"Unveiling the Enormous Dragonfly-Like Bug: Earth's Largest Insect Discovery"
Meganeuropsis permiana, an extinct giant dragonfly-like insect from the late Permian era, holds the title for the largest known insect of all time with an estimated wingspan of 71 centimeters. Belonging to the extinct order of insects known as Meganisoptera or griffinflies, these creatures lived around 275 million years ago when the Earth looked very different. Due to the scarcity of insect fossils, little is known about them. The size of insects is limited by their exoskeleton and respiratory system, making Meganeuropsis permiana close to the theoretical limit of insect size.