Which insect is the fastest runner?

Which insect is the fastest runner? The Australian tiger beetle Rivacindela hudsoni is the fastest known running insect.

This small, flightless beetle can run at roughly 2.5 metres per second, or about 9 kilometres per hour. That speed is remarkable for an insect only around 20 millimetres long: it covers approximately 120 to 125 body lengths every second. It lives in saline environments around Australia’s Eyrean region, including dry salt lakes and salt streams.

Rivacindela hudsoni belongs to the tiger-beetle group, predatory beetles known for powerful mandibles and rapid pursuit. Its reduced wings mean it relies heavily on running to hunt and escape. The species often moves in short bursts, stopping between sprints.

There is a catch to extreme speed. Tiger beetles can temporarily lose clear visual tracking while moving rapidly because their eyes cannot gather enough useful visual information. They therefore use a stop-and-go strategy, sprinting, pausing to relocate prey, and then accelerating again. The name “Australian tiger beetle” is acceptable in a quiz, while Rivacindela hudsoni is the precise species name.