Fans of the creepy-crawly are in for a real treat with this article… but if you don’t like insects, you’re more likely to get shivers down your spine. We have nature aplenty here in the Mount Rushmore State, so you know we get plenty of bugs in South Dakota. Love ’em or hate ’em, they’re here to stay. Check out some of the more unsettling insects in South Dakota. They’ll have you watching your step!

1. Earwig
earwig - Bugs Found In South Dakota
scyrene / Flickr
Earwigs are often colloquially called pincher bugs. They get their name from an old urban legend that they burrow into people's ears while they sleep and lay eggs within the brain. Thankfully, this is not true, as they are pretty common bugs in South Dakota. They may look quite fearsome with their elongated pinchers, but they pose no threat to people. Males have pinchers that curve inward, and female pinchers are relatively straight. Earwigs are most often found outside in damp areas, but they also like to find their way into basements.
2. American Carrion Beetle
American Carrion Beetle - Bugs Found In South Dakota
squamatologist / Flickr
American Carrion Beetles are, as the name suggests, beetles and not true bugs. This creepy crawler is especially interesting because it lays its eggs in dead animals. They live east of the Rockies and consume the larvae of other insects that lay eggs in carrion, which gives their larvae a better chance at survival.
3. Hummingbird Moth
Hummingbird Moth - Bugs Found In South Dakota
BiteYourBum.Com Photography / Flickr
When they're still, these moths are pretty inconspicuous. However, the second they start flapping their wings, they look massive. They seem to transform into hummingbirds, thus earning their name. You'll see these insects in South Dakota around dusk.
4. Tick
NPS/Jacob W. Frank/Wikimedia Commons
Several kinds of ticks are found in South Dakota. They're actually not bugs or insects, but arachnids, like spiders. The species most common in the Mount Rushmore State are the American dog tick, Rocky Mountain wood tick, and blacklegged tick. Unlike many of the critters on this list, ticks are actually dangerous to humans. Ticks feed on the blood of their host and can spread several diseases, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

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5. Pine Beetle
Pine Beetle - Bugs Found In South Dakota
gailhampshire / Flickr
Pine beetles are nasty little guys that have invaded the Black Hills National Forest in recent years. They are known for killing off trees, and there is no treatment for trees once infested. The only way to prevent infection is to apply preventative chemicals prior to the beetles' invasion.
6. Honey Bee
Honey Bee - Bugs Found In South Dakota
Mark / Flickr
Honey bees are great for the environment and serve important role in the pollination process. They are common insects in South Dakota and many people raise them as a hobby, They're actually the state insect of South Dakota. They can sting if threatened and many people are highly allergic.
7. Cicada
Cicada - Bugs Found In South Dakota
Tim / Flickr
Screeching cicadas vary in population from year to year. Typically, if a brood is active, you can hear them in full force in late summer and early fall. Their exoskeletons are commonly seen after they've molted.
8. Red-banded leafhopper
Red-banded leafhopper - Bugs Found In South Dakota
Distant Hill Gardens / Flickr
The red-banded leafhopper is closely related to the cicada. They are able to jump up to 40 times their own body length. These are pretty incredible insects in South Dakota!
9. Asian Lady Beetle
Asian Lady Beetle - Bugs Found In South Dakota
Brian Fagan / Flickr
Asian lady beetles are beautiful, but these are quite dreaded South Dakota insects. These little insects release liquid when they're scared. It lets off quite the stink and leaves stains on fabric!

Some of these insects in South Dakota are pretty creepy, huh? Did we miss any of your most feared South Dakota insects?

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More to Explore

Nature In South Dakota

Lisa Sammons | June 03, 2022

What are some more creepy crawlies in South Dakota?

You've probably heard about the invasive Joro spider that's expected to hit the East Coast in the warmer months over the next few years. Did you know that scientists say there's a chance they could show up in South Dakota as well?

What are some good places to enjoy nature in South Dakota?

Glad to see all this talk of bugs and insects didn't scare you off! Our state has a lot of beautiful places to explore. Remember to give all wildlife, even the ones you may find creepy, plenty of space and let them live their lives. We have so many natural wonders in South Dakota that are worth a visit. Custer State Park is home to several, including the gorgeous Cathedral Spires.

What is the difference between a bug, insect, and arachnid?

Insects have three body segments: a head, a thorax, and an abdomen, with six legs arranged in three pairs. Arachnids have eight legs arranged in four pairs and only have two body segments, a cephalothorax and abdomen. "Bug" is a colloquial term used to describe insects, but it actually has a scientific definition. True bugs eat using a needle-like straw called a proboscis: they suck juice from plants.

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