Bugs and spiders in New Hampshire

What to watch for in New Hampshire

Ticks deserve the most attention. The American dog tick and the blacklegged tick are both established and well recorded. The blacklegged tick can spread Lyme disease and several other serious infections, and the American dog tick can spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. The lone star tick and the brown dog tick are also listed as established, though we have no photo records for either here. Rash or fever after any tick bite is worth mentioning to a doctor.

The northern black widow is listed as established with no photo records in the state. A suspected bite means getting medical advice right away, and Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 can help if you are worried. Among the Be-careful species, eastern yellowjackets, European paper wasps, eastern carpenter bees and dark fishing spiders are the ones most often met, along with the house centipede in basements.

Through the year

Spring

American dog ticks become active by about April, and carpenter bees return to drill, while overwintered lady beetles head back outside.

Summer

Blacklegged tick nymphs peak in early summer, and yellowjacket colonies grow near food and trash.

Fall

Western conifer seed bugs and brown marmorated stink bugs arrive in September and October, Asian lady beetles in October and November, and boxelder bugs from late August.

Winter

Expect the odd lady beetle or stink bug on warm days, and house centipedes, which turn up indoors all year.