How to Identify Poisonous Insects

There are many poisonous or venomous insects you should know about. While there is no sure way to identify them, these steps summarize some of the warning signals that a bug might be dangerous, even lethal.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Avoid any insect with pincers or a stinger. You also should avoid insects with red markings, a color that often warns of a venemous insect.

2. Steer clear of any flying insect that looks as though it might be a bee or wasp (hornets and yellow jackets are actually classified as wasps). Bees are either brown or black with yellow or golden markings and a fuzzy upper body. Wasps vary in coloration but have long, thin bodies and wings. Even though there are many types of flies that mimic wasps and bees, they are often difficult to differentiate and should simply be avoided.

3. Distinguish between a centipede and a millipede. A centipede has a flat, reddish-brown body with legs protruding to the sides, and millipedes are rounder and grayish in color. Centipedes are poisonous, millipedes are not.

4. Look for spines or hairs on a caterpillar. If the caterpillar looks fuzzy or hairy, it is better not to touch it. The spines often contain a toxic irritant. They are sharp and potentially painful.

5. Watch out for the blister beetle. Touching one can cause blistering on the skin. They have long, thin black bodies. If you are unsure if a beetle is dangerous or not, leave it alone.

6. Refrain from handling any kind of so-called "bug" unless you are certain that it isn't dangerous. Many bugs, while not poisonous, can inflict pain with a bite. Examples include the giant water bug and the ambush bug.

7. Avoid ants altogether. Although some are more dangerous than others, you do not want to chance getting bitten.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not handle insects carelessly. Many non-poisonous insects can still pinch if they are scared or feel endangered.

• A few spiders, such as the Black Widow and Brown Recluse, can poison you. However, many spider bite, causing pain or swelling at the site of the injury. Avoid them.

• Many harmless insects use mimicry to look like poisonous or distasteful bugs. There may be no way to distinguish the real from the fake. If you see what you think might be a poisonous insect, avoid it.