Recently I was scrolling through TikTok videos when I saw one clip about the 10 Most Dangerous Animals on the planet. I wasn't surprised to see snakes and lions on this list but one in particular, the Assassin Bug, got me thinking. Does this thing live in New York State?

According to Science Focus, the Assassin Bug is the 5th most dangerous animal on the planet. This tiny insect is responsible for 10,000 deaths each year. To give you perspective, the scorpion is responsible for 3,300 human deaths each year.

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So, is this killer living in New York State? Yes and no. The term Assassin Bug is a blanket term used for approximately 7,000 species, some of which are potentially deadly to humans while others are not.

Photo by Steven Van Elk on Unsplash
Photo by Steven Van Elk on Unsplash
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Here in New York State we have the North American Wheel Bug, which is part of the Assassin Bug family. If bitten by this insect (pictured above) you will most likely feel severe and intense pain but is NOT deadly to humans.

The Assassin Bug to be concerned with is the Kissing Bug because that one could kill you. According to the CDC, a kiss from this creature could transmit Chagas disease which is potentially fatal to humans. Good news is that the Kissing Bug has not been found in New York.

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CDC
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Watch Out For These 5 Dangerous Invasive Pests In New York State

Gallery Credit: Yasmin Young

7 Dangerous Pests In New York State

Seven of the most dangerous pests in New York State,

LOOK: Here are the pets banned in each state

Because the regulation of exotic animals is left to states, some organizations, including The Humane Society of the United States, advocate for federal, standardized legislation that would ban owning large cats, bears, primates, and large poisonous snakes as pets.

Read on to see which pets are banned in your home state, as well as across the nation.

Gallery Credit: Elena Kadvany

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