Bugs and spiders in Maine

What to watch for in Maine

The two ticks to know in Maine are the American dog tick and the blacklegged tick, both established and both well recorded. The blacklegged tick can spread Lyme disease and several other serious infections, and it can be active in any month when temperatures are above freezing. The American dog tick can spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. The brown dog tick is listed as established, and the lone star tick has records but is not known to live here.

The northern black widow is listed as established, although we have no photo records of it in the state, so a suspected sighting is worth a careful look before you assume anything. If you think you were bitten, get medical advice, and Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 is there for worrying bites. For stinging insects, the usual ones are the eastern yellowjacket, the European paper wasp and the eastern carpenter bee, while dark fishing spiders and yellow garden spiders are the large spiders people notice.

Through the year

Spring

American dog ticks are active from about April, and Asian lady beetles that spent winter inside try to get back out on warm days.

Summer

Eastern yellowjacket nests grow all season, and blacklegged tick nymphs peak in early summer.

Fall

Western conifer seed bugs, Asian lady beetles, boxelder bugs and brown marmorated stink bugs move into the house in September and October.

Winter

Fall invaders stir on warm days, house centipedes are seen all year, and blacklegged ticks can still be active whenever temperatures climb above freezing.