Bugs and spiders in Mississippi

What to watch for in Mississippi

Three Get-advice spiders are established in Mississippi: the southern black widow, the brown widow and the brown recluse. The southern black widow is the one recorded most. Look before you reach into woodpiles, closets and garages. The northern black widow has records here but is not known to live in the state, and sightings like that are often hitchhikers or misidentified spiders. For a bite that worries you, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.

The established ticks are the lone star, American dog, blacklegged and brown dog tick, and all can carry disease. Lone star tick bites are also linked to alpha-gal syndrome, a red-meat allergy. Eastern yellowjackets and American cockroaches are common, and the yellow fever mosquito and house mosquito are both established.

Through the year

Spring

Eastern carpenter bees drill and hover in April through June, pill bugs come in after long rainy periods, and lone star tick adults are most active about April through June.

Summer

American cockroaches are most active in the warm months, greenhouse millipedes show up after heavy rain, and mosquito season runs roughly June through October, or longer in the warmest areas.

Fall

Asian lady beetles arrive in October and November, brown marmorated stink bugs from late September, and yellow garden spiders and spotted orbweavers are most noticeable.

Winter

Southern black widows can be found indoors year-round in sheltered spots, house centipedes are noticed more in winter, and brown marmorated stink bugs stir on warm days.