5 Most Horrifying Bugs in the World

[WTF]

Re: 5 Most Horrifying Bugs in the World

That was absolutely a hilarious read...

[Aggies7]

Re: 5 Most Horrifying Bugs in the World

I hate bugs, so to me all bugs are horrifying.

[jmood88]

Re: 5 Most Horrifying Bugs in the World

That Hornet is on steroids:

The larvae are well fed, and in turn provide the adults with a powerful energy-boosting cocktail in their saliva.

It's called vespa amino acid mixture, or VAAM.Regular doses of VAAM from the larvae give giant hornets their incredible stamina and energy—when pursuing prey, they can travel a range of 60 miles (96 kilometers) at speeds reaching 25 miles per hour.

The incredible effects of VAAM have not gone unnoticed in Japan: The country's latest sports drink is based on this "hornet power." It contains a synthetic form of components in the hornet larval saliva, which is touted as performance-boosting. Japanese gold medalist and world-record marathon runner Naoko Takahashi declared that VAAM gave her an edge in the Olympic Games held in Sydney, Australia.

That thing is insane, it's like the perfect animal. If it was the size of a bird it would destroy everything.

A few interesting notes on Vespa mandarinia's venom and stinger:

* The venom contains at least eight distinct chemicals, some of which damage tissue, some of which cause pain, and at least one which has an odor that attracts more hornets to the victim.
* The venom contains 5% acetylcholine, a greater concentration than is present in bee or other wasp venoms. Acetylcholine stimulates the pain nerve fibres, intensifying the pain of the sting.
* Vespa mandarinia uses its large crushing mandibles, rather than its sting, to kill prey.
* The venom of the Asian giant hornet is more toxic than that of most other bees or wasps, giving this species one of the greatest lethal capacities per colony.
* The enzyme in the venom is so strong that it can dissolve human tissue.

[greenegt]

Re: 5 Most Horrifying Bugs in the World

So much for traveling the world...

[Double Eights]

Re: 5 Most Horrifying Bugs in the World

That is the worst list I've ever seen (and that includes the 2008 preseason lists with Ohio St and Oklahoma listed as national title contenders).

Why is it so bad?

0 ****ing spiders.

#1-5 should be:

5. Spiders that creep up on you
4. Spiders that can hide under your toilet seat and bite you on the ***
3. The giant spiders that typically aren't poisonous, but still scary as hell
2. Tarantulas
1. Cave spiders

Bees? Ants? Really? I can step on ants, leave bees the **** alone (half a second, you won't see me spending a damn nano-half second anywhere near a beehive), and in general, kill anything half an inch long in the jungle.

But a spider? They'll just post up, waiting for you to slip. Then, when you're comfortable, they'll run right at you, but go under a couch. At this point, you're tense; "That bitch must have been 18 inches long" you tell yourself. As you come down, you realize that it wasn't that big and believe yourself to be safe. Then, with seemingly magic spider powers, the damn thing appears behind you and it's not 18 inches, it's at least 25 and that's conservative. You pull out a machete, preparing yourself for an epic battle. As the beast runs, you manage to lop off 3 legs. This would cripple a half inch ant or lame bee, but a spider? Not likely. It manages to run through a crack in the wall that barely even exists. At this point, you know you'll never truly be safe in the house until the spider is destroyed...

That pretty much sums up my feelings on the issue.

I would live a much happier life if spiders weren't around.

[Sandman42]

Re: 5 Most Horrifying Bugs in the World

Apparently some people like having that super hornet as a pet.

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HuMS3KDNysM&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HuMS3KDNysM&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

[Dispatch]

Re: 5 Most Horrifying Bugs in the World

Now all I'm gonna think of when I'm in bed tonight is nasty *** bugs.

[trobinson97]

Re: 5 Most Horrifying Bugs in the World

Apparently some people like having that super hornet as a pet.

<object height="355" width="425">

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HuMS3KDNysM&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></object>

Hecky naw.

[Flyboy]

Re: 5 Most Horrifying Bugs in the World

That is the worst list I've ever seen (and that includes the 2008 preseason lists with Ohio St and Oklahoma listed as national title contenders).

Why is it so bad?

0 ****ing spiders.

#1-5 should be:

5. Spiders that creep up on you
4. Spiders that can hide under your toilet seat and bite you on the ***
3. The giant spiders that typically aren't poisonous, but still scary as hell
2. Tarantulas
1. Cave spiders

Bees? Ants? Really? I can step on ants, leave bees the **** alone (half a second, you won't see me spending a damn nano-half second anywhere near a beehive), and in general, kill anything half an inch long in the jungle.

But a spider? They'll just post up, waiting for you to slip. Then, when you're comfortable, they'll run right at you, but go under a couch. At this point, you're tense; "That bitch must have been 18 inches long" you tell yourself. As you come down, you realize that it wasn't that big and believe yourself to be safe. Then, with seemingly magic spider powers, the damn thing appears behind you and it's not 18 inches, it's at least 25 and that's conservative. You pull out a machete, preparing yourself for an epic battle. As the beast runs, you manage to lop off 3 legs. This would cripple a half inch ant or lame bee, but a spider? Not likely. It manages to run through a crack in the wall that barely even exists. At this point, you know you'll never truly be safe in the house until the spider is destroyed...

PREACH TO 'EM, The Soldier! I'm the exact same way. **** spiders.

[jmood88]

Re: 5 Most Horrifying Bugs in the World

[Flyboy]

Re: 5 Most Horrifying Bugs in the World

You're an f'n dick.

[bucksfan07]

Re: 5 Most Horrifying Bugs in the World

if I would ever see one of those, I'd probably faint

[madscientist]

Re: 5 Most Horrifying Bugs in the World

Somebody had to do it!

[Lintyfresh85]

Re: 5 Most Horrifying Bugs in the World

Absolutely loved that article. I didn't stop laughing throughout.

Giant Hornet is badass.

[AuburnAlumni]

Re: 5 Most Horrifying Bugs in the World

Apparently some people like having that super hornet as a pet.

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HuMS3KDNysM&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HuMS3KDNysM&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

I read the youtube description. That isn't a Japanese Giant Hornet..it's a relative that looks very similar.

Otherwise..that dude would have flesh melting poison in his eye and would probably be karate kicked to the face.