I love everything about Colorado! From the mountains, to the plains, to the Front Range–there is so much to see and do! Okay, wait…maybe I don’t love everything about Colorado. Now that I think about it, I’ve seen some of the creepiest creepy crawlies in both the mountains and on the plains a time or two. Yuck!! Just who are these neighboring pests? Let’s find out together as we explore 12 of the creepiest crawlies in Colorado.

1.) American Dog Tick
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Commonly found in the Rocky Mountains, the Dermacentor variabilis is known for carrying several diseases including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tularemia.
2.) Acorn Weevil
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The Curculio glandium is easy to recognize because of its distinct snout, brown body, and rigid underside.
3.) American carrion beetle
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These mountainside residents, formally known as Necrophila americana, lay their eggs inside the rotting flesh of dead and decaying animals.. which the larvae then consume.. *throws up in mouth*
4.) American painted lady
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This lovely lady (the Vanessa virginiensis) lives primarily in cool and flowery habitats. You can "bug" us anytime, Ms. Butterfly!
5.) Assassin bug
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The narrow necked, blood-sucking Reduviidae is a feisty one -- when handled, it may release a painful stab from its snout.
6.) Bed bug
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Good night, sleep tight, and don't let the commonly found Cimex lectularius bite!
7.) Blue-eyed darner
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These beautiful Aeshna multicolor not only have piercing blue eyes, but various blue stripes and dots as well.
8.) Brown marmorated stink bug
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Newer to the Colorado area, the Halyomorpha halys was accidentally introduced to the United States in 1998 after hitching a ride in packing crates from Asia.
9.) Buffalo treehopper
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It's not easy being green? The Stictocephala bisonia begs to differ, as it is able camouflage to resemble thorns and twigs.
10.) Camel Cricket
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The humpbacked Rhaphidophoridae are commonly found within caves, animal burrows, cellars, under stones, and inside of wood.
11.) Carolina Wolf Spider
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The Hogna carolinensis is the largest wolf spider found in North America, with the body length of males measuring in at 19 mm and females at 25 mm.
12.) Roly-poly
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My toddler gets a kick out of Armadillidium vulgare and their ability to roll up in defense.

How much is your skin crawling right now?

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