The Goliath Beetle. The Giant Weta. The Northern Giant Hornet, aka Murder Hornet. If you hate bugs, pictures of these are nightmare fuel.

They’re some of the largest insects in the world and at first glance are absolutely terrifying. But does their size make them the most deadly insects on the planet? 

Not really. Goliath Beetles look scary because of their horns, but they don’t have teeth. They can pinch you with their mandibles and that might draw blood. It’s rare that they get aggressive with humans, but should you cross one, it won’t kill you. 

Canva
Canva
loading...

The Giant Weta looks like a cricket or grasshopper but it’s the size of a hamster. Their mandibles are strong. If you Google this insect, which is native to New Zealand, you’ll find videos of it crunching through carrots which is unnerving, but Wetas are more likely to hide from you than get aggressive. Also, that thing that looks like a giant stinger? It’s not. Pukaja National Wildlife Centre explains that it’s a body part that female Wetas use to lay their eggs.  

Canva
Canva
loading...

And the Northern Giant Hornet? Well, those got a little too close to home when they were discovered in Washington State in 2019. That news didn’t really hit the media until May 2020 while people were already on edge because of the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s when they were nicknamed “murder hornets.” Because of their size, they are quite scary to see BUT they got their name because of their reputation for wiping out entire bee colonies, not humans. 

Canva
Canva
loading...

All good news. Even better news? None of these are native to the United States, so chances are you won’t come face to face with them. 

READ MORE: What You Need To Know About These "Killer" Wasps in Idaho

If these creepy crawlies don’t top the list, which ones do? Field and Stream, an outdoor publication that’s been around for 125 years, put together a “taxonomically laid-back” list of the “12 Deadliest Insects in the World.” They acknowledged that technically spiders aren’t insects (they’re arachnids,) but explained that if it was “creepy and crawly and can kill, it’s on the list.” 

Idaho’s Talk Station logo
Get our free mobile app

If you don’t like bugs, this list may make your skin crawl. Five of the deadly dozen can be found in Idaho. One of the insects on this list was likely the cause of two deaths in Idaho last year because of a disease it's been known to transmit.

Keep reading to find out which creepy crawlies from our region made the list and what makes them so deadly.

5 of the World's Most Deadly Insects Are in Idaho Right Now

Field & Stream, an outdoor publication that's been around for more than 125 years, put together a list of the most deadly insects (and arachnids, they admitted to being "taxonomically laid back" in their article) in the world. Five of them can be found in Idaho!

Gallery Credit: Michelle Heart

KEEP READING: If You See Any of These 6 Bugs in Idaho, Kill Them Immediately

According to the USDA, Idaho could potentially be a good home for these invasive insects. If their populations get out of control, it could mean devastation for some agricultural industries.

Gallery Credit: Michelle Heart

5 Nasty Bees and Wasps That May Be Waiting to Sting You in Idaho

According to the United States Forest Service, these are five of the most common stinging insects in Idaho. We grabbed their pictures, along with pictures of their nests, to help you identify what you found on your property.

Gallery Credit: Michelle Heart

More From Idaho’s Talk Station