Did you know there were some downright terrifying bugs in North Dakota? Full disclosure: I’m not a fan of bugs. I can handle all of the other common fears such as rodents, snakes, heights, and blood. Insects, however, will send me shrieking and sprinting in the opposite direction. Even butterflies make me a little anxious if they get too close. Knowing these bugs are found in my own state wasn’t exactly the best news.

I hope this article is as fun for you to read as it was for me to research, which means it will make you check your sheets before going to bed tonight. Twice. Not saying that I did that or anything, but I may have done that. I wish I didn’t know that these bugs in North Dakota could be near me, but if you’re brave enough, then here you go. The following are 10 insects that can be found right here in the state of North Dakota. How many of them have you come into contact with?

1. Pelecinid Wasp

hspauldi/Flickr
As if normal wasps weren't bad enough, these have long abdomens that look lethal. Fortunately, they do not normally use them to sting. In fact, females use them to impale grubs living underground, lay an egg in them, which then hatches into wasp larvae that eats the grub from inside out. How pleasant!

2. Assassin Bug

Wikimedia Commons/Fir0002
If you were wondering, "Are there assassin bugs in North Dakota?" - for better or worse, the answer is "yes." That thing underneath this bug's head can be used to stab prey as well as defend themselves, so I suggest you don't try to pick one up. They can inject venom upon stabbing, or digestive juices, which they use on bugs they find for meals to liquify the bug from the inside out. A sting from one of these guys can be bad enough to send you to the hospital due to pain.

Want to learn more? Check out this YouTube video from the Smithsonian Channel:

3. Bold Jumping Spider

Wikipedia/Kilarin
These type of spiders can jump 50 times their own body length. They don't make webs very often, preferring to hunt rather than lay in waiting. This means you might see them hanging out on a fence somewhere, prepared to spring at any moment.

4. Cow Killer

Judy Gallagher/Flickr
With bright red and black coloring, and the friendly, inviting name "cow killer," these guys have to be completely harmless, right? Yeah, no. Their stings are so painful they can cause a cow to fall over stunned. Just think of what they could do to the average person. The pain is known to be a lasting one, too, so don't expect it to stop hurting after a few days. I'd avoid this insect at all costs!

5. Pseudoscorpion

Wikimedia Commons/Kaldari
You may think scorpions only live in deserts, but there is a type of scorpion-like insect that can be found in North Dakota. These pseudoscorpions, or book scorpions (among other names), are very small and generally nonlethal, but like their names would imply, they can be found in books or within old clothing since they usually prey on clothing moths' larvae. So really, they are beneficial to us in the long run, but lets be honest. No one really wants to find one of these insects in their clothes, especially while they are wearing them.

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6. Cat-Faced Spider

Wikipedia/Trappist_the_monk
Whenever you hear "cat-faced spider," you might think of some sort of cute little bug with big wide eyes and cute ear-like features. Maybe even some whiskers, but instead you get this. This thing. This very non-cat-like thing. Some fun facts: egg sacs full of these guys can survive winter after being laid by the female cat-faced spider who dies immediately afterwards. When it hatches, many of the baby spiders will eat their brothers and sisters. Talk about family sacrifice!

7. Giant Water Bug

Wikimedia Commons/Frank Vassen
Nope! No thank you! There's nothing I dislike more than a bug with the word "giant" in its name. And giant water bugs surely do deserve their title. They have large pincers for forelegs that they use to hunt small fish, frogs, or other North Dakota bugs. And they also have the fitting nickname of "toe-biters" since unknowing swimmers will get a nasty pinch if they get too close to one. Yuck!

8. Spined Micrathena Spider

Wikimedia Commons/Bruce Marlin
I wouldn't want to stomp on this spider with that spiky abdomen. They do make neat webs, though, which are known to look like CDs. Another fun tidbit is that, like some other spiders, male spined micrathenas are much smaller than females with less lethal-looking bodies, and they usually die during their mating rituals.

9. Brown Mantidfly

Wikimedia Commons/Bernard DUPONT
It's not a wasp, and it's not a praying mantis either, but it sure looks like both of those things mashed together, resulting in nothing but weird and creepy. I can't hate them entirely though, even if what I'm about to tell you is kind of gross. They are an enemy to the wolf spider due to the fact that mantidfly larvae, after they hatch, will find their way to a wolf spider egg sac while it is being constructed. They will freeload around in there and eat all of the eggs until eventually hatching from it, much to the frustration of the mother wolf spider, who has been carrying around that egg sac underneath her for quite a while and expecting a bunch of baby spiders. I guess I don't know which is worse. One of these things emerging, or tons of baby spiders. Either way, I don't want to interact with either of them. Ever!

10. Running Crab Spider

Wikimedia Commons/Solmeber
This is the kind of thing I have nightmares about. Half the reason spiders are scary is the fact that they can dart around very quickly, but these guys are known for their high speeds due to their extra long legs. They are also known to run sideways like crabs, hence the name. They chase after prey and do not use webs to hunt like the jumping spider does. I'd appreciate it if these spiders used their characteristics to run far, far away from me.

Have you ever come across any of these 10 bugs in North Dakota? What is some other North Dakota wildlife that you’ve encountered? If so, please share them with us in the comments below! Meanwhile, you may wish to invest in some insect protection!

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Bugs In North Dakota

Jennifer Young | June 03, 2022

What is North Dakota's official insect?

Like with most states, there's such a variety of North Dakota insects. Many of them are pretty harmless, while several others tend to bite, sting, etc. The official insect of North Dakota is the ladybug. Governor Jack Dalrymple designated the Convergent Lady Beatle the state's official insect on March 15, 2011. Best known as the ladybug, this North Dakota insect, which is said to symbolize luck, is about 1 centimeter long. Even though there are different types of ladybugs, and they're all different colors, the most common one we're most familiar with is red with black spots. These ladybugs are harmless, so if you encounter one outdoors, there's no need to worry. And who knows? You might even experience some good luck after encountering one.

What's one of the most dangerous North Dakota bugs?

There's no denying that there's a lot of wildlife in North Dakota, and this of course includes bugs. While exploring the outdoors of North Dakota, you'll likely encounter several types of bugs. Most of them are harmless. However, there are some you'll want to watch out for. One in particular is the assassin bug. The assassin bug, known as the kissing bug, can carry the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which has been known to cause Chagas disease. On average, this disease kills about 12,000 people per year. Even though the chance of contracting this disease is quite low, you still shouldn't ever touch an assassin bug if you ever come into contact with one. The coloring of these North Dakota bugs ranges from light brown to black, and they typically measure 1/2" to 1 inch long. Many people often get them confused with cockroaches. In addition to the outdoors, assassin bugs can also be found inside of homes, specifically near pet beds and under or near mattresses. Much like bed bugs, assassin bugs typically hang out near blood hosts.

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