Antarctica has one native insect.
It’s called Belgica antarctica and is a species of flightless midge, native to the great icy landmass. Impressively, even though it is only 2-6 millimeters long, it is the largest terrestrial animal on the continent, and of course its only insect. All other animals on Antarctica spend at least part of the time in water.
The insect is flightless so that the wind doesn’t blow it into inhospitable areas. It is designed in such a way that is body fluids can freeze without it dying, and its life span is only two years. Luckily, it only takes two growing seasons for the insect to be able to reproduce, so it manages okay.
It survives by absorbing heat, and can go without oxygen for 2-4 weeks. it can even survive dehydration up to 35% of its normal body weight. These are all understandable traits though, because survival is pretty tough for an insect down there.
