A dragonfly can fly as fast as 40 mph.
With more than 800,000 different types of insects in the world, it is not surprising that there are some out there with extraordinary abilities. If you don't like insects, you won't like to hear that there are some that can fly as fast as 20 to 40 mph. These are just a few of the fastest flying insects in the world. Does this Spark an idea?
Dragonflies
According to the Department of Systematic Biology at the National Museum of Natural History, dragonflies take the title for the fastest flying insects, with speeds reaching 35 mph. Larger dragonflies can fly faster, and have reached speeds of up to 40 mph. There are more than 5,000 species of dragonflies in the world. They can fly in all directions -- up, down, forward and backward, and can also hover midair.
Hawk Moths
The Hawk Moth is another fast flying insect. They are known for their rapid flying and ability to hover while flying, a trait that has earned some the name Hummingbird Hawk Moth. These insects can fly as fast as 33.7 mph, according to National Museum of Natural History. They can be quite large, with a wingspan of 35 to 150 mm.
The Desert Locust
The Desert Locust is another fast flying insect, originating from Africa. This insect flies at an average speed of 20.5 mph and also takes the title for the largest swarm insect and largest migration insect in the world, according to australianfauna.com.
Bees
There are about 20,000 species of bees worldwide, according to greennature.com, and some of those bees can fly very fast. The typical honey bee flies an average of 11 mph, while a bumblebee can fly almost 18 mph and a hornet can fly 21.4 mph. You have to watch out for bees because they tend to swarm if they think their nest is in danger, and you don't want to try to outrun a swarm of bees flying 20 mph.
Tags: another fast, another fast flying, Desert Locust, fast flying, fast flying insect, fastest flying insects