Freshwater Snail
Yes, we understand what you’re saying. It is difficult to comprehend how a snail could end up on a list of the world’s most deadly creatures. Isn’t it true that the worst that can happen to a snail is a little slimming? According to the results of this investigation, the worst that can happen is actually quite bad indeed! Would you believe us if we told you that freshwater snails are responsible for the deaths of more than 200,000 people each year? Was that more than all of the lion, wolf, and shark kills put together in one year? Because the next time you go freshwater swimming in tropical or subtropical regions of South America, Asia, or Africa, it will pay to be aware of the dangers you’re putting yourself in. Freshwater snails that live in these waterways are carriers of a parasite that causes a sickness known as schistosomiasis, which is a parasitic infection. Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that produces a high fever, diarrhea, joint and muscle discomfort, stomach pain, and a cough. It is fatal if left untreated. If you spend any amount of time in the water with freshwater snails, there is a good probability that the parasites will spread from the snail to you. These little insects are small enough to pass through your skin without you noticing, and they then travel to your blood arteries, where they will happily remain for years, depositing their eggs. In case that wasn’t awful enough, these eggs have sharp barbs on the outside, which allows them to burrow their way into your tissues. The infection of schistosomiasis causes death in approximately 10% of cases. So if you experience symptoms after traveling to one of these regions of the world, no matter how long ago you traveled there, you should seek medical attention immediately.
Freshwater Snail
German Yellow Jacket Wasps
Is it true that wasps are annoying and that you wonder about their purpose? If so, you are in good company. It is wasps’ nature to be irritating and frustrating, and they enjoy ruining an afternoon in the beer garden. If, on the other hand, you come across a German yellow jacket wasp, you’ll be wishing for the return of the common picnic bench dweller wasp, with all of your earlier transgressions pardoned. German yellow jacket wasps are larger, more aggressive, and more likely to sting than the wasps we are used to seeing in the United States. In fact, they enjoy stinging repeatedly and for no apparent reason other than to ruin your day by making you feel uncomfortable. This is especially true in the late summer when they’ve become even rowdier as a result of eating rotting, fermenting fruits, which has caused them to become inebriated and hyperactive. These wasps, which can be found almost everywhere except Antarctica, inject venom into their victims, which can cause a terrible reaction, especially if they are bitten numerous times. This larger wasp can be distinguished by three black markings on its face if you are fortunate enough to get close enough to see them. Not to mention, if you try to fend off a German yellow jacket wasp by waving your arms around, it will make them believe they are under attack and they will sting even more freely, drawing the attention of their mates in the process.
German Yellow Jacket Wasps
