1.

Swimming Micro wasps

The smallest bugs and one of the tiniest multicellular animals yet discovered are fairy wasps, commonly
known as fairy flies. They can occasionally be smaller than a simple amoeba. These wasps are smaller
than the majority of the dust and allergens you take in on a daily basis, so you may breathe in a cloud of
them without ever realizing it. These invisible "fairies," whose name is fanciful and sweet-sounding, are
parasitoids like so many other wasps. They nestle within the aquatic bug eggs to deposit their eggs.
Remarkably, they can fly and paddle underwater using their tiny wings.(LINK 1)

2. Snail-Eating Caterpillars

Just a small number of caterpillar species, the most of which are found in Hawaii, are entirely
carnivorous. The most bizarre of them is a breed that uses a multistep process to only feed on small
snails. Like a typical bagworm, the caterpillar travels with a strong casing that it makes from silk. When it
comes upon a snail, it tucks this bag beneath the rim of the prey's shell and uses silk to hold the snail in
place so that it cannot escape or retract inside its shell.(LINK 2)

3. Frog-Hunting Ground Beetles

There are insects that mortally parasitic insects vertebrates and predatory insects that consume
vertebrates, but the two species of beetles in the genus Epomis are the only known insects that are
solely dedicated to seeking and killing vertebrates. Entomologist Gil Wizen spent four years testing with
the insects before writing the final report on these vicious and cunning tiny critters. Wizen conducted
considerable research on the behavior of these beetles. The beetles appear to only feed on frogs as
larvae, taking full advantage of the fact that beetle grubs constitute an essential part of the diet of
amphibians. The bug won't run or jump away when a frog is around; instead, it will entice the frog by
waving its antennae. The grub will swing around and thrust its hooked powerful jaws into the frog's soft
neck once its prey is within striking distance. Once the amphibian starts to gnaw its way inside, it will be
nearly hard to remove. Wizen even saw instances where a frog swallowed an Epomis larva successfully,
only for the bug to go on attacking from within. The frog would eventually spit the meal back up and fall
victim to the fanged worm's subsequent onslaught. While Epomis adult beetles are more opportunistic
predators and may pursue a variety of tiny prey, they nevertheless use unique combat strategies when
they come across a frog or toad, avoiding the amphibian's ravenous mouth, climbing up onto its back,
and biting into the spinal column. Kermit will die in a horrible way at either stage of the beetles' life
cycles, but it's only fair given how many helpless insects wind up down those little, green throats.(LINK
3)

4.Microdon mutabilis

Due to their peculiar appearance, the larvae of the fly species Microdon mutabilis (adult seen above)
were originally mistaken for a type of slug. They have a thick, rubbery surface and are formed like a flat,
flattened dome. The maggot feeds on ant eggs and larvae for up to two years while living in ant colonies.
The majority of ants don't even appear to be bothered, and the maggot probably smells just like any
other member of the colony. The invader's smooth body and tight, sucker-like bottom make it
impossible for an ant to get its jaws around or even beneath it, even if it does develop suspicion.(LINK 4)

5.Paussinae

Little bombardier beetles belonging to the uncommon and infrequently observed subfamily Paussinae
(adult specimen shown above) typically reside within ant nests and hunt on both their adults and young.
These beetle larvae may be identified by their branching, saucer-shaped terminal disks on the end of
their tails.

The terminal disk of many species emits an alluring scent and acts as a second pair of jaws, clamping
down on hapless insects. The burrow is simply filled with the disk, which will serve as a type of trigger
panel, while other species just bury themselves headfirst. Ants are attacked if they step on the delicate
tail. (LINK 5)

6. Brachyspectra fulva beetle

In that they also wait to attack with their tails, the small Brachyspectra fulva beetle larvae resemble
those of the Paussinae in certain aspects. The larval beetle in question has a single, sharp spike on its
back that resembles a thick nail and is as flat as a throw rug. Similar to the Paussinae, these critters
appear to prey largely on spiders and release a chemical that draws in their prey. The flattened,
disguised organism is drawn immediately upon by the spider, but it finds nothing that resembles prey.
The larva swiftly traps the spider in its mouth and tail. It resembles a cartoon figure who is unaware of a
trap while standing on a large, red letter "X." (LINK 6)

7.Antlions

You may have heard of or seen antlions, which are insects well known for creating pitfall traps in sand.
It couldn't be more bizarre that they have cousins in the order Sisyridae, also known as spongillaflies.
While they consume helpless freshwater sponges, these insects are actually carnivorous since they
spend their whole larval period underwater. The baby spongilla enters the sponge's "skeleton" with its
long, thin mouth parts and suckers out the fluids. Few people even know that freshwater sponges exist,
much less that there is an insect that is dedicated to eating them. (LINK 7)

8.Dohrniphora

You may have read about small flies that grow parasitically in the heads of fire ants and finally cause the
host's entire head to fall off if you enjoy reading about strange insects. Also, they have a close cousin
that takes this to much more extremes. The female Dohrniphora flies are not willing to endure a
parasitic stage. They look for ants who have been harmed, imprisoned, ill, or dead. A female would cut
and saw at the still-living ant's neck until its head is severed while carrying a serrated blade on her belly.
After dragging the head away, the fly deposits her eggs inside. (LINK 8)

9. Burying beetles

Burying beetles, sometimes known as "grave digger beetles," typically consume the bodies of tiny
animals and entirely bury them below as nourishment for their larvae. But, at least one species has
evolved a brooding method that is even more ghastly. Few things might sound more amazing in terms of
bug bragging rights than "snake embryo parasitoid." Although Nicrophorus pustulatus will use corpses if
necessary, if given the chance, it will always choose to deposit its eggs in a snake's nest. The larvae
spend many days eating the embryonic serpents and their yolks after hatching, just as they would the
insides of a dead bird or mouse. They do this by chewing through the fragile, leathery shells of the snake
eggs. Due of this, the beetle is the only insect that has ever been seen acting as a vertebrate's brood
parasite or nest robber. The mother snake won't even be aware that some of her eggs are developing
into tiny, undetectable black beetles rather than reptiles.(LINK 9)

10. Parasitic Wasp–Hunting Wasps

Very likely, you've heard about parasitic wasps. After the eggs hatch, the larvae consume the other
insect from the inside out. They deposit their eggs in other insects. Yet, a group known as the trigonalids
goes a step farther. The mother trigonalid implants up to 10,000 eggs on the margins of leaves where
caterpillars are more likely to devour them than within a host caterpillar. The likelihood that some of her
eggs will land in caterpillars that are already host to the larvae of other parasitic wasps and feed the
trigonalid larvae increases as a result. The trigonalids will still need to eat their way out, despite the fact
that it would seem like a beneficial service to the caterpillar. (LINK 10)

11. Puss Moth Caterpillars

Caterpillars are often extremely fragile due to their delicate bodies and high protein content. They
frequently use fright methods to ward off predators. It might take the shape of vivid, eye-catching colors
or imitation or acting like a different, more hazardous bug. The Puss Moth caterpillar chooses mimicry
and develops an odd-looking "face" that mimics a vertebrate visage frightening enough to turn most
intrepid predators away. Bright green in color, the caterpillars frequently have a row of white markings
on either side of their bodies. A gaping "mouth" through which the caterpillar's actual head protrudes is
surrounded by a pair of black "eye patches" on the caterpillar's head. The image is stunning, but the
caterpillar's behavior is even spookier: if any part of its body is touched, it will immediately turn its
"face" in the direction of the aggressor. If you touch it someplace else, the head will follow you like a
devilish Mona Lisa. It can also use its two rear horns to shoot a mist of acid if that doesn't work.

There are a few well-known and simple examples of strange insects. Everyone is familiar with wasps and
mantids, which will devour and destroy nearly anything that gets in their way. Nonetheless, certain
arthropods have developed peculiar hunting strategies to go along with their extremely specialized diets
or lives. (LINK 11)

LINK 1- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00222938200770261

LINK 2- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4707137.stm

LINK 3- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/beetle-larva-lures-and-kills-frogs-while-
the-adult-hunts-and-paralyses-them

LINK 4- https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/abs/10.1098/rspb.1999.0658
LINK 5 – https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andrea-Di-Giulio/publication/
228662909_Description_and_behaviour_of_Goniotropis_kuntzeni_larvae_Coleoptera_Carabidae_Pauss
inae_Ozaenini_and_a_key_to_genera_of_Paussinae_larvae/links/0fcfd50883b7540c7a000000/
Description-and-behaviour-of-Goniotropis-kuntzeni-larvae-Coleoptera-Carabidae-Paussinae-Ozaenini-
and-a-key-to-genera-of-Paussinae-larvae.pdf

LINK 6- https://bugguide.net/node/view/115622

LINK 7- https://www.southcarolinapublicradio.org/show/naturenotes/2022-08-02/antlions

LINK 8- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/theres-more-than-one-way-to-decapitate-
an-ant

LINK 9- https://www.abc6.com/scientifically-speaking-american-burying-beetle/

LINK 10- https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/insects-invertebrates/parasitic-wasps-white-

butterflies/

LINK 11- https://www.npr.org/2022/09/07/1121344400/puss-caterpillar-venomous-barbs-sting-hairy-

texas-florida