What Bugs ‘Bug’ South Dakotans Most During Summer Months?

Many people don't enjoy the summer months for one simple reason, that's when all the insects come out to play.

If you're not a fan of mosquitoes, bees, flies, hornets, and other assorted winged things that like to bite, then chances are you're not going be groovin' on the months of May, June, July, August, and September in the state of South Dakota.

Me, I love the summer months. I'd prefer it to be warm 365 days a year. I don't mind the heat and humidity one bit. I can tolerate the occasional mosquito bite. However, I loathe the bite Old Man Winter doles out during the months of January and February in this state.

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If you happen to be the type of person that falls into the I hate warm weather because of all the bugs camp, here are some of the most dreaded bugs that always seem to bug South Dakotans the most during the summer months.

According to GardeningDaddy.com, the most common bug found in South Dakota during the warm weather months is the heinous Cockroach.

Now even I'll admit, roaches have no redeeming qualities. These hideous little beasts have wings, flattened oval bodies, and long antennae. They also have quite a reputation for being indestructible. Roaches are capable of surviving a week without their head. I mean seriously, how's that even possible? They can handle extreme heat and cold, and go up to 12 weeks without food and water. Oh, and did I mention they also can bite and spread a variety of diseases like gastroenteritis and salmonella? But, even after all that nonsense, they're still more tolerable than a -15 below zero South Dakota day in February in my book.

South Dakota is also known for having our unfair share of Bed Bugs during summer. Now here's an insect you definitely don't want to come across, especially, in your hotel or Airbnb while vacationing. Nothing can put the kibosh on a vacation faster than finding some of these little bloodsuckers in your Serta sleeper. Fortunately, these flat, oval-shaped beasties don't spread diseases when they bite, but they are extremely gross and annoying and are guaranteed to make a person lose a good night's sleep at first sight.

If you've lived in South Dakota for any period of time, then chances are you're all too familiar with the pesky Mosquito. According to GardeningDaddy, South Dakota has over 60 species of mosquitoes and every year more mosquito-borne diseases are appearing. With the most common being West Nile, and the Zika Virus. While it's true mosquitoes are highly annoying and spread disease, they do manage to bring a few positive things to the table. Mosquitoes actually help control the insect population and are helpful in pollination, and therefore, play an important role in the ecosystem. Something we should all keep in mind the next time one of these little blood suckers comes in for a landing and tries to belly up to our body for a dinner buffet.

Speaking of bloodsuckers, another insect that is synonymous with South Dakota during the summertime is the Tick. Is there nothing worse than finding one of these hideous bloodsuckers on your body at the end of a long summer's day? Ticks are particularly worrisome little creatures that are capable of carrying several diseases that are dangerous to humans and pets. They typically stand on blades of grass or other forms of vegetation and wait for a warm-blooded mammal to walk by so they can latch onto them. Should you or your pet get a tick, don't panic, according to PetMD, it takes roughly 6 to 8 hours of feeding before a tick is able to start transmitting any diseases it might be carrying. That's why it's always very important to thoroughly check your pets and yourself should you spend a significant amount of time outside in the grass or near vegetation during the spring and summer. The sooner you remove a tick, the better. If you need a few pointers on tick removal, check this out.

Finally, it wouldn't be a South Dakota summer without the familiar sound of a Honey Bee buzzing around. They love to crash a good picnic or outside gathering and always seem to get especially more aggressive during the latter part of the summer months as their life cycle nears its end. Honey bee venom is not dangerous or toxic, but a bee bite does have a tendency to sting and can cause significant swelling for some.  Should you happen to be allergic to bees, well that's a whole other story. A bee bite could cause anaphylactic shock, requiring treatment with a shot of epinephrine. To be safe, you should consider seeking out medical attention right away if bitten.

Like many insects, honey bees do have their benefits however, not only do they provide all that yummy honey, and a healthy source of revenue for many folks in the beekeeper profession, but they also play a crucial role in pollination.

And if you live here in South Dakota, here's probably the best reason you should give this bug a break, the honey bee just happens to be the state insect of South Dakota!

Source: GardeningDaddy.com/PetMD.com