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Monday, August 20, 2012

‘Wicked Bugs:’ From World’s Most Painful Hornet To Disease-Carrying Flies

Scabies Mite (Copyright Briony Morrow-Cri​bbs, from the book "Wicked Bugs," courtesy of Algonquin Books)

Scabies Mite (Copyright Briony Morrow-Cri​bbs, from the book “Wicked Bugs,” courtesy of Algonquin Books)

An Illinois man died from complications of the West Nile Virus this past weekend. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that this year’s outbreak is one of the worst in over ten years. West Nile is spread through the bite of the mosquito, as is malaria and eastern equine encephalitis.

Author Amy Stewart considers the mosquito the most wicked bug of all because of the amount of disease it spreads. Stewart is author of “Wicked Bugs: The Louse that Conquered Napoleon’s Army and other Diabolical Insects.”

This segment originally aired in 2011.

Guest:

Other stories from Monday's show

We welcome comments from all of our listeners. Post below. Please stay on topic and be civil. Comments may be moderated by us, but you are solely responsible for the content of your comments.

  • ask_rhonda

    i really enjoyed the bug segment… i’m thinking of reading the book to my kids as a bed time story.

  • Maggie

    If they come inside my house, I will squash them without a hesitation and with some satisfaction! If I encounter them outside, I will step over them or around them; I might even admire them for a few seconds…

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