00:00 Let me introduce you to the little terrors of our world.
00:03 The fire ants.
00:04 When they sting, they inject a venom that can cause serious problems.
00:08 For most people, it's just a burning sensation and clots that form.
00:13 But for others, especially those who are allergic to it, it's a matter of life or death.
00:18 These ants establish their colony right under our feet.
00:21 They are prompt to gather and protect their nest.
00:25 They show no mercy to intruders.
00:28 Their bites are evaluated at about 1.2 on the scale of the pain of the stings.
00:34 Of Schmidt insects, where 4 represent the maximum.
00:38 You would probably shake out of it.
00:40 But the sensation remains less intense than when a wasp stings you.
00:44 These ants are native to the tropical regions of Central and South America.
00:49 But today, we can even find them in some temperate areas of North America.
00:54 In their colony, the fire ants observe a strict hierarchy.
00:58 A queen, males and female and different types of asexual workers.
01:03 They communicate by means of pheromones and sounds.
01:07 The most feared member of this species is the imported red ant.
01:11 These come from South America and have invaded the south of the United States.
01:15 They build large mounds, making agriculture difficult and damaging the crops.
01:21 It is almost impossible to regulate them.
01:23 And as if that were not enough, now appears the emergence of another invasive species,
01:28 the crazy ant of Raspberry.
01:30 It presents a threat to any endemic ecosystem.
01:34 It turns out that ants can be dangerously hostile.
01:39 The mellow-headed tickers are among the 10 most dangerous insects in the world.
01:45 Fortunately, they are not deadly to humans.
01:47 Unless they attack us in large numbers.
01:50 However, they are a serious threat to large animals such as horses.
01:55 The mellow-headed tickers produce a toxin called cantharidin,
02:00 which causes redness and blisters on the skin.
02:03 In the past, people believed that they could treat verrus and even rage.
02:08 And some even went as far as to include it in love filters.
02:11 It's a risky game, however.
02:14 In the 1950s, a Briton was convicted of giving cantharidin-soaked candy to two women,
02:20 causing their death.
02:22 These insects are not to be taken lightly.
02:25 Manipulating or ingesting them is extremely dangerous.
02:28 Yet, they are attracted by the mucus and the foam.
02:31 If a horse eats one or the other of these foods,
02:33 even a handful of mellow-headed tickers are able to release enough cantharidin to kill it.
02:40 This adorable caterpillar from South America is the Launomia oblica,
02:45 and it is the most dangerous caterpillar on Earth.
02:48 It is responsible for a number of deaths because of its powerful venom.
02:52 It is the larva of a Saturnidae.
02:54 When it grows up, it becomes a superb and harmless green to itself.
02:59 But if you see them while they are still juvenile,
03:02 it is better to stay away.
03:04 Their toxicity comes from their hair full of venom.
03:08 They serve as a defense mechanism against predators.
03:11 The poison disturbs blood coagulation and can cause very serious symptoms,
03:17 such as burning sensations, vomiting, kidney problems, and sometimes even worse.
03:23 A single bite will probably not have any serious consequences.
03:26 It only delivers a tiny amount of venom.
03:29 But these caterpillars tend to group together,
03:32 and they are very good at camouflage,
03:34 which increases the risk of multiple bites.
03:38 Caterpillars themselves are not so dangerous to humans.
03:41 They are just ordinary and noisy caterpillars.
03:44 But they are sadly famous for their behavior of stinging.
03:48 These larvae often gather during dry and arid periods.
03:52 Then suddenly, a large amount of rain falls,
03:56 and the plants start to grow rapidly.
03:59 Once the larvae are gone, it is almost impossible to stop it.
04:03 It can mutate into a destructive force in a few minutes.
04:06 Throughout history, the plague of caterpillars has been particularly devastating,
04:11 causing devastation in cultures and agricultural lands.
04:15 What is interesting is that their other name, Locust,
04:18 can refer to different things depending on the different regions of the globe.
04:22 In some cases, Americans refer to the "goats",
04:25 which are also known for their cacophony.
04:28 But for us, Locust usually refers to the "crickets",
04:32 ancient creatures that have been relatively unchanged since the Triassic era.
04:37 They are among the oldest insects on Earth.
04:40 Goats, crickets and even bees can pose an extreme danger,
04:47 especially for those who are allergic to their sting.
04:50 As its name suggests, the giant cricket is the largest of the crickets.
04:53 It can reach up to 5 cm long.
04:56 It has a powerful venom, capable of causing terrible discomfort,
05:00 and can even be pulverized in people's eyes.
05:03 There is an even more venomous species in the Philippines,
05:06 called Vespa Luctuosa.
05:08 Not to be confused with Wingardium Leviosa.
05:11 Are you a fan of Harry Potter somewhere?
05:14 In any case, deaths due to geese or bees are rare but not unknown.
05:19 In the United Kingdom, about 10 people die every year from bees or geese stings.
05:24 Always be careful, these insects are all very territorial
05:28 and will fiercely defend their nest.
05:30 When provoked, they signal the danger to their congeners
05:34 and trigger a general fight.
05:36 If you have to manipulate them,
05:39 it is preferable to call on professionals.
05:41 The chick is as humble as tiny,
05:46 but it has had a colossal impact on history and human health.
05:50 They are not just annoying parasites,
05:52 they are well-known vectors of various diseases
05:56 and are responsible for some of the worst epidemics in history.
06:00 In the 14th century, I was not there yet at the time,
06:02 and that's even better,
06:04 because the bubonic plague killed more than 25 million people across Europe.
06:08 Chicks have played a major role in its spread.
06:11 They spend their lives looking for others to feed on,
06:15 whether they are reptiles, mammals, domestic animals or humans.
06:21 Despite their small size and the absence of wings,
06:23 they compensate for this with an impressive jumping ability.
06:28 They can fly up to 1.8 meters high
06:31 and thus travel more than 360 meters in the air.
06:35 A chick's sting may seem to be a minor discomfort,
06:39 causing dizziness and inflammation.
06:41 But a large number of them can cause the anemia of the host.
06:45 Of course, the most dangerous part about them
06:47 remain viruses, bacteria and other parasites that they transmit.
06:52 Triatominae live mainly in both parts of the American continent.
06:58 With smaller populations in Africa and Asia,
07:01 they are particularly gifted at transmitting bacteria, viruses and parasites.
07:06 One of the parasites they carry is the Trypanosoma cruzii.
07:10 It is responsible for diseases that affect millions of people around the world
07:14 and cause thousands of victims each year.
07:17 What is not insignificant is that the symptoms often do not appear
07:21 before 10, 20 or even 30 years after being stung.
07:25 They generally manifest by cardiac failure,
07:28 digestive problems or nervous system disorders.
07:31 These insects are called Veritibus Vampirus,
07:34 which suck your blood and are attracted by the breath of the Eos Proius.
07:38 If you breathe through the mouth, you are susceptible to chewing.
07:42 They are not the most refined eaters either,
07:45 often biting in an almost uncontrollable way,
07:48 which only adds to the problem.
07:51 Many have already heard of the Tsetse fly,
07:54 a singular and frightening insect,
07:57 native to tropical Africa.
07:59 These flies are carriers of one of the most devastating human diseases,
08:04 that of sleep.
08:05 Like the Triatominae,
08:07 the Tsetse fly is a transmitter of Trypanosomes,
08:10 the parasites that cause the disease.
08:13 They acquire this parasite from an infected host,
08:15 where it develops inside the body of the fly.
08:19 Sleep disease does not strike immediately.
08:22 After a sting, it takes 1 to 3 weeks for the symptoms to appear.
08:27 Fever, headaches, joint pain and nausea.
08:31 As the disease progresses, it can invade the nervous system,
08:35 causing confusion, insomnia and loss of balance.
08:39 Without treatment, it can lead to a coma followed by a fatal outcome.
08:43 Fortunately, sleep disease can be treated,
08:46 and the number of human losses tends to decrease.
08:48 The Tsetse fly also has a historical importance.
08:52 Its presence has hampered the European colonial expansion in Africa.
08:57 And the crown of the most dangerous insect in the world comes back to mosquitoes.
09:02 This is not a surprising war.
09:04 Despite their small size, they have a colossal impact.
09:07 They are not only responsible for more human losses each year than any other animal,
09:12 but they have also left an indelible mark on history.
09:16 These little insects have played a role in the ascent and fall of entire civilizations.
09:21 Thus, malaria has considerably weakened the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations.
09:28 What is interesting is that it is not the mosquitoes themselves that are dangerous,
09:32 but once again, their parasites, bacteria and viruses are transmitted by their sting.
09:38 These flying horrors thus spread an entire buffet of diseases.
09:42 In addition to malaria, we count yellow fever, which, just like the Tsetse fly,
09:48 has never ceased to hamper the efforts to colonize tropical regions.
09:52 The most frightening of them is the Anopheles mosquito.
09:56 It is the ultimate predator of the insect world,
09:59 responsible for more deaths and diseases than any other.
10:03 How do we fight these tiny but yet so powerful enemies?
10:07 With prevention.
10:09 We must eliminate stagnant water in our immediate environment,
10:13 and practice mosquito control measures.
10:16 We must always be two steps ahead to protect ourselves from these dangerous insects.
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