Insects are responsible for thousands – maybe millions – of screams every year. Some insects might be harmless, but these 10 deadliest insects are anything but harmless. Here, we present our list of the world’s 10 deadliest insects in two parts. See below for part one of our list of the world’s 10 deadliest insects, and stay tuned for part two, coming soon!
Number Ten: Black Widow Spider. Chances are you’ve heard of the black widow spider, or Latrodectus hesperus. This deadly spider’s venom is 14 times more concentrated than a rattlesnake’s. The spiders can be identified by a red hourglass-shaped marking on their abdomens, and they can be found in many places all over the world. Black widows are commonly known as the most venomous spiders in all of North America.
Number Nine: Brown Recluse Spider. Even deadlier than the black widow is the brown recluse. Bites from a brown recluse may take several months to heal. The spider’s toxic bite destroys any tissue it comes into contact with that lead to nasty and painful lesions.
Number Eight: Fire Ants. The name says it all! “Fire” ants truly are fiery – while many ants will attack by biting and then spraying formic acid on the wound, fire ants bite purely to maintain a grip on their prey, and then they inject poison into said prey. The venom they inject is called Solenopsin, and the sensation of being injected feels similar to how being burned feels. Not only are fire ants incredibly dangerous, but they are also aggressive, meaning you should stay as far away as possible from these insects!
Number Seven: Anopheles Mosquito. You can thank the Anopheles mosquito for spreads of malaria in third world countries. Though the mosquito itself might be small, it has been responsible for some of the world’s most destructive epidemics.
Number Six: Tsetse Fly. Don’t be fooled by the innocent-sounding name – this insect is anything but innocent. The tsetse fly is the most common fly in all of Africa, and because of this, it is able to transmit disease at an alarmingly rapid rate. Up to 300,000 people die every year because of the tsetse fly. Stay tuned for part two of our list of the world’s 10 deadliest insects, coming soon!
