast on water surfaces. They are usually found in the freshwater habitats of lakes and creeks.
The unique ability of water striders to walk on water is due to their legs being covered in thousands of microscopic hairs which are lumped together in tiny groves. these tiny groves help to trap air, thus increasing the overall buoyancy and water resistance of these insects. The buoyancy of these creatures is so great that it can support 10 times their own weight.
#8. SILVERFISH (7 KM/H)
For the 8th spot on our list, we have the silverfish which has an average speed of 7km/h. The insect gets its name due to its fish-like movement and silvery coloured appearance. They are usually found in moist areas which have a humidity of 75%-90%.
The silverfish are known as nocturnal animals. This is due to the fact that they do most of their hunting at nighttime. They are also more likely to be discovered in the wet and dark places of one’s homes such as the under sinks, pipes and in the toilet. The silverfish are non-venomous insects and as such have no defence against predators, that’s why over time they have developed such great speeds so that they can at least outrun their predators such as the centipedes and millipedes.
#7. TIGER BEETLE(9KM/H)
For the 7th spot on our list, we have the Tiger Beetle, which has a speed of 9km/h. Though they can be found worldwide, the highest percentage of them can be found in the Indo-Malay region.
Tiger Beetles are solitary creatures and can generally be found most active during hot sunny days, as they are far less active at night. They are very aggressive hunters and this is aided due to their impressive speed and their large sword-like mandibles or jaws which they use to grab onto their prey. When feeding, they tend to spit digestive enzymes which help break down the food before they ingest it. They are loved worldwide by farmers as they help in the biological control of pests.
#6. LOCUST (14.4KM/H)
For the 6th spot on our list, we have the locust which have an average speed of between 14.4km/h. They derive their name from the old Latin locusta which means grasshopper.
Contrary to popular belief locusts are generally solitary and non-migratory creatures but if certain conditions are met such as drought in the land and then a sudden increase of vegetation, they start to breed exponentially and become so much so they end up forming new colonies which number hundreds of thousands of insects. The migratory speed and appetite of these colonies become so great they end up causing damage to farmland all across the area, thus bringing famine into the land.
#5. HAWK MOTHS(19KM/H)
For the 5th spot on our list, we have Hawk Moths which have an average speed of 19km/h. They are a species of moths.
They are known for their pollination ability and usually spend most of their time in the air. They are known to hover around flowers and suck their nectar, inadvertently pollinating them and also coupled with the fact that they flap their wings quite rapidly while doing this, they are usually mistaken for hummingbirds.
#4.HONEYBEE(22-32KM/H)
For the 4th spot on our list, we have the Honey Bee, which has an average speed of 32km/h. They are called this due to their nearly constant search and production of honey throughout their lives. They are native to Euro-Asia/
The average honeybee can fly up to 16km and as fast as 30km/h thus it would have to fly 144,000km, about 3 times around the globe, just to make a pound of honey.
#3. HORNET (25-35KM/H).
For the 3rd spot on our list, we have the Hornet which has an average speed of 25-35km/h. They are widely distributed around North America, Asia and Europe. They are among the world’s most venomous insects.
Due to their aerial nature, they are usually known to build their nests in treetops and roofs. They are also lovingly called nature’s pest controllers this is due to their craving for other insects such as aphids which damage vegetation. Hornets are also bee’s due to the fact that they love eating bees which provide protein nourishment for their queens and also their love for sugary things such as a bee’s honey.

#2. DRAGONFLY(56KM/H)
For the 2nd spot on our list, we have the Dragonfly, which has an average speed of 56km/h. Dragonflies are highly capable flyers as they can venture across seas in any direction. They are known to prefer to live in warm climates and near water bodies.
Dragonflies are highly territorial creatures, especially males, as they prefer not to share insect rich water bodies and mating rights with other males. Also, dragonflies spend most of their lives in the larvae stage, with some staying up to 2-6 years in the larvae stage before they mature and head to the surface and become the dragonflies we see up in the air.
#1.HORSEFLY(145KM/H)
For the 1st spot on our list, we have horseflies which have a flight speed of up to 145km/h. They are also called “Gadflies” in some places. They can be found everywhere in the world aside from some polar regions and islands, thus making them a global pest.
They are daytime creatures as they prefer to feed and hunt during the day and in moist places, also they tend to avoid dark places. They are aggressive insects, with the females being the ones who bite, aside from attacking other animals such as horses and goats, horseflies also attack humans too. While feeding on human blood, they tend to infect with other bacteria which cause illness.

Hope you enjoyed this week’s version of THE WORLD RANKINGS, please let us know in the comment section below which of these insects do you like or have at least once encountered.
If you’re interested in other articles, please check out TOP 10 WORLD MYTHS DEBUNKED, TOP 10 MOST EXPENSIVE SPICES IN THE WORLD