Bugs and spiders in Vermont

What to watch for in Vermont

The blacklegged tick and the American dog tick are both established and heavily recorded in Vermont. The blacklegged tick can spread Lyme disease and several other serious infections, and nymphs peak in late spring and early summer. 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 a few records but is not known to live here.

The northern black widow is established, though it has few records. Get medical advice right away for a suspected bite from an adult female, which can bring spreading pain and cramps, and call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 if you are worried. Among the Be-careful species, yellow garden spiders, dark fishing spiders, eastern yellowjackets, eastern carpenter bees and European paper wasps are the ones most often found around Vermont houses.

Through the year

Spring

Blacklegged tick adults peak in spring, and Asian lady beetles that wintered inside try to get back out on warm days.

Summer

Dark fishing spiders are around in spring and summer, yellowjacket nests grow, and blacklegged tick nymphs peak in early summer.

Fall

Asian lady beetles, western conifer seed bugs, boxelder bugs and brown marmorated stink bugs move in between late August and November, and blacklegged tick adults have a second peak.

Winter

Lady beetles and stink bugs stir on warm days, house centipedes and silverfish are found all year, and blacklegged ticks can be active in any month above freezing.