Bugs and spiders in Wisconsin

What to watch for in Wisconsin

The American dog tick and the blacklegged tick are both established and heavily recorded. The blacklegged tick can spread Lyme disease and other infections, so remove it promptly and watch for rash or fever in the weeks after a bite. The lone star tick is listed as established but is recorded far less often. Brown dog ticks, which feed mostly on dogs, are listed too.

The northern black widow is established, and the only widow that lives here. A bite from an adult female can cause spreading pain and muscle cramps, so get medical advice if you think you were bitten, or call Poison Help (1-800-222-1222). Among Be-careful species, European paper wasps, yellow garden spiders and eastern yellowjackets are the ones most often met.

Through the year

Spring

Eastern carpenter bees are active in April, black carpenter ant swarmers appear in March through June, and overwintered boxelder bugs move around.

Summer

European paper wasps work around the outside of the house, greenhouse millipedes appear after heavy rain, and yellowjacket nests grow.

Fall

Boxelder bugs begin moving in during late August, followed by stink bugs and conifer seed bugs in September and Asian lady beetles in October.

Winter

House centipedes can be found indoors, and Indianmeal moths are most noticed between November and February.