Have you ever wondered which insect has the most eerie appearance? As you know, the class of insects is the most common group of invertebrate animals on Earth. Scientists estimate that more than 10 million different species of these creatures currently live on our planet. The number of these creatures generally exceeds the mark of 10 quintillion!
It is curious that we have never seen many of them in our eyes! Among these creatures, there are sometimes such instances whose appearance causes not only disgust, but also fear! So, what are they - the most terrible insects?
Humpback Brazilian
You cannot look at her without horror. This peculiar insect has such a specific appearance for a reason. On the back of the humpback there are various growths in the form of spikes, ridges and balls. It is curious that these formations are sometimes superior in size to the creature itself. According to some reports, the Brazilian humpback is the most terrible insect in the world.
An external examination of this creature shows that its body is surrounded on all sides by various spines, processes, tubercles, outgrowths, etc. Entomologists who studied the Brazilian humpback found that these processes and spines perform a sensory function. Such a chitinous cover perfectly protects the ugly insect from attacks by various predators.
Mantis
Which insect has the most eerie appearance? So you will not answer this question right away, because in the world there are a sufficient number of creatures that can frighten with their appearance. One of them is a mantis. For humans, this creature is not dangerous, because it is not poisonous. But it cannot be called completely harmless either, because the appearance of a mantis can seriously scare a simple layman.
Awkward appearance combined with aggressive behavior allows you to put it on a par with the ugly insects of the planet. In addition, the mantis is a greedy predator. This creature is ready to fight not for life, but for death with other insects for its prey. It is known that mantis females engage in cannibalism: they devour males after mating, gnawing off their heads.
The most terrible praying mantis insects are representatives of a species called the “devil flower”. Moreover, they are one of the largest in the world: females can reach a length of 15 cm. Mother nature does not cease to amaze us: natural petals resembling an orchid grow on the body of females of the “devil flower”. But even this does not make these creatures more beautiful, rather, on the contrary.
Carapace Millipede
Which insect has the most terrible appearance and dangerous reputation? There is nothing much to think about here - the giant scolopendra. It is also called shell armor millipede. The insect reaches a length of 26 cm, attacks frogs, mice, lizards and even birds. This vile creature not only has an unpleasant appearance, but also poses a serious danger to humans.
Entomologists have found that the millipede itself does not bite, but it can leave specific marks on the skin of a person in the form of burning mucus. In special cases, such burns can be fatal. Therefore, campers or people living in the habitats of these insects should carefully inspect their homes to prevent scolopendras from entering them.
Lonomia, or "lazy clown"
Scary insects can have no wings, no legs, no chitinous coating. They can be long and thin, for example, like lonomia - the most dangerous caterpillar in the world. This scum lives in the forests of South America. Once the locals dubbed this insect "lazy clown." Why they did this is unknown, because this name absolutely does not reflect the nature of the caterpillar. Lonomies are able to perfectly disguise themselves as the environment, they merge with leaves, plants. It is almost impossible to see this caterpillar.
Outwardly, lonomy, of course, is not as ugly as a praying mantis or a humpback, but its poison poses a mortal danger to humans, which made it possible to write this creature into "terrible insects." The action of the poison of lonomia spreads to the kidneys, causing their failure, destroys red blood cells - red blood cells, and the victim’s body is covered with specific spots.
If a person touches several individuals at once, then the action of the toxin can cause hemorrhage in the brain. According to statistics, every year from the poison of the "lazy clown" kills from 15 to 30 people. As many become disabled for the rest of their lives.
Satin Peacock Eye
Speaking about which insect has the most terrible appearance, it is impossible not to mention a butterfly - a satin peacock-eye. This is amazing, but even butterflies can scare! The color of the wings of this creation is unique and specific. The front ends of its wings very much resemble a snake's head at the moment when the snake is preparing to make an attack roll.
For the unusual color of the wings, this butterfly was dubbed the "cobra", which, in turn, is the queen among snakes. The wingspan of the satin peacock-eye reaches 25 cm. Entomologists have no longer found another butterfly in the world with parameters exceeding the above figures. This allowed us to call this individual the largest in the entire globe.