Top 20 Scariest Insects on Earth

did you notice earlier tonight when i said also you have some insects right away the audience went welcome to watch mojo and today we're counting down our picks for the top 20 scariest insects now you're fine you're fine you're fine for this list we're looking at the most unsettling insects and arachnids found around the world which of these insects creeps you out the most let us know in the comments number 20 scorpion fly if you saw a scorpion fly you might think one of the most irritating insects has bred with one of the scariest arachnids this winged creature has a tail that resembles a scorpion's intimidating stinger however this is less for defense and more for romance scorpion flies do not sting their tails are actually claspers that the males use for mating it's not an easy love life though as male scorpion flies have to give their female companions the right gift to not be killed this is typically something like another dead insect for her to feast on if you find a scorpion fly in your garden you might be a little taken aback but like with most insects you have nothing to fear number 19. brahman moth caterpillar when we think of insects that give us the creeps we tend to not think of caterpillars i am a cute little bumblebee here i come that's because we're usually not thinking of the brahman moth caterpillar the larval version of the brahmin moth these caterpillars look like they came out of a horror movie they have barbed tails and protruding appendages on their heads that are useful for camouflaging among branches safe from predators these caterpillars might not look like the friendliest insects but have no fear they are completely harmless all they want is to survive and enjoy long and prosperous moth lives number 18. giant weta unless you're from new zealand you probably have no idea what a weta is much less a giant one there are actually 11 types of giant weta and some reach a length of about four inches they look like grasshoppers from another dimension so it's appropriate that the genus name dynacreta literally translates to terrible grasshopper do they jump do they fly nope so they're totally flightless they've got really good camouflage oh and weta derives from wetapunga which in maori translates to god of ugly things although these creatures are unsettling they pose no threat at least not to humans during mating season male wetas attract mates by annihilating each other with their huge pinchers they might not be pretty but they're definitely powerful number 17. venomous pus caterpillar the brahmin moth caterpillar looks scary but is harmless the venomous pus caterpillar looks friendly but is extremely dangerous which you might figure based on its name these caterpillars have large coats of bristles resembling fur on fluffy animals but whatever you do do not touch them if you do you'll likely be stung by their spines seal those little eggs like suction cups that allows him to move up and down tree trunks and his mouth is on the end of his head and this isn't mild irritation either the pain has been described in excruciating terms from feeling like having a bone broken to causing breathing problems and more i had never seen him screaming like that before it broke my heart thankfully pus caterpillars aren't so common that you're likely to encounter one but if you are stung act quickly by applying an ice pack and a therapeutic cream you can look but you better not touch number 16 carnivorous amazonian centipede you wouldn't expect something with this name to be docile would you the carnivorous amazonian centipede is the biggest centipede in the world and it also has one of the biggest appetites this insect grows as long as 14 inches it also feasts on so many different kinds of animal species including other insects reptiles and birds thanks to their potent venom they can take down the likes of snakes and other creatures bigger than it while these bites are extremely painful for humans they usually aren't fatal nonetheless we do not blame you for not planning any trips to the amazon anytime soon number 15. assassin bug while this insect's name is certainly scary it's actually a bit of a misnomer assassin bug bites are very uncomfortable but they aren't fatal to humans at least they stab other insects and animal species with sharp curved beaks and let their venom do the rest of the work i don't i don't want him walking on me that's why i have my gloves on because of that ferocious beak that he has they don't just go after insects that are directly bothering them either assassin bugs are constantly on the move looking for any and all prey if you're a gardener this is good news because they stop vegetation enemies like caterpillars and aphids keep a good distance if you see an assassin bug but let them be they're providing pro bono security for your plants watching the assassin bug move is like watching a shaolin kung fu master walking across rice paper gentle silent careful not a single mark not even the most minute noise no wonder it's called the assassin bug number 14. goliath beetle we don't know of any david beetles primed to take on this insect is that it proper is that real well that's real that's one of the largest that's a toy that's a goliath beetle the genus goliathus contains five species and they're all some of the biggest insects on the planet these hulking black and white beetles live in african countries such as liberia nigeria and ghana they stay safe through their dense exoskeletons and four wings they can also fly via a set of hind wings other evolutionary advantages include horns on the male beetles useful for fighting enemies and the females heads which they use for digging holes to lay their eggs in thankfully they don't pose much of a threat to humans though they can pinch with their mandibles if you get too close number 13. hornets what's the difference between a hornet and a wasp a hornet is actually a kind of wasp if you've never faced a hornet's wrath you're doing something right these are hornets things you know i run into like like a lot of like hornets in my line of work and i get stung up like bad all over my face and stuff these insects are big and bad with stings that can be fatal especially for people with allergies they also tend to be bigger than other wasps making them even more foreboding you can identify a hornet's nest by its distinctive football-like shape don't want to be stung by a hornet leave them alone and they'll do the same for you still it is hard to feel calm in the presence of these insects number 12 praying mantis praying mantises are beautiful insects that can be useful at helping rid gardens of invasive insects however they are also kind of terrifying at least in terms of some mating rituals up to 28 of mantis mating rituals end with the male's head being devoured by the female you know what's wonderful about the praying mantis they devour their mate your point being this is said to be more prevalent among mantises raised in captivity than ones in the wild however their hunting skills are also enhanced by their quick reflexes excellent vision and ability to turn their heads without moving the rest of their bodies their eagerness to chow down on other creatures can have some drawbacks though they can end up going after insects and animals that are good for gardens such as hummingbirds number 11. flesh flies houseflies aren't exactly sanitary insects but they're downright dainty compared to flesh flies if that name literally makes your skin crawl wait'll you hear that they like to breed in and dine on feces and rotting substances then when it's time to give birth they seek out open wounds to leave their maggots so if you need another good reason to bandage your cuts and scrapes here it is however if you're in forensics flesh flies are less disgusting and more useful their maggots can help murder investigations determine a time of death would forensic flies be a more generous handle number 10. army ants even the most experienced soldiers are no match for army ants i know you will all do your duty i am proud to send you into battle into i'm sorry into battle dismissed these insects are ruthless taking down any creature or plant that gets in their way this can be devastating for ecosystems army ants ferocious jaws are sharp enough to not only consume humans but elephants as well these ants found in parts of africa and asia display strength in numbers a single colony can consist of around 20 million army ants that helps explain why they can end the lives of 100 000 other creatures per day we have one piece of advice about encountering army ants retreat number 9. giant silkworm assassin caterpillar is this list changing your perception of caterpillars or what the giant silkworm assassin caterpillar is an incredibly potent creature only found in south america these caterpillars are also known as killer caterpillars and have been named the most venomous caterpillar by guinness world records like other caterpillars they have bristles for protection however theirs go on an extra level as these bristles are dangerously venomous once assassin caterpillars evolve into moths however this danger is gone still it's better to be safe than sorry if you're ever tempted to handle an unfamiliar insect number eight tarantula hawk it's neither a tarantula nor a hawk but it is plenty scary these insects are known as spider wasps and their targets are tarantulas specifically it's the female tarantula hawks who do the hunting first they paralyze their victims by stinging them then they bring them back to the nest where they lay one egg inside their eight-legged captive the larva hatches soon after and feasts upon the still living tarantula if you live in new mexico you might be familiar with the tarantula hawk as it's the state insect while their stings are very painful they pose a minimal threat to humans and if you don't bother tarantula hawks they won't bother you number 7. titan beetle as the name implies these beetles are also a bit on the large side growing as long as 6.5 inches native to south american rainforests these beetles are incredibly fearsome their mandibles are so strong they can break pencils don't get on a titan beetle's bad side as they might bite into your skin to teach you a lesson i have to handle them with considerable care because those huge mandibles at the front are powerful enough it's said to be able to cut straight through a pencil titan beetles also warn enemies through hissing and find mates by flying and recognizing pheromones is that what they mean by love is in the air another fun fact titan beetle larvae have never been discovered though it is theorized the larvae consume wood for sustenance number 6. camel spider this arachnid is also known as a wind scorpion however it's not quite a spider and it's not quite a scorpion it is however quite a sight to behold with its differently sized legs and prominent calycera which is its pincer-like jaws they don't have venom glands they just rely on the enormous strength and power of those jaws and their incredible speed this is great for helping them go after their prey which includes insects like termites as well as other animals such as rodents and snakes however despite their name they don't as some myths insist lay their eggs inside the stomachs of camels their name simply comes from their desert habitat oh and they don't have any humps either all over the legs are enormous great long sensory hairs some of them almost as long as the legs themselves are these used to sense movements in the air number five bot fly we don't want to gross you out too much but when it comes to unsettling insects the botfly is something else but flies only have a few offspring over the course of their lives but they're very careful about where they place them so that those offspring are more likely to survive the larvae of these nightmare flies feast on the host's body from the inside how do they get there one way is by a female botfly laying eggs directly on the host's body however they can also take a more convoluted path laying their eggs in another parasite such as a mosquito who then spreads them to unsuspecting hosts spotlight larvae are ringed with little tiny black spines and those are there so that if you try to pull it out it's going to get lodged into place these hosts can develop a condition known as myosis which in extreme cases can require surgery to get rid of the flies hopefully you never have any run-ins with buttflies number 4. goliath bird eater you would be right to assume based on its name that this tarantula eats birds however these spiders native to south america tend not to favor birds for food they got that reputation because of an 18th century engraving of one consuming a hummingbird but there's still plenty more that's impressive about the goliath bird eater for one it's the biggest spider in terms of mass they also have an impressive set of fangs great for making short work of prey and if you're an adventurous eater these spiders are edible with a taste that's been compared to shrimp anyone in the mood for goliath bird eater and grits number 3. australian funnel web spider australia is notorious for its creepy crawlers but this one has to be the scariest there are 35 different species in the spider family some of which are venomous and which have sometimes been fatal to humans however progress in anti-venom technology has made a major difference in surviving a funnel web spider bite you can actually die really quickly if you've got a deep in venomation from a funnel web basically your heart and lungs stop working the development of immunoglobulin g antivenom in 1981 has essentially curbed deaths from these spiders but these creatures are still plenty scary regardless if you're ever hiking through the forest in australia be careful about turning over any rocks the females just remain in their burrows their whole lives and lots of people would never ever see one and if anything happens be sure to seek immediate medical attention number 2. japanese giant hornet the japanese giant hornet is a form of asian giant hornet you might have heard of these insects under a different name murder hornets that nickname exaggerates the extent of their threat to humans however they are still said to kill about 40 people in japan annually everything about this creature screams run in the other direction asian giant hornets are the biggest hornets in the world and while they are native to asia they have been found in parts of north america the goal is to eradicate it now while the population is presumably small their long stingers inject a very painful venom likened to having a searing hot nail go through your flesh we're all four new experiences but we'll pass on this one one two here we go three oh this thing is stuck in my arm before we continue be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos you have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them if you're on your phone make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications number one bullet ant there are many insects bigger than a bullet ant including other ones on this list however these ants are terrifying at any size and wow look at that the stinger is already flying found in south and central american rainforests they might look like ordinary ants but their stings distinguish them to a painful degree this name isn't that much of an exaggeration being stung by a bullet ant is said to feel like being shot how my whole arm is getting really tight oh my gosh mark put your arm out here just tell them feel my forearm wow dude is like rock hard i think it's spasming up the muscle justin oh schmidt who created the schmidt sting pain index compared it to quote walking over flaming charcoal with a three inch nail embedded in your heel for making us even imagine that this ant is number one with a bullet it is just extraordinary that an animal of this size has a sting that's powerful enough to incapacitate an animal the size of me do you agree with our picks check out this other recent clip from watchmojo and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos [Music] [Music]

Channel: WatchMojo.com

Views: 175,328

Keywords: Animals, Cats, Cute, Dogs, arachnids, army ants, australian funnel web spider, biggest bugs, biggest insects, biggest spiders, botfly, bugs, bullet ant, camel spider, creepiest bugs, creepy crawlers, deadliest bugs, deadliest insects, goliath birdeater, insects, japanese giant hornet, list, mojo, scariest bugs, scariest insects, scariest spiders, spiders, titan beetle, top 10, watch mojo, watchmojo

Id: vAIJ1w6hxM8

Length: 17min 59sec (1079 seconds)

Published: Sun Nov 28 2021