I have not met many individuals who enjoy slimy and creepy crawly things. Amongst some of the nasty things that nature provides our planet with some are grouped into the category of parasites. We hate them, but they sure love us! We have to hand it to science and commend those who have chosen to study these types of organisms. So, out of respect for entomologists everywhere and to gross out those of you who fit into the category of “slimy and creepy crawly” haters I dedicate this list to you. This list is in no particular order of disgustingness and this list does not, in any way, cover all classes and categories of parasites nor does it cover all information available concerning the parasites mentioned. This list is merely a summary.

Some of you may not know that bedbugs are actually more than just a cute little good night rhyme that your parents said to you before you went to sleep. They are as real as the other 9 entries. While they are not the worst or deadliest on the list they certainly have their share of difficulties.

(Read the rest of this list…)

We seem to be bombarded constantly by doom and gloom tales of new animals becoming extinct and being told that we should be stopping it - something that is usually impossible for the average person. I thought it might be nice to show a positive list about extinct animals, so here is my list on the top 10 animals that were thought to be extinct but are actually still around!

The New Holland Mouse is a rodent first described in 1843. It vanished from view after that and was presumed extinct until it was rediscovered in 1967. It is found only in Australia. The mouse is currently listed as endangered and a number of the populations are now considered extinct - some due to the Ash Wednesday Wildfires in 1983.

(Read the rest of this list…)

While the creatures that scare humans most are usually large, it is the smallest that are probably the most dangerous and painful. While we can be thankful that most of us will not experience the suffering caused by the creatures on this list, many people do every year. This is not a list of the most deadly, but rather the most dangerous or painful creatures. The list excludes creatures from the sea.

Ticks are second only to Mosquitoes for their disease spreading properties. Ticks feed on blood and attach themselves to other animals (including humans). They can be difficult to remove and removal must be done carefully as they can leave part of their head behind causing serious infection. According to Wikipedia, hard ticks can transmit human diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia, equine encephalitis, Colorado tick fever, African Tick Bite Fever, and several forms of ehrlichiosis.

(Read the rest of this list…)

A waterfall is definitely one of the many awe inspiring wonders that nature has given us. They are, indeed, a sumptuous spectacle of the might of nature.

There are many astoundingly beautiful waterfalls in the world, but for the purposes of this list, it is restricted to natural falls - not manmade falls. You may be surprised to find that the number one spot does not go to the falls you are expecting.

China’s most famous waterfall grabs the number 10 spot on this list. A rare case of a heavyweight cascade completely surrounded by greenery. With an impressive width of 81m and height of 74m it is claimed to be Asia’s largest waterfall.

(Read the rest of this list…)