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Want To Go Camping? The Deadliest Bugs To Avoid At All Cost

Updated on October 3, 2015

We all like going out especially during weekends. We enjoy spending mornings on sandy beaches sunbathing and exposing the better parts of our bodies to environment. But this comes with its risks. Risks do increase if you are in a foreign land where you have very little or no information about the small insects which you may take for some harmless butterflies or lovely moths that normally appear in your living room and give you company. There are organisms especially arachnids which are so poisonous that they can kill what they perceive to be their enemy with a single bite. Scientists in the United Kingdom (U.K) recently discovered a tiny tick which after the analysis was found to have saliva which could cause fatal allergic reaction. The bad bit is that it is a blood sucking organism which will always want to bite you even when you have not disturbed it. In this article, I will describe some of the deadliest organisms roam in the different corners of this globe.

Deadly scorpion

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Stalker Scorpions

Not all scorpions are venomous. Those which are venomous have a stinger at the last segment of their abdomen. This stinger stings and transmits toxins. The toxins cause intense pain and may even be fatal especially in children. They are commonly found in hot and dry areas especially deserts. They usually sting when they detect danger or when hunting a prey. Severe body reactions to their bites include thick tongue, blurred vision and difficulties in breathing. Urgent medical care is required when such symptoms do appear.

A Wasp

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2. Wasp

The deadly wasps use their venom for hunting purposes. Their single sting is enough to kill preys like giant spiders on which they lay their eggs. They do also sting any organism which they consider as an enemy or threat. You can never be safe if you cross their line because they can attack you in numbers as a way of defending their territories. Their stings contain dangerous venom which has about 13 antigens. This gives rise to antibody-antigen reaction in the region of bite. Their sting causes a localized reaction which is characterized by swelling and reddening (inflammation) of the bite area. The bite can cause allergic reactions which express themselves through difficulties in breathing, dizziness or severe headaches. If a person reacts allergically to wasps bite, he or she should be referred to a hospital for medical support. Other minor reactions can be treated in the camp using soap and water. Wasps are found all over the world especially during summer.

Fire ants and their queen

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3.Fire ants

They are as dangerous as their names. They cause a very painful bite which just like wasps is highly venomous. They live in colonies. They usually attack and kill small animals which they feed on. The funny thing with fire ants is that they bite an enemy and then spray solenopsin, an alkaloid venom at the point of bite with high levels of accuracy. This chemical causes itching or burning sensation and pain at the point of bite and that is where they derived the name fire ants from.The seriousness of their bites depend on the number which has attacked a person and also sensitivity of the person.People who are immune-compromised or have diabetes may be at bigger problem because scratching the swollen area may cause a wound. They are usually found in wet areas especially river banks or along the streams.

Bullet ant

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4. Bullet ant/ Conga ant

According to Schimidt sting pain index, bullet ants are the most painful in the world. Their stings have been associated by the residents of areas where they are very common with bullet shot. They cause severe pain not only on the point of bite but also the whole body. This burning pain usually lasts for about 24 hours! They have a neurotoxic venom called poneratoxin which causes severe pain, vomiting, sweating and also alter the rhythm of heart beat. The strange with their venom is that it can cause severe pain or make you numb i.e. not to feel any pain.Locals in areas where they are commonly found use them for initiation purposes or curing great pain.

5. Bees

We all love honey, right? It is sweet and nutritious but I do not think you may want to live close with its maker, bees. Bees do attack when they are attacked. The bad thing about their attack is that it happens in numbers. It is like they do communicate. Their stings contain venom which cause pain. A good number of people are allergic to bee sting. This means that their body overreacts to the venom in bee sting which causes anaphylaxis. Signs of anaphylaxis include vomiting, tongue swelling etc.

Bee sting reaction

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Lyme disease rash

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6. Ticks


They do bite human beings for blood. Their bites can however be the beginning of some life threatening conditions. They are serious transmitters of life threatening diseases. Some diseases are viral while others are bacterial. A tick with Powassan virus may transmit a deadly viral disease. This viral disease affects the central nervous system which consist of your brain and spinal cord. It causes inflammation in the Central nervous system leading to encephalitis meningitis. Lyme disease is another disease transmitted by ticks which when not treated on time is life threatening.They increase in number during warm seasons. In UK, scientists discovered ticks which are found in woodland areas. These ticks can cause death in just one bite and there is currently no cure for the allergic reaction which occurs after the bite. There was even a case of a woman who had her arms and legs amputated after tick bite while on holiday. This is because the organs of her body were failing to function. The problem was rock mountain spotted fever a disease that is transmitted by ticks. It is always good to apply some repellents on the skin when going in woodlands so as to keep away such ticks.

Brazilian wandering spider

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7. Spiders


They are one of the most feared arachnids worldwide. This is because of the pain and the venom they release. This venom is usually used for hunting purposes but when you cross their lines, you become the prey. They have a venom gland on top of their jaws which release venom after a bite. The severity of the venom depends on the species, sex and age of the spider. Its venom has neurotoxins which causes problem to the Central and peripheral nervous system. This leads to problems like dizziness, blurred vision, difficulties in breathing among others. The tissue in the area of bite may also die due to the toxicity of this venom. Some of the most venomous spiders include; brown recluse, black widow, Brazilian wandering spider among others.

9. Caterpillars

Puss caterpillars lead the category of dangerous centipedes. They have spines on their surface which cause painful reactions on the skin. In allergic people, contact leads to chest pain and breathing difficulties.

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