Remember the feeling when you spot an insect indoors? The immediate reaction is often to grab whatever is handy and squash the intruder, spurred by the knowledge that some bugs carry nasty chemicals and deliver painful or even dangerous stings.
The creepy crawlers are particularly disturbing; tiny creatures with numerous legs usually evoke an immediate urge to eliminate them.
However, after reading this, you might find yourself thinking twice before squashing those scary-looking centipedes next time you see them in your bathroom.
When you encounter centipedes darting around your house, it can be tough to resist the impulse to squish them. They might catch you off guard, but once you learn how useful they can be around the home, you might want to spare them a merciful release.
Surprisingly, these wriggly, quick-footed creatures have been guarding your home from other tiny pests.
There’s a specific type of centipede that tends to be shorter than its other worm-like relatives and has about 20 legs spread across its body.
These small centipedes act as your home’s invisible pest control, preying on cockroaches, spiders, silverfish, bedbugs, and ants. Centipedes have a voracious appetite and will devour almost any arthropod they come across in the house.
While centipedes are beneficial, this doesn’t mean you should invite them in en masse. But next time, if you find one or two, consider letting them be as a small gesture of thanks for their pest control services.
It’s understandable that they might make a bit of a stir, especially if kids or even adults find them gross and frightening. But instead of squashing them, let them wander off on their own or gently escort them outside where they can continue their work.
By avoiding the urge to squish every bug, you also bypass the risk of unleashing a nest of tiny baby spiders if you happen to squash a spider, which is something no one wants to witness.
Actually, centipedes aren’t as nasty as they seem. They’re just fragile little critters that pose minimal risk beyond giving you a fright.
Thinking about it, you’ll realize they don’t spread germs around your home like many other insects do, further cementing their status as the good guys.
Centipedes are essentially harmless, despite their appearance. Contrary to popular belief, they won’t cause significant harm. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about a few other insects, which carry severe diseases that can be life-threatening without medical intervention.
Now, here are some genuinely dangerous insects you should be on the lookout for, hoping never to encounter them indoors.
Bullet Ants: As their name implies, these ants deliver a sting that feels like you’ve been shot. You definitely want to avoid their bite. They are one of the largest ant species and are commonly found in Paraguayan and Nicaraguan jungles.
Botflies: The real trouble comes from their larvae, which parasitize many animals, including humans. The female botfly lays eggs under the skin, and as the larvae grow, they burrow deeper, causing infections and severe skin reactions.
Fleas: These blood-feeding pests can cause itchy bites that might lead to infections.
Fire Ants: Known for their painful stings, fire ants can repeatedly sting, causing painful white pustules that may last for weeks. There are over 295 species of ants, some of which deliver venom that can cause allergic reactions in some people.
Kissing Bugs: These bugs can transmit a parasite known as Trypanosoma cruzi by biting victims on the lips, potentially causing up to 12,000 deaths annually.
Giant Japanese Hornets: These are the largest hornets, growing up to 2 inches long and possessing a deadly sting that causes about 40 fatalities each year.
Tsetse Flies: Their bites cause sleeping sickness, which is estimated to result in 500,000 deaths across Africa.
Killer Bees: Known for their aggressive behavior, these bees attack in large numbers, often making their assaults fatal.
Driver Ants: These ants are powerful attackers with strong mandibles capable of killing several animals in one raid. They attack other insects and can also bite humans aggressively.
Mosquitoes: Mosquitoes are regarded as the deadliest insects and possibly the deadliest creatures on earth, attributed to causing up to 1 million deaths annually due to diseases like malaria, encephalitis, West Nile virus, and yellow fever.
