Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.
This page lists 11 insects. 3 are venomous by official accounts. 2 are nonnative.
Not every species: no complete official list of Mississippi insects exists, so this page covers the ones state and Extension sources name. How lists are built.
Official sources single out these insects in Mississippi, in their own words:
Venomous sting. “Each year there are cases of human fatalities resulting from fire ant stings, either due to anaphylaxis or to massive numbers of stings occurring on people who are incapacitated.” Mississippi State University Extension Service
Venomous sting (same biology as red imported fire ant per MSU). “These two species are similar in biology and behavior.” Mississippi State University Extension Service
Venomous spines. “They may look cute and furry, but puss caterpillars have one of the most painful stings of any insect in the state.” Mississippi State University Extension Service
Painful stings on skin contact. “Close skin contact with buck moth caterpillars results in painful stings.” Mississippi State University Extension Service
Stings. “These wasps are more aggressive than other species and may fly several feet to sting someone who happens to be near the nest site.” Mississippi State University Extension Service
Stings. “People who have been stung by an Eastern velvet ant say it has the most painful sting of any insect in the Southeast—more painful than a red wasp.” Mississippi State University Extension Service
Stinging caterpillar. “Other stinging caterpillars in the state include buck moths, Io moths, saddleback caterpillars, stinging rose slug, crowned slugs, hag moths and a few others.” Mississippi State University Extension Service
Stinging caterpillar. “Other stinging caterpillars in the state include buck moths, Io moths, saddleback caterpillars, stinging rose slug, crowned slugs, hag moths and a few others.” Mississippi State University Extension Service
Stings. “Wasp stings hurt, and some people are highly sensitive to stings.” Mississippi State University Extension Service
Stings. “Wasp stings hurt, and some people are highly sensitive to stings.” Mississippi State University Extension Service
Poison Control lists them as of potential danger. “Other species in this area which are known to be of potential danger include: … Bees, Wasps, and Hornets” Mississippi Regional Poison Control Center (University of Mississippi Medical Center); hosted by the Mississippi State Department of Health
Venomous species first, then A to Z. Do not handle them.
Solenopsis richteri
Venom: “The bite is of no lasting consequence, but the venom they inject through their sting is quite potent, especially in relation to their size.” (Mississippi State University Extension Service)
Megalopyge opercularis
Venom: “The stings come from hollow spines with venom glands at their base that are hidden beneath that coat of harmless longer hairs.” (Mississippi State University Extension Service)
Solenopsis invicta
Venom: “The bite is of no lasting consequence, but the venom they inject through their sting is quite potent, especially in relation to their size.” (Mississippi State University Extension Service)
Habitat: Oak trees, particularly live oaks, are the primary host of the buck moth caterpillar. (Mississippi State University Extension Service)
Polistes carolina
Polistes exclamans
Venom: “Hickory horned devil caterpillars are a good example of a caterpillar that looks fierce but is harmless.” (Mississippi State University Extension Service)
Polistes metricus
Records of insects in Mississippi peak in May to September. They show when people record insects, not how many there are (about month bars).
Call 911 or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 right away. Poison Help connects you to your local poison center, any time of day.
Bear problems or sightings, and nuisance-animal guidance: MDWFP Wildlife Bureau (601) 432-2199. Nuisance animal technical guidance is also available from USDA Wildlife Services (MS) (662) 325-3014. Coastal invasive species: MDMR Invasive Species Coordinator (228) 523-4113. Sawfish sightings: 1-844-4SAWFISH. MDWFP
Yes. Imported fire ants (nonnative) occur throughout the state. Mississippi State University Extension Service
“They now occur throughout the state and are one of the most economically important insect pests in the South.”
Venom labels come only from official sources and link to them; "Not stated" never means harmless. How labels work.
"Nonnative" and "Invasive" follow the wording of the source list. See invasive species in Mississippi.
“These two species are similar in biology and behavior.”
“During cold, wet weather fire ants tend to maintain their colonies high above ground—to keep brood out of water logged soil and to take advantage of solar heating.”
“The bite is of no lasting consequence, but the venom they inject through their sting is quite potent, especially in relation to their size.”
“Each year there are cases of human fatalities resulting from fire ant stings, either due to anaphylaxis or to massive numbers of stings occurring on people who are incapacitated.”
“Wasp stings hurt, and some people are highly sensitive to stings.”
“These wasps are more aggressive than other species and may fly several feet to sting someone who happens to be near the nest site.”
“In the cooler months, mated female paper wasps invade poorly sealed attics and buildings in search of a warm place to spend the winter.”
“They now occur throughout the state and are one of the most economically important insect pests in the South.”
“The stings come from hollow spines with venom glands at their base that are hidden beneath that coat of harmless longer hairs.”
“They may look cute and furry, but puss caterpillars have one of the most painful stings of any insect in the state.”
“Other stinging caterpillars in the state include buck moths, Io moths, saddleback caterpillars, stinging rose slug, crowned slugs, hag moths and a few others.”
“Hickory horned devil caterpillars are a good example of a caterpillar that looks fierce but is harmless.”
“Close skin contact with buck moth caterpillars results in painful stings.”
“These caterpillars are active along Interstate 20 and are expected to move northward through April and into May, Layton said.”
“People who have been stung by an Eastern velvet ant say it has the most painful sting of any insect in the Southeast—more painful than a red wasp.”
“Other species in this area which are known to be of potential danger include: … Bees, Wasps, and Hornets”
“If you are experiencing problems involving black bears or want to report a recent bear sighting, please contact MDWFP at (601) 432-2199.”
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