Skip to main content
The Wild Pest
Book
Browse by tag

Toxic bugs

Every species in the Wild Files corpus where toxic is a defining trait.

43 on file

On File
A bombardier beetle (Brachinus crepitans) on damp leaf litter, dark body with reddish thorax.
Curious
Six Legs80
Alias
Brachinus crepitans

Bombardier Beetle

Sprays boiling caustic chemicals from a rotating turret. 500 pulses per second.

Read the file→
On File
A bullet ant (Paraponera clavata) on a rainforest leaf, showing the characteristic glossy black body and prominent mandibles.
Apex Outlaw
Six Legs92
Alias
Paraponera clavata

Bullet Ant

Tops the world's pain index — a sting that earned a coming-of-age ritual.

Read the file→
On File
A glasswing butterfly (Greta oto) on a green leaf, transparent wings clearly visible.
Curious
Six Legs77
Alias
Greta oto

Glasswing Butterfly

Wings you can read through. Anti-reflective coating better than most human glass.

Read the file→
On File
A seven-spotted ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata) on a green leaf, showing the iconic red elytra with seven black spots.
Beneficial
Six Legs63
Alias
Coccinella septempunctata

Seven-Spotted Ladybug

Eats 5,000 aphids a lifetime. Bleeds yellow. Universally considered good luck.

Read the file→
On File
A monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) on a milkweed flower, wings spread.
Beneficial
Six Legs83
Alias
Danaus plexippus

Monarch Butterfly

Migrates 4,800 km — across four generations — to a forest none of them have ever seen.

Read the file→
On File
A giant African millipede (Archispirostreptus gigas), long cylindrical glossy black body with hundreds of small legs.
Curious
Six Legs73
Alias
Archispirostreptus gigas

Giant African Millipede

Largest millipede on Earth — 38 cm. 256 legs. Releases cyanide when annoyed.

Read the file→
On File
A Madagascan sunset moth (Chrysiridia rhipheus) with wings spread, iridescent green-blue-orange-gold pattern.
Curious
Six Legs73
Alias
Chrysiridia rhipheus

Madagascan Sunset Moth

Often called the most beautiful insect on Earth. Iridescent green, blue, orange, gold, red.

Read the file→
On File
A Klamath weed beetle (Chrysolina quadrigemina), small leaf beetle with brilliant metallic green-or-blue elytra, six legs, top view.
Beneficial
Six Legs84
Alias
Chrysolina quadrigemina

Klamath Weed Beetle

Foundational NA weed-biocontrol success. Reduced invasive Klamath weed by 99% in western US in 10 years.

Read the file→
On File
A black garden ant (Lasius niger), small dark brown to black ant with the typical formicid body plan, six legs, side profile.
Outlaw
Six Legs77
Alias
Lasius niger

Black Garden Ant

Most familiar ant in European gardens. Synchronized 'FLYING ANT DAY' mating swarms every summer.

Read the file→
On File
A conehead termite soldier (Nasutitermes corniger), small dark termite with sharp conical head and specialized nose-like nasus projection, six legs, top view.
Outlaw
Six Legs88
Alias
Nasutitermes corniger

Conehead Termite

Soldier with CONE-SHAPED HEAD that sprays STICKY DEFENSIVE GLUE. Invaded south Florida in 2001.

Read the file→
On File
A two-striped walking stick (Anisomorpha buprestoides), short stout dark brown walking stick with three pale longitudinal stripes, six legs, side profile.
Outlaw
Six Legs83
Alias
Anisomorpha buprestoides

Two-Striped Walking Stick

SPRAYS toxic chemical defense up to 40 cm — intensely irritating to vertebrate eyes. 'Devil rider' walking stick.

Read the file→
On File
Pink hibiscus mealybug (Maconellicoccus hirsutus) colonies, dense white cottony masses on the underside of hibiscus leaves and along stems, top view.
Outlaw
Six Legs81
Alias
Maconellicoccus hirsutus

Pink Hibiscus Mealybug

Major invasive Caribbean pest. Attacks 200+ plant species. Foundational classical biocontrol case study.

Read the file→
On File
A cotton stainer (Dysdercus suturellus), bright red head and pronotum with yellow abdomen and bold black markings along the wing margins, six legs, top view.
Outlaw
Six Legs81
Alias
Dysdercus suturellus

Cotton Stainer

Bright red-and-yellow cotton pest. STAINS cotton fibers yellow-and-red — major southeastern US cotton damage.

Read the file→
On File
A brown-tail moth caterpillar (Euproctis chrysorrhoea), dark brown to black caterpillar with red and white spots and dense tufts of brown urticating hairs along the body, side profile.
Outlaw
Six Legs82
Alias
Euproctis chrysorrhoea

Brown-Tail Moth

Caterpillar covered in URTICATING HAIRS that cause severe rash and respiratory irritation in humans.

Read the file→
On File
A European pine sawfly (Diprion pini), stout broad sawfly without the narrow wasp waist of stinging Hymenoptera, six legs, side profile.
Outlaw
Six Legs80
Alias
Diprion pini

European Pine Sawfly

Major European pine forest pest. Larvae perform synchronous 'whip' defensive displays with toxic resin droplets.

Read the file→
On File
A yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes), yellow-orange ant with very long thin legs and antennae, six legs, side profile.
Outlaw
Six Legs87
Alias
Anoplolepis gracilipes

Yellow Crazy Ant

World's 100 worst invasive species. Killed 10-15 MILLION red crabs on Christmas Island. Catastrophic.

Read the file→
On File
A female northern black widow (Latrodectus variolus), shiny jet-black spider with broken red hourglass marking and row of red-or-yellow spots along the dorsal midline of the abdomen, eight legs, top view.
Outlaw
Six Legs84
Alias
Latrodectus variolus

Northern Black Widow

Eastern NA black widow. 'Broken' RED HOURGLASS marking. Potent neurotoxic venom (alpha-latrotoxin).

Read the file→
On File
A six-eyed sand spider (Sicarius hahni), tan-brown desert spider with six eyes (instead of typical eight) and short flattened legs, eight legs, top view.
Apex Outlaw
Six Legs91
Alias
Sicarius hahni

Six-Eyed Sand Spider

MOST POTENT spider venom on Earth (drop-for-drop). Buries herself in sand. Almost never bites humans.

Read the file→
On File
A cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae), small day-flying moth with brilliant crimson-red-and-black forewings marked by two red spots and a long red stripe along the wing margin, side profile.
Beneficial
Six Legs83
Alias
Tyria jacobaeae

Cinnabar Moth

Brilliant CRIMSON-RED-AND-BLACK day-flying moth. Most successful weed-biocontrol species ever introduced to NA.

Read the file→
On File
A European red wood ant (Formica rufa), reddish-brown head and pronotum with darker brown abdomen, six legs, side profile.
Beneficial
Six Legs79
Alias
Formica rufa

European Red Wood Ant

Massive THATCH-COVERED MOUNDS up to 2m tall. PROTECTED SPECIES across Europe. Major forest pest control.

Read the file→
On File
A banded net-winged beetle (Calopteron reticulatum), oval beetle with bright orange-yellow elytra marked by two broad black cross-bands and a raised network of veins giving the wing covers a textured lattice appearance, six legs, top view.
Beneficial
Six Legs74
Alias
Calopteron reticulatum

Banded Net-Winged Beetle

Bright ORANGE elytra with raised NETWORK of veins. Müllerian mimicry — multiple beetle species share the warning pattern.

Read the file→
On File
A polka-dot wasp moth (Syntomeida epilais), small moth with brilliant metallic blue-black wings marked with rows of white spots and bright red abdomen tip, side profile.
Outlaw
Six Legs82
Alias
Syntomeida epilais

Polka-Dot Wasp Moth

Brilliant metallic BLUE-BLACK with white POLKA DOTS and bright RED abdomen tip. Oleander pest in southern US.

Read the file→
On File
A variegated fritillary butterfly (Euptoieta claudia), small orange-and-black butterfly with intricate dark veining and brown undersides without silver spots, side profile.
Beneficial
Six Legs70
Alias
Euptoieta claudia

Variegated Fritillary

Small migratory NA fritillary. Multiple generations. Re-establishes northern range each spring by migration.

Read the file→
On File
A dogbane beetle (Chrysochus auratus), oval-shaped beetle with brilliant metallic iridescent coloration combining green, gold, copper, and red highlights across the wing covers, six legs, top view.
Beneficial
Six Legs72
Alias
Chrysochus auratus

Dogbane Beetle

Brilliant METALLIC GREEN-GOLD-AND-COPPER iridescent beetle. Sequesters cardiac glycosides from dogbane.

Read the file→
On File
A Gulf fritillary butterfly (Agraulis vanillae), bright orange uppersides with bold black spots and brilliant metallic-silver-and-cream spot patterns on the hindwing underside, side profile.
Beneficial
Six Legs73
Alias
Agraulis vanillae

Gulf Fritillary

Bright orange with brilliant METALLIC SILVER underside spots. Sequesters toxins from passion flowers.

Read the file→
On File
An eastern black swallowtail butterfly (Papilio polyxenes), large predominantly black butterfly with two parallel yellow spot rows along the wing margins and small red/orange spots near hindwing tail bases, side profile.
Beneficial
Six Legs73
Alias
Papilio polyxenes

Eastern Black Swallowtail

The 'parsley caterpillar' butterfly. State butterfly of OK and NJ. Female mimics toxic pipevine.

Read the file→
On File
A giant swallowtail butterfly (Papilio cresphontes), enormous dark brown-to-black wings with diagonal yellow band across forewings and yellow border along wing margins, side profile.
Outlaw
Six Legs81
Alias
Papilio cresphontes

Giant Swallowtail

LARGEST butterfly in North America. Caterpillar = the 'orange dog' citrus pest that mimics BIRD DROPPINGS.

Read the file→
On File
An eastern lubber grasshopper (Romalea microptera), large bright-yellow body with bold black markings on the wings, abdomen, and legs, six legs, side profile.
Curious
Six Legs82
Alias
Romalea microptera

Eastern Lubber Grasshopper

Largest grasshopper in southeastern US. Flightless. Foam-producing chemical defense. Mass nymph processions.

Read the file→
On File
An Indian red scorpion (Hottentotta tamulus), small reddish-brown to orange-brown scorpion with relatively thin tail and stinger, eight legs and large pedipalps, top view.
Apex Outlaw
Six Legs88
Alias
Hottentotta tamulus

Indian Red Scorpion

World's most lethal scorpion. Pre-treatment childhood mortality 30-40%. Cardiac autonomic storm.

Read the file→
On File
A giant vinegaroon (Mastigoproctus giganteus), dark brown-to-black scorpion-like arachnid with massive heavy pedipalps and a long whip-like terminal tail, eight legs, top view.
Curious
Six Legs83
Alias
Mastigoproctus giganteus

Giant Vinegaroon

Looks like a scorpion. Sprays CONCENTRATED VINEGAR. No venom. No sting. Just weaponized acetic acid.

Read the file→
On File
A male pipevine swallowtail butterfly (Battus philenor), dark wings with brilliant iridescent blue scaling on the hindwings and bold orange spots, wings spread, dorsal view.
Curious
Six Legs80
Alias
Battus philenor

Pipevine Swallowtail

TOXIC. Model for at least 5 mimic butterfly species. Caterpillars sequester pipevine alkaloids.

Read the file→
On File
A viceroy butterfly (Limenitis archippus), bright orange-and-black wings closely resembling the monarch butterfly with a distinctive thin black band crossing the hindwing veins, dorsal view.
Curious
Six Legs81
Alias
Limenitis archippus

Viceroy Butterfly

Famous monarch mimic. For 100 years taught as Batesian (palatable) — 1991 proved her ALSO toxic.

Read the file→
On File
A zebra longwing butterfly (Heliconius charithonia), elongated wings with bold black-and-pale-yellow stripes resembling a small zebra, dorsal view.
Beneficial
Six Legs82
Alias
Heliconius charithonia

Zebra Longwing Butterfly

Florida state butterfly. Eats pollen. Communal roosting. Males mate with females during pupal emergence.

Read the file→
On File
A zebra swallowtail butterfly (Eurytides marcellus), pale cream wings crossed by bold black vertical stripes with dramatically elongated hindwing tails, dorsal view.
Beneficial
Six Legs74
Alias
Eurytides marcellus

Zebra Swallowtail

Tennessee state butterfly. Longest tails of any North American swallowtail. Eats only pawpaw.

Read the file→
On File
A six-spot burnet moth (Zygaena filipendulae), iridescent blue-black forewings with six bright red spots and entirely red hindwings, dorsal view.
Curious
Six Legs80
Alias
Zygaena filipendulae

Six-Spot Burnet Moth

Day-flying moth that contains REAL cyanide. Bird predators learn quickly. Bright red-and-black warning.

Read the file→
On File
A male orange tip butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines), pure white wings with brilliant orange tips on the forewings, dorsal view.
Beneficial
Six Legs71
Alias
Anthocharis cardamines

Orange Tip

Spring butterfly with bright orange wing tips (males only). Caterpillars are cannibalistic.

Read the file→
On File
A garden tiger moth (Arctia caja), wings spread showing chocolate-brown forewings with bold cream stripes and brilliant orange-red hindwings with black spots.
Curious
Six Legs77
Alias
Arctia caja

Garden Tiger Moth

Chocolate-brown wings with cream stripes. Orange hindwings flash. Toxic and warning-colored.

Read the file→
On File
A postman butterfly (Heliconius melpomene), elongated black wings with bold red and yellow transverse bands, dorsal view.
Curious
Six Legs86
Alias
Heliconius melpomene

Postman Butterfly

Eats pollen — only butterfly that does. Lives 6+ months. Centerpiece of modern speciation research.

Read the file→
On File
A goldenrod soldier beetle (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus), small soft-bodied yellow-and-black striped beetle with soft elytra, six legs, on a yellow goldenrod flower.
Beneficial
Six Legs68
Alias
Chauliognathus pensylvanicus

Goldenrod Soldier Beetle

Beneficial garden pollinator + predator. Looks like military uniform. Gathers on goldenrod by the hundreds.

Read the file→
On File
Eastern tent caterpillars (Malacosoma americanum), dark hairy caterpillars with white dorsal stripes clustered on a silken tent nest in a cherry tree.
Outlaw
Six Legs80
Alias
Malacosoma americanum

Eastern Tent Caterpillar

Builds silken tent nests in spring cherry trees. Causes Kentucky horse abortion epidemics.

Read the file→
On File
A large milkweed bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus), bright red-and-black aposematic body with elongated wings folded back, six legs, side profile.
Curious
Six Legs74
Alias
Oncopeltus fasciatus

Large Milkweed Bug

Eats only milkweed. Sequesters toxin. Wears warning red-and-black. Major model organism.

Read the file→
On File
A Spanish fly blister beetle (Lytta vesicatoria), elongated metallic green body with leathery elytra, six legs, side profile.
Outlaw
Six Legs88
Alias
Lytta vesicatoria

Spanish Fly (Blister Beetle)

Source of the cantharidin 'aphrodisiac.' Hypermetamorphic life cycle. Hitchhikes on bees to their nests.

Read the file→
On File
A male Queen Alexandra's birdwing butterfly (Ornithoptera alexandrae), enormous iridescent blue-green wings outlined in black with a bright yellow body.
Curious
Six Legs81
Alias
Ornithoptera alexandrae

Queen Alexandra's Birdwing

Largest butterfly on Earth. 28 cm wingspan. Discovered by a collector who shot her with a shotgun.

Read the file→