7 of the World’s Deadliest Insects Are in Alabama Right Now
Usually those creepy-crawlies are just gross or annoying.
But more often than you think, they can be life-threatening. Even though we've gotten used to the existence of bugs, there are several that you need to seriously look out for.
Field and Stream published their list of the world's deadliest insects. And here are the ones that are hanging out in Alabama right now:
These scary-looking spiders are most commonly found along the coast and southern regions of Alabama, but you can still spot them here and there across the state. Bama Pest Control said that they prefer "warm, dry environments" and make their home in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, grasslands and urban areas.
I'll never forget moving a log pile and finding one of these evil-looking insects. Yikes!
Although they are over 1,000 species of scorpions, only a few dozen are actually venomous.Unfortunately, one of these is the Indian Red Scorpion, which makes it home in Alabama.
Field and Stream said this scorpion's venom can result in "severe pain, vomiting, sweating, breathlessness" and more.
Although they produce sweet, sweet honey, bees can also lead to death.
For people who are allergic to these stinging insects, that's where the danger lies. The CDC says that anaphylactic shock is what ends up killing most of the victims, 80% of who happen to be male.
These blood-suckers can leave terrible itchy bites, but that's not what you should be worrying about.
The danger from mosquitoes comes from their tendency to transfer disease, primarily malaria.
READ MORE: see what disease mosquitoes were spreading in Alabama earlier this year
It may look less evil than the Black Widow, but the Brown Recluse still carries plenty of danger.
Often hiding in attics in basements, a bite from this spider will add necrotic venom to your skin, killing the tissue. If untreated, a bite could lead to a gaping hole in the flesh. Yuck...
They won't kill most people...but if you've every been bit by Alabama fire ants, you sure feel like you're dying.
Fire ants inject a venomous toxin into their targets causing a ton of pain. And if you're allergic to the venom, you'll go into that anaphylactic shock, which can lead to death.
They bite you and hold on...
One of the most common types of ticks in Alabama is the deer tick, which is also one of the most dangerous. Capable of spreading 16 diseases, these bugs are bad news.
Lyme disease is one of the worst ones, which has a fatality rate of 30 percent in certain untreated patients, according to Field and Stream.
Ugh...I love going outside but these bugs are making me worried. Stay safe out there.
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