The World's Freakiest Bugs

Bullet Ants

The bullet ant's bite is ranked on the Schmidt Sting Pain Index as the most painful sting of any insect in the world. In fact, victims say it feels like being shot -- hence, its name.

Bullet ants grow up to an inch long and live in rainforests from Nicaragua to Paraguay. They drop from trees onto their prey, unleashing their ferocious bite. Oddly, they do offer a bit of warning: the ants let out an audible shriek before they sting.

Brazil's Satere-Mawe tribe uses the ants in an initiation ceremony for boys becoming warriors. Hundreds of the ants are placed into a long glove made from leaves, which the boy must wear for 10 minutes. His hand and arm eventually become paralyzed from the horrific stings. Because of the venom now in his system, the boy will twitch or shake for days after the ceremony.

As if this didn't sound arduous enough, he must then go through this ritual 20 time -- yes, 20 -- before officially being declared a warrior.  

Brazilian Wandering Spider

The Brazilian wandering spider is the world's most venomous spider. Its venom contains a dangerous neurotoxin that causes breathing problems and paralysis, which can lead to asphyxiation and, ultimately, death.

Found in rainforests in South and Central America, the spiders scamper across the jungle floor at night and hunker down in termite mounds or other dark, moist hideaways by day.

In an unusual twist, this spider's bites can cause priapism in males, or erections that last for hours or days and can eventually lead to impotence. 

Dung Beetle

The dung beetle might not be one of the largest insects in the world, but what the dung beetle lacks in size -- it only measures about 1 inch long -- it makes up for in strength. A typical dung beetle can move objects more the 1,400 times its weight. Found in all continents except Antarctica, the dung beetle feeds almost exclusively on feces.  

Tarantula Hawk

Known for its searing sting and grotesque egg-laying habits, the tarantula hawk is a type of spider wasp that hunts tarantulas to use as hosts and food for its larvae. The wasp can grow up to 2 inches long, with stingers measuring one-third of an inch.

Once it has spied a tarantula, the wasp's hooked claws allow it to latch onto, wrestle with and overcome its prey, paralyzing it with its sting. The wasp then drags the spider to its nest and lays an egg on the spider's stomach.

This wasp larva hatches and feeds on the tarantula's abdomen, keeping the spider alive as long as possible. After several weeks of feeding, the fully grown wasp emerges from the tarantula's stomach.

The tarantula hawk's sting is considered one of the most painful in the world, second only to the bullet ant. 

Mosquito

While most people consider mosquitos to be no more than a mere nuisance, these wispy creatures actually rank as the world's deadliest animal, responsible for millions of human deaths every year.

Mosquitos spread a variety of deadly illnesses to humans while not being susceptible themselves. These include yellow fever, West Nile virus, encephalitis, dengue fever and malaria.

In case you ever had doubts, it's best to keep your mosquito repellent within arm's reach. 

Tree Lobster

Thought to be extinct for 80 years, the tree lobster was recently rediscovered clinging to a remote rock in the South Pacific, some 500 feet above water. The 24 tree lobsters found on the rock had congregated around the lone plant that had survived on the tiny island.

No one can definitively say how the creatures got to the rock. Scientists brought four of them to a breeding program that could help ensure the survival of the species. Two of the bugs died in captivity, but the other two, affectionately known as Adam and Eve, went on to successfully reproduce 30 eggs. Tree lobsters can grow up to a whopping 7 inches long.

Charming tree lobster fact: a male tree lobster will sleep with three of its six legs draped protectively over a female. 

Japanese Giant Hornet

Measuring 1.5 inches long with a wingspan up to 2.5 inches, the Japanese giant hornet might appear to be a typical, if large, bee. But looks can be deceiving. This hornet ranks as Japan's most deadly animal, killing 40 people per year with its venomous sting.

Stag Beetle

Stag beetles grow to more than 4 inches long and have spikey mandibles which resemble stags' antlers. The mandibles are used by males to wrestle other males as they compete for mating sites or food.