We all know Wyoming is a stand-out state when it comes to nature. On the surface, nature is bold, beautiful, and all-around wonderful. but when you get up close and personal with nature, you may begin to notice some aspects that aren’t as attractive. You just have to remind yourself that even though these bugs may not be very pretty to look at, they may still serve a very useful purpose in the ecosystem. Here is a list of creepy crawly bugs in Wyoming that are lurking in the great outdoors.
- Blue Death Feigning Beetle
Flickr/Josh More The Blue Death-Feigning Beetle feeds on plant and animal debris. The beetle protects itself from predators by pretending to be dead. They roll on their backs and bend their legs so that they appear to be dead and dried out.
- European Earwig
Flickr/Christophe Quintin European Earwigs eat aphids and plants. They have wings and pincers which they use against predators for self-defense. They are harmless to people.
- Masked Hunter
Flickr/imarsman The Masked Hunter has a body that is covered with sticky hairs and a beak that is used to inflict painful bites. These bugs primarily feed on bed bugs. This is one of the most intriguing Wyoming bugs.
- Periodical Cicada
Flickr/Mark Beckemeyer The Periodical Cicada emerges every 13 to 17 years. They appear in hundreds or in thousands. They are large insects with bulging eyes on each side of their head. If you have ever experienced these before, you will never forget them. During the masses, you will see them clinging to everything outside. You can barely take a step without hearing that crunching sound.
- Pseudoscorpion
ljphoto7/iStock Getty Images Plus via Getty Images Pseudoscorpions are shaped like really small scorpions. They typically travel by catching rides on larger insects. They are important because they eliminate smaller pests in the area. This is one of the creepier-looking insects in Wyoming.
- Cottonwood Borer
Flickr/Mike Keeling The Cottonwood Borer is part of the beetle family. They are destructive because they destroy trees, especially poplar, willow, and cottonwood.
- False Bombardier Beetle
Flickr/Katja Schulz False Bombardier Beetles are black and orange in color and they have a shell that is made up of ridges. They are also known as Slender Ground Beetles.
- American Cockroach
Flickr/NY State IPM Program at C The American Cockroach is reddish-brown with a glossy coating. They have wings which make them good flyers. They eat both human and pet food. Like everywhere else, the American Cockroach is one of the most common bugs in Wyoming.
- American Salmonfly
Flickr/Ken-ichi Ueda American Salmonfly love the water. If they feel threatened they will either play dead or release a chemical that irritates the skin.
- Carolina Wolf Spider
Flickr/RedJinn: World Peace: Flickr/What are you doing about it? Instead of spinning webs, the Carolina Wolf Spider is a hunter where it goes around attacking other insects. They are brown, black, and ivory in color.
- Dobsonfly
Flickr/~ Mike Bell ~ Dobsonfly have wings that cover most of their abdomen. The males cannot bite and are harmless but the females are known for their painful bites.
- Brown Mantidfly
Flickr/Jeff Bryant Brown Mantidfly have large shoulders with forelegs that contain a claw. They prey on Wolf Spiders.
- Carpenter Ants
Flickr/Thomas Shahan Carpenter Ants eat other insects and plant juices. Their defense mechanism is that they bite and spray an irritating acid from their abdomen. They have a destructive habit of boring through wood. They are the largest ants in North America.
- Labyrinthine Orb Weaver Spider
Flickr/Stephen Rahn Labyrinthine Orb Weaver Spiders spin unique webs that consist of double webs. Not only do they catch their prey in their web but they also have a venomous bite.
- Jerusalem Cricket
Flickr/Eric Hanson Jerusalem Crickets are humpbacked with a large head and striped abdomen. Their hind legs consist of two rows of spines. Their defense mechanism is a very painful bite. They eat plant roots and other insects and the females often eat their mates.
- Millipede
Flickr/tpgprice Millipedes eat dead plants, fungi, and other insects. They have one leg per body segment and come in a variety of colors. Some are toxic.
- Robber Fly
Flickr/Thomas Shahan A Robber Fly, like its name, steals meals from unsuspecting insects. Their wings make a whirring sound as they fly.
- Spiny Backed Orb Weaver
Flickr/Jeremiah John McBride The Spiny Backed Orb Weaver has spines on the side of their body to protect themselves from predators. They create webs that are circular in shape.
Which bugs have you spotted in Wyoming? Which bug looks the creepiest to you?
Flickr/Josh More
The Blue Death-Feigning Beetle feeds on plant and animal debris. The beetle protects itself from predators by pretending to be dead. They roll on their backs and bend their legs so that they appear to be dead and dried out.
Flickr/Christophe Quintin
European Earwigs eat aphids and plants. They have wings and pincers which they use against predators for self-defense. They are harmless to people.
Flickr/imarsman
The Masked Hunter has a body that is covered with sticky hairs and a beak that is used to inflict painful bites. These bugs primarily feed on bed bugs. This is one of the most intriguing Wyoming bugs.
Flickr/Mark Beckemeyer
The Periodical Cicada emerges every 13 to 17 years. They appear in hundreds or in thousands. They are large insects with bulging eyes on each side of their head. If you have ever experienced these before, you will never forget them. During the masses, you will see them clinging to everything outside. You can barely take a step without hearing that crunching sound.
ljphoto7/iStock Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
Pseudoscorpions are shaped like really small scorpions. They typically travel by catching rides on larger insects. They are important because they eliminate smaller pests in the area. This is one of the creepier-looking insects in Wyoming.
Flickr/Mike Keeling
The Cottonwood Borer is part of the beetle family. They are destructive because they destroy trees, especially poplar, willow, and cottonwood.
Flickr/Katja Schulz
False Bombardier Beetles are black and orange in color and they have a shell that is made up of ridges. They are also known as Slender Ground Beetles.
Flickr/NY State IPM Program at C
The American Cockroach is reddish-brown with a glossy coating. They have wings which make them good flyers. They eat both human and pet food. Like everywhere else, the American Cockroach is one of the most common bugs in Wyoming.
Flickr/Ken-ichi Ueda
American Salmonfly love the water. If they feel threatened they will either play dead or release a chemical that irritates the skin.
Flickr/RedJinn: World Peace: Flickr/What are you doing about it?
Instead of spinning webs, the Carolina Wolf Spider is a hunter where it goes around attacking other insects. They are brown, black, and ivory in color.
Flickr/~ Mike Bell ~
Dobsonfly have wings that cover most of their abdomen. The males cannot bite and are harmless but the females are known for their painful bites.
Flickr/Jeff Bryant
Brown Mantidfly have large shoulders with forelegs that contain a claw. They prey on Wolf Spiders.
Flickr/Thomas Shahan
Carpenter Ants eat other insects and plant juices. Their defense mechanism is that they bite and spray an irritating acid from their abdomen. They have a destructive habit of boring through wood. They are the largest ants in North America.
Flickr/Stephen Rahn
Labyrinthine Orb Weaver Spiders spin unique webs that consist of double webs. Not only do they catch their prey in their web but they also have a venomous bite.
Flickr/Eric Hanson
Jerusalem Crickets are humpbacked with a large head and striped abdomen. Their hind legs consist of two rows of spines. Their defense mechanism is a very painful bite. They eat plant roots and other insects and the females often eat their mates.
Flickr/tpgprice
Millipedes eat dead plants, fungi, and other insects. They have one leg per body segment and come in a variety of colors. Some are toxic.
A Robber Fly, like its name, steals meals from unsuspecting insects. Their wings make a whirring sound as they fly.
Flickr/Jeremiah John McBride
The Spiny Backed Orb Weaver has spines on the side of their body to protect themselves from predators. They create webs that are circular in shape.
If you want to learn more about Wyoming wildlife, you might consider visiting this museum in Casper: You Could Spend Hours Looking At Critters At The Werner Wildlife Museum In Wyoming
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: Wyoming, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Bugs in Wyoming July 23, 2022 Christy Articola I love creepy bugs! What other states have cool insects? Actually, all states have cool insects that will creep you out! Even Alaska has its share of crawly things, some of which can easily survive freezing-cold temperatures. You can read about them here: These 10 Bugs Found In Alaska Will Send Shivers Down Your Spine. Perhaps the creepiest crawlies of them all in the United States, though, are found in Florida. Check out this list: These 10 Bugs Found In Florida Will Send Shivers Down Your Spine Where else can I see cool insects in the United States? What about in a museum setting? There are plenty of museums dedicated to insects in our nation! Many people love the May Natural History Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which has over 8,000 specimen on display. The Harrell House Bug Museum in New Mexico has a lot of rare specimens for visitors to check out. If you’re on the east coast, maybe you’d like to stop into the Insectropolis Museum in New Jersey! What if I don’t like bugs? What other wildlife is there to see and enjoy in Wyoming? There are lots of amazing animals in Wyoming that aren’t of the creepy-crawly variety. Check out this post for some great pictures of cuter creatures: 12 Photos Of Wildlife In Wyoming That Will Make Your Jaw Drop
The OIYS Visitor Center
Bugs in Wyoming
July 23, 2022
Christy Articola
I love creepy bugs! What other states have cool insects? Actually, all states have cool insects that will creep you out! Even Alaska has its share of crawly things, some of which can easily survive freezing-cold temperatures. You can read about them here: These 10 Bugs Found In Alaska Will Send Shivers Down Your Spine. Perhaps the creepiest crawlies of them all in the United States, though, are found in Florida. Check out this list: These 10 Bugs Found In Florida Will Send Shivers Down Your Spine Where else can I see cool insects in the United States? What about in a museum setting? There are plenty of museums dedicated to insects in our nation! Many people love the May Natural History Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which has over 8,000 specimen on display. The Harrell House Bug Museum in New Mexico has a lot of rare specimens for visitors to check out. If you’re on the east coast, maybe you’d like to stop into the Insectropolis Museum in New Jersey! What if I don’t like bugs? What other wildlife is there to see and enjoy in Wyoming? There are lots of amazing animals in Wyoming that aren’t of the creepy-crawly variety. Check out this post for some great pictures of cuter creatures: 12 Photos Of Wildlife In Wyoming That Will Make Your Jaw Drop
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Actually, all states have cool insects that will creep you out! Even Alaska has its share of crawly things, some of which can easily survive freezing-cold temperatures. You can read about them here: These 10 Bugs Found In Alaska Will Send Shivers Down Your Spine. Perhaps the creepiest crawlies of them all in the United States, though, are found in Florida. Check out this list: These 10 Bugs Found In Florida Will Send Shivers Down Your Spine
Where else can I see cool insects in the United States? What about in a museum setting?
There are plenty of museums dedicated to insects in our nation! Many people love the May Natural History Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which has over 8,000 specimen on display. The Harrell House Bug Museum in New Mexico has a lot of rare specimens for visitors to check out. If you’re on the east coast, maybe you’d like to stop into the Insectropolis Museum in New Jersey!
What if I don’t like bugs? What other wildlife is there to see and enjoy in Wyoming?
There are lots of amazing animals in Wyoming that aren’t of the creepy-crawly variety. Check out this post for some great pictures of cuter creatures: 12 Photos Of Wildlife In Wyoming That Will Make Your Jaw Drop
