Insects are pesky creatures that insist on ruining your cultivation and can often prove to be a nuisance by the time summer comes around. However, when it comes to swarms many of the ‘harmless’ insects living in your garden, and even those in the countryside, can prove to be deadly. In this blog post, we will be taking a look at just three of the most terrifying insect swarms in the world.
Africanised Honeybees
Scarily enough, it is thought that around 40 people each year fall victim to swarms of this particular bee (often called killer bees) in North America. One of the worst incidents ever reported happened on 3rd June 2013 when Larry Goodwin disturbed a mass of killer bees. Mr Goodwin was said to have accidentally knocked a derelict coop and in doing so, distressed around 40,000 killer bees. While Goodwin did attempt to outrun the swarm, his last resort was to spray the bees with a hose pipe so that his neighbours could find shelter.
According to listverse, one woman actually ran towards him to help but she was attacked, stung repeatedly and eventually forced back into her home. Firefighters who were called to the scene had no hope of approaching the swarm as they were chased away with every attempt. Sadly, Mr Goodwin was killed during the attack.
Killer bees are well-known for their aggressive temperament and they are highly defensive and deadly when provoked. Unlike honeybees, killer bees will actually burrow under a beekeepers protective suit so that it can sting and when a hive is disturbed, a larger mass of bees will emerge in order to protect and safeguard the hive.
Rocky Mountain Locust
Although now an extinct species, the tale of the swarm of Rocky Mountain locusts in April 1875 is truly terrifying. The total weight of the swarm was rumoured to be around 27.5 million tons and the swarm itself is thought to have consisted of around 12.5 trillion locusts. While these insects cannot bite, they triggered a massive uproar amongst the livestock, causing them to stampede. It is also said that these insects could actually suffocate the animals by flying down their throats, causing them to choke. The swarm occurred in Western Missouri and destroyed the vast majority of farmers’ crops. This locust subspecies became extinct at the turn of the 20th century.
The Giant Asian Hornet
Leaving the best (or most scary) until last, most people have heard about the giant Asian hornet but unless you have visited or lived in China or Japan, it’s very unlikely you have actually seen one. While the species is not thought to be overly aggressive, the size of the species is truly terrifying to behold and in 2013, from July to October, one outbreak of the species actually killed a total of 42 people and left 206 hospitalised over three different cities. According to listverse, if the venom of one of these hornets is acquired in large quantities, it can be enough to shut down the kidneys. One patient who was being treated for stings received a total of 200 stitches and more than ten dialysis treatments.
So, as you can see, swarms can be deadly and if you encounter a swarm it’s always best to get as far away as possible and contact a local pest control company to ensure the insects are gotten rid of as quickly and as efficiently as possible.
Here at Empire Pest Control, we currently operate our pest control services in the London area and we specialise in effective pest extermination. If you’d like to enquire about our services, please get in touch with our customer service team today.
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