The world’s 8 scariest insects

The bot fly uses mammals, including humans, to host its larvae until they are ready to venture out into the wider world. Removing them can be problematical and involves sealing the larva’s breathing hole with Vaseline before sending in a trained medical professional to enlarge the hole pull it out with tweezers.

Colloquially known as ‘The Yak Killer’, the Asian Giant Hornet is the world’s biggest hornet, with a 6mm stinger capable of injecting a venom potent enough to kill, well, a yak.

Australia’s bull ants are amongst the biggest and most psychotic. Highly aggressive and with a painful sting, their nests should be avoided at all costs.

Only found on Little Barrier Island in New Zealand, this oversized cricket is three times heavier than a mouse, and while, technically, it won’t kill you, coming across one unannounced will give you a hell of a fright.

Big and furry, tarantulas are scary enough without a bright red bum and a tendency to jump out unexpectedly from under logs in Mexico.

This spider eats birds. Enough said.

A hybrid bee created in Brazil to try and increase honey production, these little blighters are basically European bees gone bad. They’re alright when you get one on its own, but in a swarm, they’re deadly.

Also known as ‘The Wind Scorpion,’ the camel spider became the stuff of legend amongst US troops serving in Iraq, with highly exaggerated tales of their speed, size and danger. While their ability to harm humans is negligible, their reputation remains formidable.

Main Image Vespa Mandarinia (Shutterstock)