# Are there any poisonous flying bugs in the U.S.? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 14, 2015, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-flying-bugs-in-the-u-s/725175 "2015-07-14T22:11:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2015, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-flying-bugs-in-the-u-s/725175/1 "2015-07-14T22:11:07Z")
So I was out for a walk the other day around dusk, and as happens from time to time a bug I never saw flew in my mouth, and of course ended up stuck in my throat. After the appropriate 45 seconds of hacking, gagging, and convulsing, I accepted the inevitable and just took a big swig of water and swallowed it down. About 30 minutes later I got hit with one of the worst acid reflux episodes I have had in a long while. All evidence seems to indicate I am still alive, and it may have been coincidence, or psychosomatic, but it got me to wondering are there any common flying bugs in the Michigan area that screw up your stomach when swallowed, or hurt ya worse? ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2015, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-flying-bugs-in-the-u-s/725175/2 "2015-07-14T22:13:58Z")
[[Tarantula hawk - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarantula_hawk)](Tarantula hawk) Tho probably not in Michigan. ---
**Author:** ![AndrewL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@AndrewL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndrewL)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-flying-bugs-in-the-u-s/725175/3 "2015-07-15T00:59:50Z")
At up to 2 inches long, a tarantula hawk isn’t going to be something you swallow by accident. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-flying-bugs-in-the-u-s/725175/4 "2015-07-15T01:07:12Z")
define “poisonous.” because I can assure you Michigan has plenty of venomous insects like bees and wasps. I particularly hate yellowjackets. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-flying-bugs-in-the-u-s/725175/5 "2015-07-15T01:17:05Z")
> [@AndrewL](#): > > At up to 2 inches long, a tarantula hawk isn’t going to be something you swallow by accident. I certainly wouldn’t swallow one on purpose… ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-flying-bugs-in-the-u-s/725175/6 "2015-07-15T01:36:27Z")
Ladybugs are said to be toxic, but a Google search brings up mixed messages. A friend told me she chomped one that got in her salad, and it tasted horrible. I remember reading a story about a runner who got really ill after swallowing one. I witnessed a Southern Tree Frog retch and wipe his mouth out with his front feet for ten minutes after he spit out the one he tried to eat. I felt sorry for him, but it was quite comical. ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-flying-bugs-in-the-u-s/725175/7 "2015-07-15T04:48:55Z")
Tarantula Hawks really deserve an accurate [link](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarantula_hawk). They can also get too drunk to fly very well. With the second most painful insect sting in the world, you _will_ remember an encounter with such. ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-flying-bugs-in-the-u-s/725175/8 "2015-07-15T07:03:50Z")
I once saw a guy from Newcastle fling a beer right up a woman’s nose because a June bug landed on his hand. He was bent over her, trying to be suave, and the bug landed on his hand. It made its buzzing sound and vibrated on the web of his thumb. He thought he was being attacked by some vicious Texan killer bug. He yelped and screamed and jumped jerked his hand back. And Jezabel got 8oz of lone star straight up the nose. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-flying-bugs-in-the-u-s/725175/9 "2015-07-15T21:58:06Z")
I know of a doper who swallowed a fly–I don’t know why he swallowed that fly. Perhaps he’ll die? ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-flying-bugs-in-the-u-s/725175/10 "2015-07-15T22:10:17Z")
That is why bikers have bugs in their teeth, they never open their teeth when riding. Does not take long to learn this. Back when I was smoking, I was not always careful enough. Anyone silly enough to go outside after dark in rural Michigan deserves what ever happens to them I had to bathe in ‘skin so soft’ and put lotts of rocks in my pockets to keep the twin engined mosquitos from carrying me off. I have only gone back with netting\* & a sealed up car. - (used to get from the car to my brothers house.) ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2015, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-flying-bugs-in-the-u-s/725175/11 "2015-07-15T23:34:39Z")
Another non-Michigan poisonous insect: [monarch butterflies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarch_butterfly#Defense_against_predators) as both caterpillars and adults. They acquire the poison from the plants they eat as caterpillars. It’s also possible that any kind insect had been exposed to pesticides. As for what you might have actually ingested there in Michigan… sorry, not sure. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-flying-bugs-in-the-u-s/725175/12 "2015-07-16T00:39:33Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > Another non-Michigan poisonous insect: [monarch butterflies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarch_butterfly#Defense_against_predators) as both caterpillars and adults. They acquire the poison from the plants they eat as caterpillars. > > It’s also possible that any kind insect had been exposed to pesticides. > > As for what you might have actually ingested there in Michigan… sorry, not sure. Milkweed. But it is not fatal; however predators will remember the bitter taste. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-flying-bugs-in-the-u-s/725175/13 "2015-07-16T11:11:31Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > That is why bikers have bugs in their teeth, they never open their teeth when riding. Does not take long to learn this. Entrepreneurial idea! Designer Dental Dams to market to bikers! ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-poisonous-flying-bugs-in-the-u-s/725175/14 "2015-07-16T20:35:22Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > Entrepreneurial idea! Designer Dental Dams to market to bikers! ↑ ↑ ↑ I’m in… Go for it. I’ll help for 30% of gross. 😃