What Is The Smallest Bug There Is?
Some species of insects stand out for their enormous size, such as the famous Madagascar cockroaches. However, most of the insects we see in our daily lives are characterized by small size. In fact, the smallest insect in the world is less than a millimeter long, and it’s impossible to see with the naked eye.
Scydosella musawasensis : the smallest insect in the world
The tiny beetle Scydosella musawasensis is the smallest non-parasitic insect in the world. Its body is only 0.325 millimeters long, being even smaller than many single-celled organisms. In fact, some bacteria, such as Thiomargarita namibiensis, can be up to twice that size.
To make a simple comparison, the body of an ordinary ant is about 20 times the size of this beetle. This example makes it easier to understand how small a third of a millimeter can be.
To see them, we need at least an excellent magnifying glass with high magnification capacity. This species can only be scientifically recognized and cataloged with the help of sophisticated microscopes, with advanced technology.
Origins of the beetle Scydosella musawasensis
The world’s smallest insect was first found in mid-1999 in Nicaragua. Interestingly, at that time, available technology did not allow scientists to accurately measure its size.
It was in the current decade that the measurement of some species found in Colombia was successful. The person responsible for the discovery was the entomologist Alexey Pallilov, a scientist at the MV Lomonósov State University in Moscow.
Dr. Pallilov was responsible for examining the beetles found in the Chicaque National Park, in Colombian territory. In his latest article published in the scientific journal ZooKeys, the researcher reveals that digital micrographs were needed to determine the length of this insect.
To obtain high-precision digital micrographs, scanning electron microscopes were used, combined with a modern computer program specializing in detailed measurements. This explains why the beetle Scydosella musawasensis has only now been recognized as the smallest insect in the world.
Small yes, no parasite
Perhaps the most interesting thing about this little species is the fact that it is not a parasitic species . The Scydosella musawasensis beetles feed on the spores of the Basidiomycota fungi, which also find their natural habitat.
This means that the smallest insect in the world is independent. It doesn’t need to parasitize on another living thing to feed and survive. Despite its vulnerable appearance, the small beetle can take care of itself and contribute to the ecosystem of which it is a part.
Scydosella musawasensis: so far, only
The specimens of Scydosella musawasensis from Nicaragua and Colombia are, until now, the only known specimens of its genus. It is expected that, based on the latest discoveries, interest and investment in research on this small insect will grow.
Its most representative morphological feature is the oval body that shows shades of brown and yellow. In addition, they stand out for their small and striking antennas, whose structure is divided into 10 segments.
other really small animals
As we see, the beetle Scydosella musawasensis is surprisingly small, but this insect is not alone in the list of very small species. Next, we’ll look at other very small animals.
the pygmy marmoset
The pygmy marmoset is the smallest known species of monkey in the world. Originating in the rainforests of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil, their body measures just 35 centimeters, weighing 100 grams.
Madagascar Minimum Rookesia
Originally from the island of Madagascar, the Brookesia Mínima chameleon is considered one of the smallest reptiles on the planet. Its body is less than an inch long and has the incredible ability to camouflage itself among the leaves of a tree.
Craseonycteris thonglongyai
Better known as a pig’s nose, Craseonycteris thonglongyai is the smallest bat ever discovered. Originating in Thailand and Burma, these small mammals measure less than three centimeters and weigh no more than two grams.
Paedocypris carp
The carp Paedocypris progenetica is the smallest known fish species to date. They were discovered in the swamps of Sumatra, where they feed mainly on plankton. They usually measure less than eight millimeters and are distinguished by their very rudimentary skull and visible brain.
