5 Most Venomous Insects in America

We cover a lot of ground when it comes to pests here at the site. We’ve written many hundreds of articles over the years about anything creepy and crawly which may get into your home or yard. We’ve written articles about spiders, snakes, rodents, bees, wasps, lizards… just about anything and everything.

Today we are presenting you with a topic which we have never done before. This article is about the most venomous bugs in the United States. Join us as we list each one of these insects and give a brief description of them all. We have listed them from least toxic to most. Remember, a spider is an arachnid, not an insect, which is why they are not on this list.

1. Robber Flies – There are over 7,000 species of this insect worldwide. They look sort of like a dragonfly and paralyze their prey with venom. They don’t have a complex digestive system, so their venom actually digests the victim insect before the robber fly even consumes it. They can bite humans, and the bite is very painful. But they don’t actively seek to bite humans. Just don’t try to handle them or they will bite. These guys actually help prevent other insect pests from being in your lawn and home. See the robber fly here
2. Wheel Bug – This crusty little bug uses camouflage to hide in wait. They also hunt other insects, and they use cytotoxin to paralyze their prey. Their venom also starts dissolving its prey from the second it strikes. It can also bite a human and the pain is bad. Avoid these guys if you can. They are mild mannered and will only bite when handled. You can see the wheel bug by clicking here
3. Toe Biter – (pictured) A large insect which won’t hesitate to bite a human when disturbed, hence its name. This large bug hunts fish in the water. They have also been known to feast on small snakes and turtles. It is a very sharp and painful sting when they bite humans. These critters are not aggressive to humans and only bite when stepped on. They are found in the water, on land and can even fly!
4. Flannel Moth Caterpillar – These furry slow-movers are very venomous and can put humans in the hospital. It uses venomous spines all over its body to administer poison to its victim. Symptoms of a bite are pain, headaches, nausea, and severe flu-like symptoms. They are a sort of light brown or tan in color. See more about this caterpillar here
5. Maricopa Harvest Ant – This is the most venomous insect in the Unites States and also the world! They are found in the southwest, mainly in the desert. They have a very large head and are reddish in color. They mostly eat plants but will attack any living creature which disturbs its nest. It is said that about 600 bites from these ants can kill an adult human. The good news is they are simply not aggressive. You have to threaten the nest to get a dose of their potent venom.