Bugs and spiders in North Dakota

What to watch for in North Dakota

The American dog tick is the most recorded of the Get-advice species and is established here. It can spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia, so remove it promptly and watch for fever or rash. The blacklegged tick is established but very rarely recorded, and the brown dog tick is mostly an indoor tick of dogs.

The western black widow is established in North Dakota, though sightings are few. A bite from an adult female can cause severe muscle pain and cramps, so get medical advice if you think you were bitten, or call Poison Help (1-800-222-1222). The Be-careful species people meet most are Asian lady beetles, European paper wasps and yellow garden spiders.

Through the year

Spring

Boxelder bugs and Asian lady beetles that overwintered inside move around on warm days, and American dog ticks become active in April.

Summer

European paper wasps stay around the outside of the house, and American dog ticks are at their peak in early summer.

Fall

Boxelder bugs, Asian lady beetles and western conifer seed bugs move in, while yellow garden spiders are most noticed in late summer and die off after the first hard frost.

Winter

Lady beetles and boxelder bugs show up on warm late-winter days, and black carpenter ants seen indoors in late winter can mean a nest inside the house.