Bite Me! With Dr Mike Leahy

Tagline

Dr Mike Leahy is on a mission to meet the maddest and deadliest creatures on the planet!

Synopsis

This series travels the globe to show travellers what not to do with tiny creatures that pack a hefty punch.

Whether it is an acid-spewing ant or an explosive beetle, Dr. Mike Leahy is on the lookout for the creepiest crawlies in this action-packed series. Scouring the globe for some of the most advanced killers in the animal kingdom, Mike proves that size does not matter when it comes to posing the biggest threat to humans.

Under the watchful eye of medics Mike endeavours to understand the science behind their secret weapons, and highlight how to avoid an unwanted close encounter. A doctor of virology by trade, Mike climbs a 30-metre mountain of cockroach-infested bat guano in Borneo and gets knee-deep in mud in search of tiny lethal creatures. He also gets up close and personal with nasty parasites, triple-threat lizards and a frisky fish able to weave its way right up into a human’s urethra.

EPISODE 1 - BRAZIL
Join virologist Dr Mike Leahy on his mission to meet the maddest and baddest of Brazil’s prolific beasties. And find out just how they can make a meal of …YOU. From fire ants and invisible worms to vampire bats and the legendary candiru fish, Dr Mike puts his body on the line to reveal what makes human hosts so attractive to these hungry critters. From the back streets of Rio de Janeiro to the forests of the mighty Amazon River, Dr Mike learns how the tiniest and most innocuous looking animals can deliver the deadliest punch.

EPISODE 2 - VIETNAM
In the heart of South East Asia, Vietnam is home to 90 million people, 10 million scooters and countless bugs and parasites. For audacious virologist Dr Mike Leahy, it’s a tempting destination providing plenty of opportunities to indulge his passion for small but potentially lethal creatures. It’s here that Dr Mike learns the hard way that there is a price to pay for his insatiably inquisitive nature … and injuring his pride as he attempts to negotiate packed city streets is the least of his worries.

EPISODE 3 - INDIA
Home to over a billion people, there’s a lot to watch out for if you want to keep your cool in India. Join Virologist Dr Mike Leahy as he travels from the chaotic metropolis of Mumbai to Varanasi - India’s spiritual and cultural heart. With so many people living in such close quarters, India is also home to a vast population of nasty bugs keen to invade or attack the unwary…and the overly inquisitive. From intestinal hitch hikers to a beetle with a specially developed arsenal of chemical weaponry, Mike sees and experiences more than he plans to in one of the world’s largest and most diverse countries.

EPISODE 4 - BORNEO
Dominated by mountains and lush rainforest, the hot and humid Sabah in the Malaysian region of Borneo is the perfect home for a staggering variety of killer beasties and deadly plant life. From a cute looking mammal that can kill with its armpit sweat to a magnificent mountainside plant that will swallow and digest just about anything, in Borneo, looks are more than deceiving - for the uninformed, they can be deadly.

EPISODE 5 - THE OUTBACK
Australia’s Outback is a land of extremes – soaring temperatures, vast landscapes and some of the most deadly creatures in the world - an ideal holiday destination for globe-trotting virologist Dr Mike Leahy. Never content to simply read about his specialist topic, Mike prefers to learn first-hand how the most minute of Earth’s creatures can create major headaches for unsuspecting travelers. From an eight legged murderess to a parasite that turns man’s best friend into a killer, if the heat doesn’t get you, it’s quite possible the wildlife will.

EPISODE 6 - QUEENSLAND
From the dense tropical rainforest to the natural wonder of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland Australia is an idyllic travel destination. It’s also home to an amazing array of beautiful yet deadly creatures. From a nettle on steroids to a killer bird, continent hopping virologist Dr Mike Leahy meets some of the smallest yet most lethal locals in this sun lover’s paradise.

EPISODE 7 - MEXICO
If you’re not on guard, Mexico is a land of mini monsters keen to terminate your travels in a heartbeat. From a massive flesh eating maggot to a parasite that can steal your sight, it pays to do your homework before venturing too far in colorful Mexico. Adventure junkie and virologist Dr Mike Leahy is well aware of the dangers presented by some of the country’s smallest yet most deadly inhabitants but for him, no trip is complete without pushing the boundaries a little. Join Mike as he puts his health and his body on the line, running the gamut between wellness and potentially fatal disease in the name of science.

EPISODE 8 - USA
The United States of America is the third biggest country in the world. For the millions of bugs and critters who call the U.S.A, and sometimes the people who live in it, their home – it’s a land of opportunities. Adrenalin junkie and virologist Dr Mike Leahy is keen to learn more about some of the country’s smallest yet most clever inhabitants. From the Everglades of Florida to the arid spaces of Southern Arizona, Mike is constantly impressed by the resourcefulness of the creatures he encounters.