Some of Florida's most dangerous insects are deadly, some are just really inconvenient

Florida is teeming with alligators, snakes, jellyfish, sharks and countless other things that could kill you. But there are smaller threats to avoid as well.

A spider, mosquito or ant bite or a bee sting can be painful, but some can be deadly. Here's the five most dangerous insects that are common to encounter in Florida.

How dangerous are fire ants?

Unlike bees, one fire ant can sting a person multiple times. With each bite, or "sting," fire ants inject painful venom. Each bite is followed with a burning sensation surrounding the area of the bite or bites. Each bite then turns into an itchy blister and comes with a risk of infection.

Fire ants aren't a common cause of death for humans, but their venom can be deadly in large amounts. If there are enough bites on one person, they could go into shock and the stings could pose a lethal threat.

Here's what to do if you're bitten by fire ants, according to Florida Poison Control:

• Cleanse thoroughly with soap and water

• Apply wrapped ice and a paste of baking soda or meat tenderizer

• Apply anti-itch products such as calamine lotion

• Go to the hospital for treatment if you feel any symptoms beyond local pain from the bites, or if an allergic reaction occurs.

Can fire ants kill? What to know about these aggressive, invasive Florida insects

Are the scorpions in Florida deadly?

Scorpions are definitely one of the most painful and scary-looking insects that can sting you in Florida, but the ones here usually are not deadly, according to Florida Poison Control.

Although it isn't likely for a scorpion sting in Florida to be deadly, the venom is extremely painful and it can come with some intense swelling. A scorpion sting might become a hot, red welt and could come with numbness, tingling or a burning sensation that can last a few hours.

Like fire ants, scorpion bites can also cause allergic reactions.

The most common scorpions found in Florida are:

• Florida bark scorpion

• The Hentz striped scorpion

• Guiana striped scorpion

If you're stung by a scorpion, here's what to do:

• Cleanse the bite area with soap and water

• Apply wrapped ice to soothe pain and reduce swelling

Mosquitoes aren't just annoying, they're one of Florida's most dangerous insects

Mosquitoes are some of the most common and most dangerous insects you can encounter in Florida. If you've spent any amount of time on a Florida back porch during the summer, you're probably familiar with how annoying these pests can be.

But the itchy, red bites that cover Floridians' arms and legs during the summer aren't just obnoxious, they can also be deadly.

Mosquitoes are vessels for a myriad of diseases like West Nile Virus or Dengue Fever, malaria parasites and more than one kind of encephalitis, which is a disease that causes brain inflammation.

Here's how to treat mosquito bites, according to the CDC:

• Wash the area with soap and water

• Apply an ice pack for 10 minutes to reduce swelling and itching. Reapply ice pack as needed

• Apply a mixture of baking soda and water, which can help reduce the itch response:

  • Mix 1 tablespoon baking soda with just enough water to create a paste

  • Apply the paste to the mosquito bite

  • Wait 10 minutes

  • Wash off the paste

• Use an over-the-counter anti-itch or antihistamine cream to help relieve itching

Mosquito season is here: What you need to know to stay safe as biting bugs invade

Spiders can be creepy and Florida has some dangerous ones

Florida's two most painful and venomous spider species are the Brown Recluse and Black Widow. Female widow spiders pose the largest threat. Their venom is toxic and can sometimes be fatal, they're also the most easily provoked of the two. Widow spiders can be black with red markings or dull brown and red, with orange or red circles on the abdomen.

Brown Recluse spiders are not native to Florida, but are fairly common in the state. They're not as aggressive as widows, but their venom is also toxic and breaks down body tissue.

Widow spider bite symptoms:

• Muscle twitching and spasms

• Cramps

• Vomiting

• Sweating

• Headache

• Severe trunk pain

If bitten, here's what to do:

• Cleanse the bite site with soap and water

• Apply cool compresses to reduce pain and swelling

• Visit the nearest emergency department if more than local symptoms occur

Brown Recluse spider bite symptoms:

• Red rings will form around a black blister and appear infected. The site will be swollen and painful. A bite from a brown recluse spider takes a long time to heal completely.

• Fever

• Chills

• Nausea and vomiting

• Itching

• Brown urine

If bitten, here's what to do:

• Cleanse the bite site with soap and water

• Go immediately to your nearest emergency department or physician for a tetanus booster or wound treatment if needed.

Bees and wasps can cause extreme reactions

There are over 300 species of bees and 100 species of wasps found across the state of Florida. Allergic reactions to painful bee and wasp stings are what make these bugs deadly to some.

Wasp and bee stings typically leave a red welt or bump and usually feel like a needle prick.

Here are possible some symptoms and treatments for wasp and bee stings, according to Florida Poison Control:

Possible symptoms:

• Muscle twitching and spasms

• Cramps

• Vomiting

• Sweating

• Headache

• Severe trunk pain

If stung, here's what to do:

• Remove the stinger

• Cleanse the sting site(s) with soap and water

• Apply cool compresses to soothe pain and swelling

• Go to your nearest emergency department for treatment from an allergic reaction or a large number of stings.

Lianna Norman covers trending news in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at lnorman@pbpost.com. You can follow her reporting on social media @LiannaNorman on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida's most dangerous insects, Which bugs are deadly?