These 18 Bugs Found In Wyoming Will Send Shivers Down Your Spine

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.

1. Blue Death Feigning Beetle

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.

2. European Earwig

European Earwigs eat aphids and plants. They have wings and pincers which they use against predators for self-defense. They are harmless to people.

3. Masked Hunter

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.

4. Periodical Cicada

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.

5. Pseudoscorpion

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.

6. Cottonwood Borer

The Cottonwood Borer is part of the beetle family. They are destructive because they destroy trees, especially poplar, willow, and cottonwood.

7. False Bombardier Beetle

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.

8. American Cockroach

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.

9. American Salmonfly

American Salmonfly love the water. If they feel threatened they will either play dead or release a chemical that irritates the skin.

10. Carolina Wolf Spider

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.

11. Dobsonfly

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.

12. Brown Mantidfly

Brown Mantidfly have large shoulders with forelegs that contain a claw. They prey on Wolf Spiders.

13. Carpenter Ants

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.

14. Labyrinthine Orb Weaver Spider

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.

15. Jerusalem Cricket

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.

16. Millipede

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.

17. Robber Fly

A Robber Fly, like its name, steals meals from unsuspecting insects. Their wings make a whirring sound as they fly.

18. Spiny Backed Orb Weaver

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?

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