Don’t Get Bitten By These Wyoming Bugs
GOOD NEWS! The snow has finally melted.
BAD NEWS! That means the bugs are out.
Every spot on the planet, except maybe Antarctica, has bug problems. The trick is to know what sort of bugs will sting or bite and how to avoid them.
Here are a few Wyoming summer bugs that are worth watching out for, and what you can do about them.
Assassin Bug (Pselliopus spp.). Narrow heads, wide abdomens. Rough handling can invite an intense and unforgettably painful 'bite' from the powerful fang of an Assassin Bug juvenile or adult. Careful in your garden. They like it there.
Bald-Faced Hornet (Dolichovespula maculata). The Bald-Faced Hornet is helpful to humans dealing with other flying pests, but the warning to keep your distance is black and white. So, yes, they are very helpful to have around if you want to control other bugs. Just don't bug them.
Black Widow (Latrodectus mactans). There is a reason you never see her with a husband or boyfriend. She has a reputation that you should already know.
Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus). Inspect your dog, your cat, your kids and yourself often. It is not just that they are blood suckers, they spread a lot of dangerous diseases.
Flesh Fly (Sarcophaga spp.). These things don't bother you until you are dead, so, don't worry about getting an annoying itch. The only way to avoid them in Wyoming is, not to die in Wyoming.
There are many other things that sting and bite in this state, but I don't want to scare you off by naming them all. There are far worse threats