Insects are often overlooked as a danger to the survivor. More people in the United States die each year from bee stings, and resulting anaphylactic shock, than from snake bites. A few other insects are venomous enough to kill, but often the greatest danger is the transmission of disease.
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Scorpion Description: Dull brown, yellow, or black. Have 7.5- to 20-centimeter long (3- to 8-inch long) lobsterlike pincers and jointed tail usually held over the back. There are 800 species of scorpions. Habitat: Decaying matter, under debris, logs, and rocks. Feeds at night. Sometimes hides in boots. Distribution: Worldwide in temperate, arid, and tropical regions.
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Brown house spider or brown recluse spider Description: Brown to black with obvious "fiddle" on back of head and thorax. Chunky body with long, slim legs 2.5 to 4 centimeters (1 to 1 1/2 inches) long. Habitat: Under debris, rocks, and logs. In caves and dark places. Distribution: North America. |
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Funnelweb spider Description: Large, brown, bulky spiders. Aggressive when disturbed. Habitat: Woods, jungles, and brushy areas. Web has a funnel-like opening. Distribution: Australia. (Other nonvenomous species worldwide.) |
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Tarantula Description: Very large, brown, black, reddish, hairy spiders. Large fangs inflict painful bite. Habitat: Desert areas, tropics. Distribution: Americas, southern Europe. |
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Widow spider Description: Dark spiders with light red or orange markings on female's abdomen. Habitat: Under logs, rocks, and debris. In shaded places. Distribution: Varied species worldwide. Black widow in United States, red widow in Middle East, and brown widow in Australia. NOTE: Females are the poisonous gender. Red widow in the Middle East is the only spider known to be deadly to man. |
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Centipede Description: Multi-joined body to 30 centimeters (12 inches) long. Dull orange to brown, with black point eyes at the base of the antenna. There are 2,800 species worldwide. Habitat: Under bark and stones by day. Active at night. Distribution: Worldwide. |
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Bee Description: Insect with brown or black, hairy bodies. Generally found in colonies. Many build wax combs. Habitat: Hollow trees, caves, dwellings. Near water in desert areas. Distribution: Worldwide. NOTE: Bees have barbed stingers and die after stinging because their venom sac and internal organs are pulled out during the attack. |
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Wasps and hornets Description: Generally smooth-bodied, slender stinging insects. Many nest individually in mud nests or in paper nest colonies. Smooth stinger permits multiple attacks. There are several hundred species worldwide. Habitat: May be found anywhere in various species. Distribution: Worldwide. NOTE: An exception to general appearance is the velvet ant of the southern United States. It is a flightless wasp with red and black alternating velvety bands. |
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Tick Description: Round body from size of pinhead to 2.5 centimeters. Has 8 legs and sucking mouth parts. There are 850 species worldwide. Habitat: Mainly in forests and grasslands. Also in urban areas and farmlands. Distribution: Worldwide. |
