In the world there are more than a million species of insects and they all play a fundamental role as part of the planet's biodiversity. Many are harmless, but others are extremely dangerous and can cause a slow and painful death to their victims.
In this article on our site we share a list of the 10 most poisonous insects in the worldLearn about their characteristics, how lethal they are and the consequences suffered by people who are attacked by them. You want to know more? Do not miss it!
1. Bullet ant (Paraponera clavata)
The bullet ant is considered by many to be the most poisonous insect in the world, since one bite can cause a person to pass out in less than 10 minutes. The pain is similar to a bullet (hence the name) or a hammer blow.
This ant's venom can cause chills, sweating, rapid heart rate, loss of sensation, and difficulty breathing. Despite the immense pain the victim experiences, is usually not fatal, unless it causes an allergic reaction. In the latter case, we would be dealing with an insect with deadly poison.
This ant is found mainly in the rain forests of Venezuela, Brazil and Bolivia, also in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. In this other article you will find more types of ants.
2. Oblique taturana (Lonomia obliqua)
The oblique taturana is a species of butterfly native to Latin America, especially in the Amazon, between Colombia, Brazil and Venezuela. In the caterpillar stage, this animal has its body covered with hairs, which transmit a powerful poison. In this sense, when touching the caterpillar, a person is impregnated with the poison present in the hairs, which will cause pain in the contact area. Later, other symptoms will appear that consist of intense pain in the back of the head, followed by bruises and bleeding pictures. Eventually, if an antidote is not applied, the effect is deadly
3. Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia)
The Asian giant hornet is an insect measuring almost 8 cm in length, making it the world's largest hornet. Its body is orange with brown antennae and yellowish spots.
The sting of this insect is very intense and dangerous, It causes tissue destruction and even death, which is why it is considered one of the most poisonous and deadly insects that exist. It can be found in: India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Eastern Russia, Korea, and Japan. However, recently, in 2019, specimens were seen in the United States, which are associated with accidental introductions due to the movement of merchandise on ships.
Learn about other types of wasps in this other article.
4. Aphrodisiac beetle (Lytta vesicatoria)
Also commonly known as cantharidae, it is an insect that measures 22 mm long and 8 mm wide. It has a bright green hue throughout its body and lives on the branches of trees in Europe and Africa.
From this insect a substance called cantharidin is obtained, which was used for various medical purposes and as an aphrodisiac for men. However, it was discontinued due to its adverse effects and because overdoses were dangerous, as they caused a slow and horrible death due to various complications, such as kidney problems.
5. African bee (Apis mellifera scutellata)
Another of the most dangerous insects in the world is the African bee. The African bee is a subspecies of the common bee, it is a fairly aggressive type of insect, capable of chasing a person and attacking him if he feels threatened. The sting of a single African bee is not usually dangerous, but if a person is stung by many, the attack is fatal In either case, they cause pain due to to its intensity.
The species is native to Africa, it measures 20 mm, the body is covered by a kind of down and the abdomen has black stripes. It is widespread in various regions of America and can be found in tropical areas, since it is difficult for it to live in rainy areas.
Learn about the different types of bees in this article.
6. Paper wasp (Polistes dominula)
The cardboard wasp is a species of 2 cm long, its coloration is black with yellow markings and it has a flat abdomen with a narrow waist. Its diet is made up of fruits and it is native to Europe and Africa, however, it is now also found in various countries in the Americas.
As for its toxicity, its poison can be dangerous for allergy sufferers. These insects are aggressive and are capable of attacking if they feel threatened.
7. Black Fire Ant (Solenopsis richteri)
This species of poisonous insect is native to South America, specifically Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, although it has been introduced to the United States. They are black or dark brown with a yellow patch on the abdomen.
They are quite aggressive if they approach their nests, which they do not hesitate to defend. Its bite is painful, it forms an inflammation and red coloration of the skin, in which its particular bite is observed. Allergic reactions will depend on the particularities of each person.
8. Asian hornet (Vespa velutina)
This wasp is native to Southeast Asia, found in India, Indonesia and China, although it has also adapted to some areas of Europe. The coloration of the abdomen and thorax are black, with the presence of a yellow segment and dark wings.
These wasps do not usually attack people directly, but They are quite aggressive if the nest is threatened Their sting, although painful, it is not fatal unless a person is highly allergic and stung by many wasps at the same time, which results in the inoculation of high amounts of venom.
9. European hornet (Vespa crabro)
The queens of this species reach between 25 and 35 mm in size. Although the workers are smaller, it is a large wasp. The abdomen is brown with yellow stripes and the wings are reddish.
They are aggressive when it comes to defending the nest, for which they sting, inoculating their venom, which is not fatal, but can cause significant reactions in allergic people, which is why it is also part of the list of the most dangerous insects in the world. If they are not disturbed they do not usually attack people.
10. Common Oil (Berberomeloe majalis)
This is a large type of beetle, being able to measure up to 7 cm. It has a long abdomen, which is black in color with the presence of transverse stripes of golden or red hue.
When threatened, it is also capable of secreting cantharidin, which can be quite toxic to humans.
When we inhabit areas in which the mentioned poisonous insects are present, it is important to keep documented about them, so that we can know their customs, places of preference and toxicity in order to avoid accidents, which as we have already mentioned can be fatal.
On the other hand, the use of chemical agents for insect control must be done in a limited and controlled manner, because these products are causing serious damage to the global diversity of insects and to the environment in general.. In this sense, it is always a better option to opt for homemade and organic repellents, as well as biological controllers that are quite efficient for these cases.
