When you think of deathly, dangerous bugs, its a good bet you think of some myth-like monster in some far-flung locale. You know: the Tse Tse fly, in Tanzania, or the wandering spider, in Brazil. And though it might feel like the United States is an insect-free oasisat least compared to the pour souls in Australia, where spiders literally fall like raindrops, by the thousands, in a terrifying phenomenon aptly dubbed, spider rain (spider rain!)the unfortunate reality is that dangerous insects are likely lurking in your own backyard.
Yes, America is home to several species of spiders, scorpions, and even caterpillars that pose a serious threat to your healthin some cases causing paralysis or even death. To help you identify any potential dangers, weve compiled a compendium of the most dangerous bugs in the United States. And if just thinking about these creepy crawlers makes your skin itch, youre not alone: Entomophobia (thats a fear of bugs) is among the20 Childhood Fears That Stick with You Until Adulthood.
The Africanized honey bee, or killer bee, was first introduced to America after an experiment gone wrong. In the 1950s, colonies of African honey bees were brought into Brazil for cross-breeding in order to increase honey output. Unfortunately, some of the African queens and worker bees made an escape and bred instead with European honey bees, creating the killer bee hybrid. By 1990, these killer bugs found their way into southern Texas, and in 2014 scientists documented them in San Francisco.
What makes these bees killer is the fact that they are ten times faster than European honey bees and are much more aggressive. Africanized bees respond to colony disturbance more quickly, in greater numbers, and with more stinging, according to research from 1982. In the past 50 years, the brutal bugs have been responsible for hundreds of deaths, so make sure to keep your distance.
Commonly found in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona and California, the Arizona bark scorpion is one of the most dangerous scorpions known to the United States. A person stung by this thin-tailed creature can experience painful swelling, breathing difficulties, and muscle spasms, and should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Residents of the south central and midwestern United States, watch out. Lurking in your woods (and possibly even in your closets) are small, brown spiders with venom that can potentially make you sick and scar your skin. These arachnids, known as brown recluse spiders, arent vicious in nature, but come into contact with one by accident (say, for instance, if you roll over one in your sleep) and risk getting bitten. And while youre looking out for your health, try these15 Hacks to Apply Your Sunscreen More Easily.
The black widow might not be much bigger than the average paper clip, but its certainly more dangerous. According to National Geographic, its venom is 15 times more potent than that of a rattlesnakethough, contrary to common myths, few people ever perish at the hands of the small spider. Rather, a black widow bite can cause muscle aches, nausea, and difficulty breathing.
We all know them, and we all hate them. Beyond making us itchy to no avail, mosquitoes can transmit such diseases as malaria, dengue, yellow fever, and St. Louis Encephalitis. And according to the American Mosquito Control Association, more than one million people worldwide die annually from illnesses passed on to them via mosquito. To steer clear of any potential maladies, use these15 Genius Ways to Outsmart Mosquitoes This Summer.
Centipedes wont bite you, but they might pinch you if you get on their nerves. And while venomous centipedes wont cause any major harm, their pinches can potentially cause a reaction not unlike a bee sting (think swelling, redness, and pain).
Ants are completely harmless, right? Wrong. Found in the western United States (primarily in Texas), Red harvester antsor worker antsare foragers with a brutal bite. Though they dont attack unless provoked, a red harvesters sting is bold and unrelenting, like somebody using a drill to excavate your ingrown toenail, asInsect DefensescoauthorJustin Schmidt explained toTravel & Leisure.
Red harvesters arent the only ants you have to be on the lookout for. Any resident of a southern state will be able to tell you that fire ants are just as ruthless, with a hive mentality that causes them to gang up on intruders and in severe cases, even kill them.One species of fire ants, known as red imported fire ants, has become such a problem that its now considered an invasive species in the United States.
Everyone who lives in an area teeming with deer knows about Lyme disease, but thats not the only infection that ticks carry. According to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the amount of tick-borne illnesses has more than doubled in the past 13 years. Such diseases to be aware of include anaplasmosis (a bacterial infection), Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and babesiosis (a red blood cell disease). And for more things to steer clear of, here are the15 Most Dangerous Diet Fads You Should Avoid at All Costs.
While not as hostile as yellowjackets, paper wasps will sting you should you encroach on their territoryand it will hurt. Their stings occasionally cause allergic reactions, but otherwise they are all bark and no bite (as in, you really have nothing to worry about from a health perspective.) Unsurprisingly, these nuisances made our list of the30 Worst Things about Summer.
Residents of New England and the Midwest should watch out for the yellow sac spider. According to a report from Michigan State University, the small arachnid is responsible for more bites than any other species of spider, and they will attack without provocation. A sac spider bite is painful for the first 10 hours or so and might cause bruising and blistering, but it almost never results in anything serious or life-threatening.
People sometimes keep tarantulas as pets (and for what reason, we arent entirely sure), but these furry spiders can actually be pretty dangerous. Tarantulas dont attack often, but when they do, their bites can cause redness, swelling, and even muscle spasms, as was the case for one man in Switzerland who was bitten by his pet tarantula during feeding time. And if you think keeping a spider as a pet is kooky, then youll get a kick out of the20 Craziest Pets People Actually Own.
Remember the plague that wiped out a majority of the worlds population in the Middle Ages? Well, you can thank oriental rat fleas for that one. Rats might have been the vessels spreading the plague, but it was oriental rat fleas who actually carried the disease. And though the plague is rare today, it still exists in parts of California, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico, thanks to these fleas.
The wheel bug is a member of the assassin bug family, so named because of their tendency to capture prey with a quick stab of their mouthparts. Wheel bugs will generally only attack large insects, but if picked up and prodded by a human, they arent afraid to bite. And though their bites arent fatal, Texas A&Ms Agrilife Extension describes them as immediately and intensely painful.
If you live in a big city, then chances are that youve encountered a cockroach crawling in the crevices of your apartment. But while most of us only consider cockroaches as a threat to our groceries, it turns out that these giant bugs also bite. Cockroaches will eat anythingincluding human fleshand so they might nip you if they get hungry. Areas of interest include feet, hands, fingernails, and eyelashes. And if you live in an urban area, youll also empathize with these30 Things That Always Annoy People in Cities.
The tarantula hawk is one of the most venomous insects in the world. But lucky for us, this spider wasps target is not human, but arachnid. As its name suggests, these insects have a habit of hunting large tarantulasand they are able to do so thanks to their paralyzing venom. For a human, a tarantula hawk bite will feel instantaneous, electrifying, and totally debilitating, according to Schmidt, but it isnt strong enough to paralyze you.
Peoplereally need to keep their dangerous insects on a tighter leash. In 1975, the German yellowjacket was accidentally introduced into the United States in Ohio, and the buzzing bullies have been a problem ever since. Yellowjackets will build their nests wherever they can find spacelike in attics and under roofsand should you disturb them, they arent afraid to sting you repeatedly. To prevent a painful situation, avoid leaving out food (they love anything sweet) and always keep your doorways and windows protected by a screen. And for more ways to enjoy your summer, try these20 Surprising Things That Can Keep You Cooler.
Regular houseflies are nothing to be afraid of. Botflies, on the other hand, are a menace. They lay their eggs on mosquitos, and those eggs subsequently end up on humans. When they hatch, the larvae burrow into the hosts skin and become parasitic.
Do not pet this fuzzy wuzzy. Despite its cuddly appearance, the puss caterpillar is actually the most dangerous caterpillar in the United States. Its fuzzy hairs are toxic spines that can stick your skin and spur a painful reaction.
A puss caterpillar sting feels like a bee sting, only worse,entomologistDon HalltoldNational Geographic. The pain immediately and rapidly gets worse after being stung, and can even make your bones hurt.
Previously only found in Mexico and South America, kissing bugs are now a growing problem in the southern United States. According to research from Texas A&M University, over 50 percent of kissing bugs in Texas carry the parasite that is responsible for Chagas disease, which can lead to everything from body aches to heart failure.
Found on the coast of Maine and Cape Cod, the browntail moth caterpillar has poisonous hairs that, if touched, cause a reaction similar to poison ivy. And you dont even necessarily have to touch the caterpillar for the reaction to occur; the toxic hairs can separate from the caterpillar and land on a persons skin while traveling through the air, causing the dermatitis.
Meet the asian giant hornet, the largest and deadliest hornet in the world. Reportedly found in Virginia and Illinois, this monster holds such a powerful venom that it can destroy red blood cells and cause a humans kidneys to shut down. In 2013, Chinese citizens suffered 42 deaths and 1,675 injuries at the hands of these giant bugs.
The good news is that the red widow spider is only found in certain parts of Florida. The bad news is that should you get bitten by one, the venom is a neurotoxin and can potentially cause permanent muscle spasms.
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The hobo spider became ubiquitous throughout the United States with the help of railways (thus giving the spider its name). Though they wont attack unless they are defending themselves, their bites can cause long-lasting headaches, bone and joint pain, muscle weakness, and hallucinations. Though hobo spiders are venomous,scientists have found that the creatures tend to only use their venom on prey.
In the summertime, those who reside in the South are warned to watch out for io moth caterpillars. One man in Louisiana who was stung by one toldKPLC that the bite was excruciating. It wasnt just like a bee sting, he explained.
Striped bark scorpions can be found in states like Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Colorado, and Louisiana. Their stings pack a punch that can last a few days, but no deaths have ever been attributed to them.
Chiggers are the larvae of trombiculid mites. Invisible to the human eye unless in groups, these mites feed on human skin cells and their saliva leaves behind itchy, irritated bumps.
The Asian lady beetle was introduced into the United States in 1988 in order to slash aphid populations. Unfortunately, these beetles are a threat to vegetation and have a tendency to bite, and so they are now considered a pest, just like the one they were brought in to eliminate. Their bites arent life-threatening, but in some instances they trigger an allergic reaction that causes pink eye.
Whoever is out there making giant bees and wasps,please stopor at the least, stop bringing them to the United States. This extra large insect was first spotted in the United States in 1994, and today they can be found everywhere from Virginia to Alabama. Like most of their relatives, these bees wont sting unless provoked so dont provoke them.
Commonly found in the southeastern United States, this aerial yellowjacket is a vigorous defender of its territory. Should its nest be disturbed, it will sting the intruder repeatedlyand it can even squirt venom into an intruders eyes to temporary blind them.
The good news about the horsefly is that it isnt going to bite you while you sleep. The bad news is that it will bite you while you sit out and sunbathe, and the wound it causes can potentially become infected and scar. [Horsefly] bites take a massive chunk out of your skin, so they hurt more, and they generally tend to scare more,Dr. Ranj SinghtoldExpress. Ouch.
Sandflies are members of the fly family with mouthparts similar to that of the mosquito. And like their relatives, the female sandfly uses said mouthpart to feed on human blood. Unfortunately, sandflies can deposit diseases into the bloodstream when they feed, and in the past these creatures have been known to spread such illnesses as typhus and the plague.
Every persons worst nightmare is a bed bug infestation. Not only are these pests nearly impossible to get rid of once theyve taken up residence in your home, but they also love to feed on human blood and leave painful, itchy bites in their wake. If you ever think that you might be experiencing a bed bug infestation, call the exterminator as soon as possibleafter all, an estimated one in five Americans have either dealt with these creatures or know someone who has. And as a preemptive measure, use these20 Ways to Eliminate Bed Bugs Forever.
Technically, termites arent dangerous to humans, as they arent known to bite humans (save for soldier termites). However, these pests can infest homes and cause thousands of dollars in damage, making them a danger to your wallet and earning them a spot on the list.
Dont let their names deceive you. These cow killer ants, as theyre called, are actually wasps with a sting as strong as their relatives (though only the females have stingers).Popular Science described the suffering from a velvet ants sting as 30 minutes of life-changing, pray-for-death pain.And to learn about insects that wont leave you in excruciating pain, read up on the5 Amazing Benefits of Eating Bugs.
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These Are the 35 Most Dangerous Bugs in America
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