12 Terrifying Insects You Never Wish to Encounter

If you have entomophobia (fear of insects), you may want to look away now.

Is there anything more terrifying than picturing millions of bug species that now inhabit our planet? Imagine there are around 950,000 different types of insects on Earth! Although many insects are harmless if left alone, some are on a mission to make human life hell. Some horrifying bugs wait patiently in the shadows for their chance to attack.

Here are 12 of the most terrifying insects from all across the globe (and maybe even your own backyard).

1. Titan Beetle

The world’s most enormous beetle can reach a length of six and a half inches. It hisses when threatened but isn’t violent. But beware of the  Sharp spines and muscular jaws that may break a pencil, damage a plastic ruler, or cut skin when they get aggressive.

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2. Scorpion Fly

This creepy bug seems like it was plucked straight from a horror film. If their look doesn’t give you the creeps, perhaps knowing that this fly has helped scientists study human corpses would. It’s not your typical fly. 

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3. Bullet Ants

It has fame for being one of the most painful stings of an insect. One painful sting from these ants might last as long as 8 hours. The pain has been characterized as a constant, burning flame.

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4. Amazonian Giant Centipede

These insects are dangerous and poisonous. They eat on everything they know they can kill and can grow to be up to 12 inches in length.

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5. Assassin Bug

At night, these “kissing bugs” feast on the skin of sleeping humans, particularly around the eyes and lips, and then deposit trypanosome-rich feces at the site of the wound.

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6. Camel Spider

Camel spiders are fast and dangerous. When threatened, these spiders may resort to biting. Because of their natural carnivorous and predatory instincts, they are not suitable as pets.

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7. Goliath Birdeater

While these spiders are a venomous species, it is not known to attack people. In the worst-case scenario, you’ll experience pain and swelling from their deadly bite, similar to a wasp.

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8. Puss Caterpillar

A larva of the southern flannel moth is the most poisonous caterpillar. Simple contact with the bug can cause terrible pain. Their fur has poisonous spines that stick to your skin.

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9. Tarantula Hawk

These wasps are usually calm and don’t sting unless they have to. The sting is extremely painful, ranking second on the Schmidt sting pain index, yet it lasts only around five minutes.

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10. Cymothoa Exigua (Tongue Eater)

The idea of a parasite attacking and replacing an animal’s tongue is the stuff of nightmares. That’s the tongue-eating louse’s one and only disgusting, specialized duty.

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11. Giant Weta

These insects have powerful mandibles that they use to bite. Giant Weta species are some of the world’s largest and heaviest insects; they resemble a large cricket.

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12. Bot Fly

Botflies are dangerous insects that lay their eggs on the bodies of mosquitoes, which then inject the larvae into people, where they hatch because of the warmth of the hosts’ bodies. Then, upon hatching, they eat their way out.

You never know what you’ll encounter in or near your house. The threat they pose to humans is enough to cause fear. This is where Facility Pest Control comes in! Contact our experts immediately for your pest control needs.