Most southerly insect

The most southerly insect is the Antarctic flea (Glaciopsyllus antarcticus), which is an ectoparasite (external parasite) of Antarctic sea birds. Specimens have been collected as far south as 68°S. 77°E., taken from inside a bird's nest at that latitude on Anchorage Island, off Davis Base, Antarctica. The nest belonged to a snow petrel (Pagodroma nivea). Moreover, because it is an ectoparasite, attaching itself to the feathers and skin of its avian hosts, this species is potentially capable of being discovered even farther south. It remained undiscovered by science until 1961, and was formally described and named in December 1962.

The most southerly species of non-parasitic insect is the Antarctic midge (Belgica antarctica), a tiny species of flightless dipteran fly. It inhabits western Antarctica, and has been recorded as far south as the Refuge Islands, at a latitude of 68°21'S., which is south of the Antarctic Circle. Despite measuring a mere 2–6 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long even when adult, this species is also the largest entirely terrestrial (i.e., non-flying, non-swimming) animal native to Antarctica.