The most numerous representatives of the animal kingdom, insects, undoubtedly play a crucial role in the general ecosystem of planet Earth. Our article presents the most dangerous insects in the world. We will tell you how they can harm a person.
The species diversity and multiplicity of insects determines their role in nature. Some are completely harmless, but most bring many inconveniences to people's lives, and can even be fatal to humans.
* In fact, not all of the animals presented belong to the class of insects scientifically, but it so happened that in everyday life people call insects many animals that are not such (ticks, spiders, and others).
18
Termites
These representatives of the cockroach squad settled around the world, and today there are more than 3 thousand types of termites.
Most of them are harmless. They are beneficial in the circulation of substances in soils, and some peoples eat them.
But there are pests. Termite damage is estimated at billions of dollars annually. Once in the house, they eat not only wood, but also everything that contains cellulose.
17
Lice
In the process of evolution, lice have lost the ability to fly, since they have completely switched to a parasitic way of life. Ectoparasites settle on the body of an animal or person and feed on blood and skin particles.
Lice are very dangerous, as they are carriers of deadly diseases. Compliance with basic hygiene rules will save you from the danger of such an unpleasant phenomenon as lice.
16
Blackfoot Tick
Scientists have described about 54 thousand species of ticks that have spread around the world. Many of them are dangerous to human health.
For example, the black-footed tick, like many other species, is a carrier of Lyme disease and vector-borne diseases transmitted through bites. In addition, ticks harm cultural plants.
It is noteworthy that in the process of evolution, ticks acquired small sizes, which contributed to their survival and widespread distribution.
By the way, at thebiggest you can find out about the biggest ticks in the world.
15
Nomad ants
Unlike relatives, these inhabitants of Africa, as well as Latin America, do not build their own anthills, but move in large colonies.
This type of ants is characterized by very aggressive habits. During the day, they move, attacking and eating other insects and small animals in their path.
For a person, in principle, they are not dangerous, but bites lead to painful allergic reactions. If you get to the center of a large colony, a person can be seriously bitten.
14
Wasp
A stinging insect during a bite can cause an allergic reaction, although for most people their bite is harmless, but rather painful.
In attacking the victim or defending himself, the wasp uses not only the sting, but also the jaw apparatus. Its danger is that other wasps, sensing poison, can join the attack, and can even chase the victim.
Interestingly, the scientific world has not yet come up with a strictly defined name for this species of Hymenoptera.
13
Black Widow
The most dangerous arthropod lives in the steppe zones of North America. It was also brought into Australia and some islands of Oceania. In the countries of Europe and Asia, another type of black widow, called karakurt, is common.
When bitten, a spider releases poison containing neurotoxins into the body. If you do not provide medical assistance on time, a person may die. But in fairness, we note that these spiders are not aggressive, and bite only in case of protection.
12
Hairy caterpillar
Despite its innocuous and even attractive appearance, this type of caterpillar is poisonous and dangerous.
Spikes are located on the fluffy hairs, through which the caterpillar also lets poison into its victim. The poison causes pain, dizziness, vomiting. The worst thing is that the action of the poison can lead to complication, and sometimes even complete respiratory arrest.
11
Cockroaches
As such, cockroaches do not pose a direct danger to humans. But cohabitation is undesirable, since cockroaches are carriers of many diseases, including fatal ones.
The list of diseases and viruses spread by these unpleasant inhabitants of the Earth is huge, and for many months they themselves can live without moisture and food.
10
Rat fleas
This flea species is considered one of the most dangerous among its relatives, as it carries the plague bacteria. They live mainly in the tropics and subtropics, parasitizing on the body of rats and gerbils.
Deadly bacteria are transmitted from one generation to another. In addition to the plague, fleas can be the causative agents of a large number of parasite worms.
9
Bed bugs
Bedbugs themselves are not dangerous, but they cause a person a lot of trouble. Their bite is painless, but at the place where the bug drank your blood, itching, redness begins, and sometimes a blister appears.
Some people have allergic symptoms. In organisms and on the body of bedbugs, pathogenic bacteria and viruses persist for a long time.
The most unpleasant thing is that when bugs appear in the house, they deprive a person of calm rest and sleep.
8
Human gadfly
The gadfly is dangerous in that when it bites, it can instantly lay down a larva, which begins to develop rapidly, causing all kinds of inflammatory processes.
It is necessary to process the bite site as soon as possible, avoiding unpleasant consequences. Gadfly, along with karakurt - the most dangerous insects in Russia.
7
Predator
Another representative of a huge family of bloodsuckers. The predator lives in all corners of the globe, eating small insects and larvae.
Some species of this bug living in tropical latitudes are not averse to drinking blood from small mammals, and sometimes even from humans. The danger is that the predator is a carrier of Chagas disease. The disease begins with inflammation of the skin, but can lead to heart failure, and can be fatal.
6
Bullet ant
The species of tropical ants, having the Latin name Paraponera clavata, has a strong poison, many times more toxic than the poison of a wasp or a bee.
After a bite, a person feels pain during the day. Some peoples of Mexico and South America use large ants in initiation rites. Adolescents voluntarily undergo bites, which lead to temporary paralysis, and sometimes blackening of bitten limbs.
5
Malaria mosquito
The species of diptera is widespread on all continents, and is a carrier of malarial plasmodia.
These mosquitoes are slightly different in their structure, their hind limbs are slightly longer, so they sit at an angle to the body, unlike simple mosquitoes, which sit directly with bites.
4
African honey bee
This hybrid bee species differs from its relatives in large sizes and aggressive habits. In history, there have been cases of attacks by a bee swarm on people and animals.
For example, in 1967, in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, 150 people died from the bites of these bees. They attack everyone who approaches the hive closer than five meters. TheBiggest strongly advises you to bypass all suspicious cocoons while in Brazil.
3
Fire ants
A group of related ants with potent poison. When bitten, there is a sensation of a severe burn, for which the ants got their nickname.
The bite of even one ant can cause significant harm to health. Poison ingested causes anaphylactic shock. Cases of fatalities are known.
2
Giant asian hornet
The dimensions of this hornet cannot but impress. He himself grows to 5 centimeters, and the wingspan to 8 centimeters. Even without a bite, you can be scared when you meet such a giant.
A bumblebee sting, when bitten, injects highly toxic poison into the human body, which leads to painful sensations. For people who are allergic to wasp and bee stings, encountering such an insect is deadly.
1
Tsetse fly
Specialists rightly consider the tsetse fly living in tropical and subtropical Africa to be one of the most dangerous among all crawling and flying insects. People bitten by a fly, without medical intervention and treatment of the wound, die.
They carry many diseases that affect the human nervous and endocrine systems. Humanity continues to develop ever new methods of struggle to reduce the population of a dangerous fly.
Conclusion
The list of the most dangerous insects is complete, and, as we see, the world around us is fraught with many dangers, and even from such seemingly harmless insects. Many of them are not aggressive, and use poison only in case of protection or obtaining food.
It is difficult to distinguish which are the most dangerous insects for humans, but minimal knowledge about them can save you from a lot of trouble.
Let our top of the most dangerous insects be a kind of warning that when meeting with these representatives of the terrestrial fauna, you must be extremely careful. The editors of our site thebiggest.ru asks you to leave a comment about the most dangerous insects that you have personally encountered. If you have any history related to this, please write to us.