From bugs that feast on your blood, to flies that lay eggs on your skin, to bites that feel like burn wounds. Today we’re going to take a look at the 15 most dangerous bugs. Stay tuned until the end of the article for one of the most dangerous insects you’ve ever seen seen. Let’s get started with number 15, kissing bugs. Now, these are not the bugs that plant sweet kisses on your skin gently.
Kissing bugs are in fact dangerous blood sucking parasites. But so are the mosquitoes. So what makes kissing bugs so dangerous? These bugs are attracted to their feeding sites by breath. So if you breathe through your mouth, Congratulations, you just painted a target on your head.
And once these bugs are done feasting on your blood, they leave behind a life threatening illness called Chagas. These bugs have been found in 29 States in the USA. Number 14, botfly. If you think fruit flies and house flies are annoying, wait until we tell you about botflies. The female botflies lay eggs on other parasites and when those parasites bite you, the egg deposits on your skin.
The larvae feed on you for nourishment. It can cause extremely painful lesions and skin infections. You can even hear the flies if the larvae are burrowed near your neck. Creepy, right? It’s usually found in Central and South America.
Number 13, fire Ant. Probably the best named insect on our list for today. A bite from this tiny insect can feel like a burn wound. What makes them even more threatening is that they don’t lose their Stinger after bite and can continuously pump venom into your skin. In 5% of the cases, these tiny assassins have killed people with their venom.
The most common reaction caused by fire antites include swelling, burning and severe stinging. Watch out for these twelve helmets. These creepy worms make their homes in our intestines. There are mainly three types of helmets. Round worms, flatworms and thorny headed worms.
Severe infections from helmets can range from abdominal pain, diarrhea, protein and blood loss. The fact that helmet infections are so common makes these all the more dangerous. Helmets can be transmitted through the accidental ingestion of eggs. Some parasite worms can even penetrate the skin. Round worms are the most commonly found helmets transmitted in human beings.
Now, these do make a squirm. Number eleven mosquitoes. One of the most common pests around the world. Let’s just agree that mosquitoes are the most annoying insects out there. Their bites may not be very painful, but they sure can be deadly on their own.
These blood sucking insects can do little harm to your body, but the diseases that they’re known to carry and transmit can indeed prove to be lifethreatening. West Nile and malaria are some of the common diseases spread by these bothersome insects. Ten fleas. These wingless creatures are known to torment our furry friends. Even though fleas can’t survive on human bodies, they can sure bite us.
They can survive for 100 days without a host, making them more dangerous for all living beings. Flea bites can cause painful sores and rashes and even trigger hives in some people. But don’t go by this little pest size. Fleas have been destructible all over the centuries. The Black Plague and typhus are just a couple of flea borne diseases.
If you think this is bad, wait till you see the deadly Caterpillar waiting for you at number one. Nine Deer Ticks Found in many parts of the US, deer ticks carry a severe threat of transmitting Lyme disease. These pests are as small as the tip of a pencil and prefer to hide in hidden body areas like the groin and armpits, making them extremely difficult to detect. Deer ticks are also known to carry other fatal diseases like the Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Both of these illnesses are extremely painful and cause fever and rashes.
Always tick to, tick away. Number Eight Pus Caterpillar this woolly slug is known as the most dangerous Caterpillar in the United States. This Caterpillar can do some severe damage with its hollow spines filled with venom while hid amidst the fur. These are commonly found in the Southern States of the USA and hide in shady trees like Elm, Oak and Sycamore. If the venomous spines come in contact with their skin, it can cause intense pain, swelling, rashes and restlessness.
In some cases, it can also lead to muscle cramps and swollen glands. Number Seven Locusts Surprised that an insect that humans devour in some countries ended up on this list. Locusts aren’t directly deadly to human beings, but the destruction these insects are capable of is nothing less than enormous. The insatiable hunger of these pests has resulted in famines in many countries. Yes, full blown famines.
In Africa, locusts have put 5 million people at risk of starvation. Locust swarms might not cause any fatal diseases or painful rashes, but they can surely leave you starving. Number Six Driver If you think ants can’t kill, think again. Driver Ants are infamous for their cameo in the movie Indiana Jones. Four found mainly in Africa and tropical Asia, these army ants Hunt in swarms and move extremely fast.
These ants have even killed many researchers studying them. Due to their giant hives, they need a new food source every few days and so we’re always on the Hunt. Tethered animals and infants are some of the most common prey of these deadly ants as they can’t tackle their speed. Got some drive there, don’t they? Number Five Bees Bees are a crucial part of our ecosystem, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be dangerous.
The fuzzy pollen collecting insects can be highly territorial. The worker bees are also protective of their Queen and will give up their life to safeguard her. After Africanized bees were introduced, this protective trait was crossbred with American honeybees, making them more aggressive and territorial. The next time you try to remove a Beehive or even think of meddling with one. Just remember that you’ll have to face a swarm of nasty insects that don’t mind giving up their life to protect the hive.
Have you ever been stung by one before? Let us know. Number four. Bullet ants. Known as the insect with the world’s most painful sting.
Bullet ants sure are aptly named. It can measure up to one inch in length and is usually found in the forests of Central America. You better not provoke this Ant because the pain from its sting has been compared to a bullet shot. And to make things worse, the pain can last for 24 hours. Because of this, Venezuelans call it the 24 hours Ant.
Bullet ants are not aggressive by nature. But if one Ant stings, it signals other ants in the vicinity to also repeatedly sting the prey. Ouch. Talk about being cornered. Starting out, things get serious.
It’s now time to look at Hornets with a quarter inch long Stingers. Flies that can cause numbness and confusion. And then finally, a Caterpillar that can cause a bleeding disorder. Number three. The Asian giant Hornet.
The Asian giant Hornets are also known as murder Hornets. The name is enough to send a chill down your spine. But don’t worry. The only living beings they murder are their perennial enemies. Bees.
This supervillain of an insect crawls into beehives and rips off the heads of bees. They can grow up to two inches in size and have a quarter inch long Stinger. They’re venom is potent enough to kill the human being allergic to it. And if you’re not allergic, the toxin can cause severe pain. That being said, don’t get too comfortable around these Hornets.
Number two. Tetsy fly. Tetsi, or Tesla flies, are large flies with a penchant for biting. Mainly found in tropical Africa. Bites from these flies can have a very peculiar symptom.
Other than the pain and swelling from the sting, the bite has other longlasting effects. It causes fever, irritability, headaches, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes. These might look like common symptoms of venomous insect bites. But it soon morphs into sleeping sickness. After the initial set of reactions, you’ll experience severe muscle aches and skin rashes, which will progress into insomnia, numbness and confusion.
Apparently, these flies are attracted to the color blue. Now you know what not to wear. Now we move on to the moment you’ve all been waiting for. Number one. Assassin.
Caterpillar. How can a Caterpillar with the word assassin in its name not be deadly? It is infamous for being the world’s deadliest Caterpillar. These cause severe deaths every year and are found in the rainforests of Brazil. They are covered in spearlike bristles and are extremely difficult to spot.
Even brushing against its venom filled bristles can prove to be fatal. It causes inflammation followed by fever, vomiting and headache. Its venom thins the blood and causes internal hemorrhage. Prolonged exposure can even cause kidney failure. Such a Leech.