Bugs and spiders in Georgia

What to watch for in Georgia

Black widows, the brown widow and the brown recluse are the spiders to respect here. The brown recluse is established only in parts of Georgia, with its range reaching the northwest corner. Recluses turn up in closets, basements, attics and garages, so wear gloves when you dig through stored boxes. For a bite that worries you, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.

Georgia has four established ticks: lone star, American dog, blacklegged and brown dog. The lone star tick is recorded most often, and its bites are linked to alpha-gal syndrome, a red-meat allergy. Be careful with red imported fire ants in the yard and with eastern yellowjackets, which are common and most noticed around food and trash in late summer and fall.

Through the year

Spring

Eastern carpenter bees hover and drill in April through June, black carpenter ant swarmers appear from about March, and pill bugs show up indoors after rain.

Summer

American cockroaches and house flies are most noticeable in the warm months, greenhouse millipedes appear after heavy rain, and spotted lanternfly adults appear from July.

Fall

Brown marmorated stink bugs move in from late September, Asian lady beetles in October and November, boxelder bugs from late August, and greenhouse camel crickets from late summer on.

Winter

Winter is when house centipedes get noticed most indoors, brown marmorated stink bugs stir on warm days, and false black widows and cellar spiders are around all year.