Bugs and spiders in Kansas

What to watch for in Kansas

Kansas has four Get-advice spiders established. The brown recluse is heavily recorded, and the western, southern and northern black widows all live here, with the western the most recorded. Black widow bites can cause strong muscle pain and cramps, and some recluse bites heal slowly. If a bite worries you, get medical advice or call Poison Help (1-800-222-1222).

The lone star tick is the most recorded tick, then the American dog tick, and both are established. So is the blacklegged tick, though it is recorded far less often. All can carry disease, and lone star bites are linked to alpha-gal syndrome. The brown dog tick feeds mainly on dogs and can breed indoors. The Carolina wolf spider is rated Be careful rather than Get advice.

Through the year

Spring

Eastern carpenter bees get busy as the weather warms, and black carpenter ant swarmers can show up indoors in March through June.

Summer

Widows are seen most from late spring on, yellow garden spiders build webs near the house, and yellowjacket nests grow larger.

Fall

Carolina wolf spider males wander in late summer and fall, and Asian lady beetles, boxelder bugs and stink bugs move into houses.

Winter

Greenhouse camel crickets turn up in basements, house centipedes stay active indoors, and Indianmeal moths are most noticed between November and February.