Oklahoma’s varied geography, from eastern forests and central plains to western mesas, supports immense biological diversity. This landscape allows for thousands of species of arthropods, including insects, arachnids, and myriapods. When people refer to “bugs,” they usually mean these joint-legged invertebrates, most of which are harmless or hidden. The species that catch human attention often fall into three main categories: those that damage property, those that pose a health risk, and those that are common parts of the outdoor ecosystem.
Insects That Threaten Homes and Structures
The most significant threats to wooden structures come from insects that consume cellulose. The Eastern Subterranean Termite is the primary concern, as colonies live underground and feed on wood within walls and foundations. These termites cause billions of dollars in damage annually by hollowing out structural timbers, often leaving behind mud tubes on foundation walls or swarmers emerging in spring.
Other insects, like the Carpenter Ant, excavate galleries inside wood to build their nests instead of eating it. This tunneling weakens wood over time, especially where moisture has softened the material.
Cockroaches are a persistent nuisance and contaminant. The German Cockroach is a small, prolific indoor species found in kitchens and bathrooms. The larger American Cockroach prefers warmer, damp areas like basements and sewers. Both species contaminate food and surfaces with bacteria and can trigger allergic reactions.
Bed bugs invade homes by hitchhiking on luggage or clothing and feed exclusively on the blood of people or pets. These tiny, reddish-brown insects hide in mattress seams and furniture crevices. They leave behind itchy, red welts and small fecal spots on bedding.
Arthropods Posing Health Risks
Arthropods that bite, sting, or transmit pathogens represent a direct health concern to residents. Mosquitoes are the most widespread vector, thriving in warm, humid summers where standing water provides breeding grounds. Female mosquitoes transmit diseases like West Nile Virus, which can cause severe neurological illness.
Ticks also present a serious risk. The American Dog Tick is the main carrier of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in the region. The Black-legged Tick, or deer tick, is found particularly in the eastern part of the state and transmits Lyme disease. These arachnids latch onto a host and must be removed promptly to minimize disease transmission.
The Striped Bark Scorpion is a common arachnid that delivers a painful sting. Its venom is not dangerous to healthy adults. These pale, yellowish scorpions hide under rocks, woodpiles, or venture indoors during hotter months.
Venomous spiders require caution, specifically the Brown Recluse and the Black Widow. The Brown Recluse is identifiable by a dark, violin-shaped marking on its cephalothorax. They prefer dark, undisturbed habitats like closets and crawl spaces, and their bites can lead to necrotic lesions.
The female Black Widow is shiny black with a red hourglass marking on the underside of its abdomen. Its neurotoxic venom can cause muscle cramps and severe pain, often necessitating medical attention.
Common Outdoor and Garden Species
The majority of arthropods encountered outdoors are either harmless or beneficial to the environment. Beneficial species include predators like the Lady Beetle, whose adults and larvae consume garden pests such as aphids and scale insects. Praying mantises are also common, using their front legs to ambush and consume other insects. Native bees, including bumblebees, are crucial pollinators that support agricultural crops and wild flowering plants throughout the state.
Other insects are noticeable as seasonal nuisances due to their numbers or loud presence. Annual and Periodical Cicadas emerge in vast numbers during the summer, creating a loud, buzzing chorus. Their appearance is harmless to people, though large populations can damage young tree branches when females lay eggs.
Grasshoppers are common in fields and gardens. While they can be agricultural pests by consuming foliage, they are a normal part of the grassland ecosystem. Billbugs, a type of weevil, can damage lawns by feeding on grass stems.