Insects, which are creatures that consist of 6 legs and 3 segments, may not be the most lethal species on our planet, but they can be dangerous.

10) Locusts, which are insects that have an appearance similar to grass hoppers, may not be very deadly when singled out or when in little groups. Locusts become a threat when they form swarms and invade certain areas, mostly attacking crops and plants, while interfering with humans. When these attacks occur, they are then known as plagues.

9) Hemiptera bugs (A.K.A. Kissing bugs) may seem harmless, but they are equipped with sucking mouthparts in which the maxillae and mandibles have evolved into proboscis that can pierce tissues and drain the liquid (mainly blood) out of their victims. These stinging bites are lethal as they pass on a disease known as Chagas disease. The disease worsens over time and can form chronic symptoms such as heart disease. There are various medical drugs available, but these are highly toxic. If these bites are left untreated, the victim can possibly die.

The Tsetse Fly, which is commonly suspected of being a housefly, originates in Africa, and, unlike other common flies, it bites. There are 2 ways you can distinguish a normal fly from a Tsetse Fly; when the tsetse flies are resting, they can fold their wings completely. They also have long proboscis that can extend directly forward. It is attached to the bottom of their heads. Tsetse flies transmit diseases through their proboscis. These blood-sucking insects bite their victims and pass trypanosomiasis to them.  Trypansomiasis is a type of sleeping sickness to humans and can sometimes feel like Fever. Each year, 250-300 lives are taken by the disease.

7) Wasps inflict damage using their stingers which are mainly found on the female wasps as stingers are part of the female organ known as the ovipositors. They do not usually sting humans, but when they are agitated, or feel that they or their territory is being threatened, wasps will react. Most people have allergic reactions from the sting, which causes most of the illnesses and damage, while others can go into anaphylactic shock and eventually die.

6) Fire ants/ red ants sting their victims and insert venom. The venom can cause great pain as well as bumps. These then form into white pustules, which can become infected and turn into scars. People who are allergic to the venom can experience anaphylaxis, which is an allergic reaction that can be life threatening.

5) Safari ants or African ants that originate from Africa in Swahili are dangerous as they don’t attack one by one, but in large columns which are around 12 inches wide and 200 feet long. They have large pinchers and when in attack mode, they swarm everywhere and devour what they can. These ants have serious bites and do not let go; you usually have to take them out one by one. Elderly or young people normally experience asphyxiation by the sudden bites of the ants. Around 25-50 people die each year from attacks by these specific creatures.

4) Bees are dangerous as they attack with the slightest provocation. Once a bee stings its victim, its stinger gets lodged into the area of the sting and eventually the bee dies. The stinger, which is a sharp and hollow component located in a bee’s abdomen, is used to inject poison into the victim. Many people have allergic reactions from bee stings. When stung, one has to remove the stinger from the victim.  The sting can be painful and may begin to itch; the area around the sting may also swell. Some people may even experience anaphylactic shock due to some proteins in the venom. This condition can be fatal and requires immediate emergency treatment.

3) Fleas are external parasites that live off mammals as a host. Just like other deadly insects, fleas are equipped with tube-like mouthparts that they use to feed on the blood of their hosts. Fleas can cause the spread of Bubonic plague from rat hosts to humans. As fleas feed on warm-blooded vertebrates, animals can be infected quickly. If one is bitten, one can develop wounds that swell into a pustule and cause allergic reactions. Fleas become deadly when infections spread.

2) The Anopheles Mosquito can be very annoying with their bites. Female mosquitoes are normally the ones that suck the blood out of their victims. A female mosquito has 2 pairs of stylets that slide against each other to penetrate the human skin. When it has penetrated the skin, it looks for blood vessels.  Once it has found some, one of its tubes inserts saliva while another withdraws the blood. Mosquitoes are deadly as some carry diseases such as Malaria. These parasites thrive and multiply on a person’s red blood cells and cause symptoms similar to those of anemia like nausea, flu, fever, and chills. In worse cases, this disease may cause coma and death. There are many Mosquito repellants available at certain shops that are accessible to the public. These are ideal to have if one is living in high risk Malaria places.

1)   The Giant Japanese Hornet is the most deadly insect (in my opinion). It is a hunter that preys on large insects such as praying mantises and bees. It usually attacks honeybees and invades their hives in order to gain honeybee larvae. These insects sting to kill using stingers that can reach up to 6 millimeters in length. They pose a threat in Japan, as around 70 people die each year from their deadly stings. These hornets can inject eight types of chemicals that can cause pain and tissue damage. Even worse is that the venom emits a certain odor that can attract more hornets to a potential victim. Hornets also have mandibles that they use to bite their prey. They also inject venom called an enzyme; this particular chemical can dissolve human tissue. Unlike bees and wasps, these creatures can sting repeatedly.

Safety precautions are advised when coming into contact with some of these deadly creatures.