I’ve found that there are many gross ways to die. And why are ticks not among the top five deadliest insects on this list? Be careful, springtime brings good and bad. Here are the top five deadliest insects native to Utah:
#5 Locust – The migratory locust in North America decimated the crops of early Utah settlers. According to the story, there were so many locusts that they could not be seen, and the crops were covered with them. The settlers, then known as “Mormons” and now calling themselves members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, prayed for relief from the plague (later known as Mormon crickets) in the valley and were saved by “great flocks of gulls.”
Ehrlich speaks about the locusts and says, “It remains the largest insect infestation ever recorded. Here in Utah, during the construction of the transcontinental railroad, migratory locusts regularly attacked the homesteads of Mormon settlers, laying up to a billion eggs per acre.”
#4 Fleas – Fleas can be indirectly fatal because they transmit diseases. While a single flea bite is not usually fatal, fleas are known carriers of diseases such as Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of bubonic plague. When infected fleas bite a host, they can transmit these diseases, which can lead to serious illness or death if left untreated. In the past, fleas have been responsible for significant disease outbreaks such as the plague and typhus, making them a public health problem if proper control measures are not taken. Thank goodness for modern sanitation and health practices.
#3 Bees – We need bees. They pollinate everything and make delicious honey. But they can also be deadly. Bees can deliver painful and potentially fatal stings. If a bee feels threatened, it may sting in defense and inject venom into the victim. In people who are allergic to bee stings, this venom can cause a severe and life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Multiple bee stings can be dangerous even for people without allergies due to the cumulative effect of the venom in the body, potentially leading to serious health problems or death. With the introduction of the Africanized bee, our native bees have become more aggressive, defending their queen and their honey.
#2 Kissing Bugs – That sounds cute, right? Listen to it and decide.
Assassin bugs, also called assassin bugs, can be deadly because they can transmit a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi. When these bugs bite a person, they often defecate near the bite site. If the person scratches the bite and unknowingly rubs the bug’s feces into the wound or mucous membranes (such as the eyes or mouth), the parasite can enter the body. Eeek!
Trypanosoma cruzi causes Chagas disease, which can lead to serious health complications if left untreated. Chagas disease can become chronic and eventually damage the heart, digestive system, and other organs. In severe cases, Chagas disease can be life-threatening, especially if it leads to heart problems or affects individuals with weakened immune systems.
#1 The mosquito – what’s the point? Whenever you go to a ball game or go camping, these beasts come out with full force. They love to eat me alive. I get bitten so often compared to my husband!
Mosquitoes themselves don’t kill us directly, but they are like little disease vectors. When these bloodsuckers bite us, they can transmit some really bad diseases, like malaria, dengue fever, Zika, yellow fever, and West Nile virus. These diseases can make us very sick or even kill us if they get really bad. Malaria, for example, can give you a high fever and damage your organs, while dengue fever can become life-threatening. So, thank you, Mosquito Control District, for trying to keep the mosquitoes at bay.