They’re creepy, they’re crawly, and they’re downright scary. You won’t want to run into any of these 25 terrifying insects at night!
25. Georgian Speekle
This monster-looking thing measures TWO FEET in length and was only recently discovered. A homeowner found one crawling around in her garage, and experts said they had never seen one before. While not poisonous, this creepy crawler is an unwanted visitor that put a lot of fear into homeowners in Georgia.
24. Scutigera Coleoptrata
These centipedes, which can have up to 15 pairs of legs, live and thrive in people’s homes. They even kill and eat spiders. That may be a good thing, but when you stop and consider a spider-killing centipede living in your house, it’s enough to send chills down your spine.
23. Asian Giant Hornet
As the world’s largest hornet (as if that isn’t scary enough), the Asian Giant Hornet attacks and kills other insects. This includes launching full-on assaults on beehives! They feed on these larger insects and honey, and they also are capable of injecting large amounts of potent venom. No, thank you!
22. Ghost Mantis
The Ghost Mantis is made to resemble a dead leaf to better camouflage with its surroundings. Imagine having one of these things fly at your face unexpectedly!
21. Giant Orb Weaving Spider
These Australian spiders, which can grow to the size of your hand, catch and eat birds. Plus, they’re venomous— of course— so that’ll be a hard pass on coming across one of these monstrosities.
20. Saddleback Caterpillar
These guys may look pretty, but they’re also super poisonous. Their hairs and spike-y spines are filled with venom— venom that they can’t wait to inject into you if you get too close.
19. Tarantula Hawk Wasp
A tarantula-hunting wasp that is known to have one of the most powerful and painful stings of all insects— yeah, that accurately describes the Tarantula Hawk Wasp.
18. Titan Beetle
A beetle as big, if not bigger, than your hand? Yes, they do exist. The Titan Beetle can grow to almost seven inches in length and have a powerful bite. They’re also known for their hissing, which usually means they’re getting ready to attack a perceived threat.
17. Botfly & Botfly Larvae
Botflies implant their larvae under skin. Human skin. Then, about a week later, a maggot wiggles its way out of your skin. It’s as nightmarish as it sounds. Feel free to search for images online, but we thought we would spare you.
16. Sand Fly
These little flies carry not-so-little diseases, such as Leishmaniasis. This illness causes ulcers and enlarged organs, and is also known as “black fever.”
15. Giant Katydid
While these big bugs won’t harm you, they are quite intimidating to come across. Native to Cuba, these giants are sometimes kept as pets, and any insect that is large enough to be considered a pet, is an insect you probably don’t want to meet.
14. Giant Stick Insect
These elongated insects normally range from four to five inches, but have also been known to grow much larger (as pictured.) They resemble sticks, therefore effectively camouflage into surroundings. You won’t know one’s around until it’s landing on you.
13. Bullet Ant
Just one bite from this teeny-tiny insect has been described as “waves of burning, throbbing, all-consuming pain that continues unabated for up to 24 hours.”
12. Brahmin-Moth Caterpillar
This crazy-looking caterpillar made a list for top three scariest caterpillars you’ll even encounter. We can only imagine what running into one of these things would be like as they seem to be straight out of a horror film.
11. Giant Weta
These things are basically giant— no, HUGE— grasshoppers. Most people have an aversion to any insect that is fast and can jump at them, so multiple that by ten to get this behemoth of an insect.
10. Giant Centipede
The Giant Centipede’s name explains it all. This beast can grow up to a foot long, and eats things such as birds, snakes and bats. A centipede that eats SNAKES!
9. Giant Isopod
Considered the largest isopod in the world, you probably won’t run into one of these “insects” anytime soon, but that doesn’t make them any less frightening. They’re related to the pill bug, and average in length to over a foot long. While they reside in the deep, dark ocean, they do become entrapped in fishing gear and brought to the surface where fishermen most likely faint from fear.
8. Kissing Bug
These bugs usually nest with animals so they can continue to feed on their blood. Kissing Bugs suck the blood from around the mouth area, even on humans, which is where they get the name. They can cause Chagas disease, which can lead to digestive heart failure.
7. Camel Spider
Camel spiders are closely related to scorpions and grow to about six inches long. Their particular looks make them one of the creepiest insects you may stumble across late at night.
6. Goliath Spider
Also known as Goliath birdeater, the Goliath spider grows to be about a foot long and have one inch long fangs. They trap their prey in silk webs and have a bite that resembles a bee sting. They’re reportedly the second largest spider in the world and have a lifespan up to 25 years. You can find these creepy guys in deep burrows and marsh lands in South America.
5. Flea
Most people are familiar with fleas, unfortunately, and most people know the diseases these tiny insects can harbor. One of the worst things about these pests is their size. Fleas are small enough to go undetected until you feel that itchy sensation.
4. Wasps
There are a few different types of wasps. One, which is known as a predatory wasp, kills and eats insects and animals. They will even feed said animals to their larvae. Then there are the parasitic wasps, which lay their eggs in living bodies of other insects, such as caterpillars and spiders. Go ahead and Google parasitic wasps and tell me you still don’t find them menacing.
3. Tick
Humans have a natural aversion to these little bloodsuckers. Not only do ticks carry illnesses and disease, but they can also be painful to remove. Plus, they can live on a host for weeks without being detected.
2. Orchid Mantis
The Orchid Mantis may be beautiful, but it’s also ruthless in catching and consuming prey. The resemble an orchid flower, obviously, and use this to their advantage when it comes to ensnaring prey.
1. Mosquito
