Zambia – Deadly Insects – Tsetse Fly – 1000 Kwacha – 2010 – Proof Colored Coin – Tsetse flies, are large biting flies that inhabit much of mid-continental Africa between the Sahara and the Kalahari deserts. They live by feeding on the blood of vertebrate animals. Tsetse have been extensively studied because of their disease transmission. Fossilized tsetse have been recovered from the Florissant Fossil Beds in Colorado, supposedly laid down some 34 million years ago. Diseases transmitted by tsetse flies kill 250,000–300,000 people per year.

Zambia – Deadly Insects – Asian Giant Hornet – 1000 Kwacha – 2010 – Proof Colored Coin – The Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia), including the subspecies Japanese giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia japonica), colloquially known as the yak-killer hornet, is the world’s largest hornet, native to temperate and tropical Eastern Asia. Its body length is approximately 2 inches, its wingspan about 3 inches and it has a 0.2 inch sting which injects a large amount of potent venom.

Zambia – Deadly Insects – Jumper Ant – 1000 Kwacha – 2010 – Proof Colored Coin – The Jack Jumper Ant (Myrmecia pilosula), is a species of bull ant that is native to Australia. These ants are black or red and black, and may have yellow or orange legs, antennae and mandibles. Jack Jumper ants are carnivores and scavengers. They sting their victims with venom that is similar to stings of wasps, bees, and fire ants. Their venom is one of the most powerful in the insect world. Jack Jumper ants are proven hunters; even wasps are hunted and devoured. These ants have excellent vision, which aids them in hunting. The symptoms of the stings of the ants are similar to stings of the fire ants. The reaction is local swelling and reddening, and fever, followed by formation of a blister. The heart rate increases, and blood pressure falls rapidly. In individuals allergic to the venom (about 3% of cases), a sting sometimes causes anaphylactic shock. Although 3% may seem small, Jack Jumper ants cause more deaths in Tasmania than spiders, snakes, wasps, and sharks combined.

Zambia – Deadly Insects – Bullet Ant – 1000 Kwacha – 2010 – Proof Colored Coin – The Bullet Ant (Paraponera clavata), named on account of its powerful and potent sting, which is said to be as painful as being shot with a bullet. It inhabits humid lowland rainforests from Nicaragua south to Paraguay. The bullet ant is called “Hormiga Veinticuatro” or “24 hour ant” by the locals, referring to the 24 hours of pain that follow being stung. The pain caused by this insect’s sting is purported to be greater than that of any other Hymenopteran, and is ranked as the most painful according to the Schmidt Sting Pain Index, given a “4+” rating, above the tarantula hawk wasp. It is described as causing “waves of burning, throbbing, all-consuming pain that continues unabated for up to 24 hours”.