MARYLAND AT A GLANCE

INSECTS

Species

Invasive Species

Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), Annapolis, Maryland, October 2011. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Bumblebee on coneflower, Annapolis, Maryland, June 2011. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

All insects noted below are native to Maryland.

Ants (family Formicidae)
Ants form colonies consisting of drones, workers, soldiers, and a single queen. This specialized class system allows for cohesive social interaction to achieve colony goals. Sometimes confused with termites due to their overall similar size and build, ants possess antennae that are wider at the tip than at the base near the head, and are bent at an angle.

Also members of the superfamily Vespoidea, wasps are close biological cousins to ants.

One member of the Formicidae family, the Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invica) from South America, is an invasive species in Maryland.

Bedbugs (family Cimicidae)
Like fleas, or ticks (class Arachnida, order Ixodida), bedbugs are parasites, and feed by attaching to a host. Unlike fleas or ticks, however, bedbugs are not known to transmit diseases. Their name derives from the habit of infesting beds and other common areas where host bodies sleep.

Bumblebee on azaleas, Glen Burnie, Maryland, April 2011. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Maryland is home to the rare Puritan Tiger Beetle (Cicindela puritana), which is classifed as endangered, and can be found in Southern Maryland along the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Convened in 2010 by the Department of Natural Resources, the Cliff Erosion Steering Committee examines ways by which to aid residents whose homes lie on eroding cliffs where the Puritan Tiger Beetle lives. The Committee particularly is concerned with the inhabited cliffs in Calvert, Cecil and Kent counties.

Butterflies & Moths (order Lepidoptera)
The common belief that moths are furry, while butterflies are not, is scientifically inaccurate. Although individual species may be called either butterfly or moth, the two are so closely related that division even at the family level is not considered sound.

Io moth, Glen Burnie, Maryland, January 2013. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

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What distinguishes Lepidoptera are their comparatively large wings and antennae. While a small number of species possess crossvein wings, most have large membranous wings of various colors and patterns.

The Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly (Euphydryas phaeton) is the Maryland State insect.

Child butterfly wall mural, Aliceanna St., Baltimore, Maryland, October 2011. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Cockroaches (order Blattaria)
Although there are approximately 4,500 individual species of cockroach, only four species generally are encountered in Maryland. The most common of these is the American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana). Despite its name, it is not native to the Americas. Introduced from Africa to the colonies in the 1600s, this species is found throughout the world. Nocturnal, the American cockroach is one of the largest species of cockroach, capable of reaching more than two inches in length. It has also been classified as one of the fastest land insects in the world, reaching a speed of 3.4 mph, or 50 body lengths per second.

Crickets (superfamily Grylloidea)
Member of order Orthoptera, suborder Ensifera, crickets are close biological cousins to grasshoppers, and often mistaken for them. Crickets possess long antennae compared to their body length. Unlike grasshoppers, crickets are primarily nocturnal. Eggs are laid in fall, with females using their abdomen to bury the eggs. Usually buried in loose soil, some species of crickets are known to cut niches into trees or other plants to lay their eggs. Once hatching from their egg in the spring, crickets experience a series of molts. Known for its distinctive call, only the males chirp. This is done by rubbing wings together, not their legs, as is the common belief.

A distinctly unique member of suborder Ensifera, Camel crickets (family Rhaphidophoridae) visably resemble spiders. Known for their distinct humped back, Camel crickets range in color from bronze to dark brown, with patterns of spots or stripes of similar color. They possess long legs as well as antennae (the legs comprising over half their total length). Although there are larger species, Camel crickets generally do not exceed two inches in Maryland. Unlike other members of order Orthoptera, Camel crickets do not make chirping noises or possess wings. Instead, they are a jumping insect that often leaps towards its attacker as its defense mechanism. Also known as Cave crickets, this family is drawn to dark, damp areas, and needs a moist environment to reproduce. Though found in any dark, damp location, Camel crickets frequently nest in basements, garages, or even inside walls. Though menacing in appearance, Camel crickets do not pose a threat to humans or pets.

Damselflies & Dragonflies (order Odonata)
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Dragonfly, Glen Burnie, Maryland, June 2011. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Fleas (order Siphonaptera)
Wingless parasites, fleas travel by jumping from host to host. Tiny insects, they measure only 0.06 to 0.12 inches long, and can leap up to 13 inches, over sixty times their length. As with most parasites, fleas feed by attatching themselves to animals, such as dogs or birds, piercing the skin, and sucking the blood. It is through feeding that the flea acts as a vector for diseases.

Flies (family Muscidae)
In family Muscidae, the housefly (Musca domestica) is most well known. Drawn to decaying vegetation or carrion, flies may serve as vectors for numerous diseases, and can be found almost anywhere. Family Muscidae is part of order Diptera, and is cousin to mosquito and gnat.

Grasshoppers (suborder Caelifera)
Member of order Orthoptera, cousin to crickets. Often mistaken for crickets, grasshoppers possess short antennae compared to their body length. Grasshoppers range between 0.75 and 1.5 inches in length. Eggs are laid in the Fall, with females using their abdomen to bury the eggs beneath the soil. In the Spring, after hatching from their eggs, grasshoppers experience a series of molts, and reach adulthood in 40 to 60 days. They live for approximately one year. Grasshoppers largely feed off field grains and, in cases of high population density, may damage crops. Mostly active during the day, they prefer areas with good exposure to sun and low-growing vegetation.

Hornets (Vespa crabro)
A member of the wasp family (Vespidae), hornets are physically the largest genus of wasp, with some species reaching over an inch long. Only one species of true hornet lives in North America, though some species of wasps outside genus Vespa bear the same name. One such example is the Bald-Faced Hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) actually is more closely related to the yellow jacket. The European Hornet (Vespa crabro), though not native to the United States, first appeared here in the mid-1800s. Now, it is common throughout eastern and midwestern states. According to the National Institutes of Health, the allergic reation rate to Vespa crabro stings is three times that of honey bees or yellow jackets.

Lice (order Phthiraptera)
With four primary suborders, there are over three thousand known species of lice in the world. A small scavaging insect, lice nest on a host's body, feeding on dead skin cells and other digestable particles.

Mantis (order Mantodea)
The most common species of mantid found in Maryland is the Carolina Mantid (Stagmomantis carolina), although six species are commonly foundalong the eastern seaboard. Commonly found in woodlands and meadows, mantid are carnivores that are harmless to humans.

Mantis on leaves of fig tree, Glen Burnie, Maryland, August 2011. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

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North American mantid species generally range 1.5-2.75 inches, with females typically larger than males. Colors range from green to brown. Distinct features included their comparatively large head, and forearms. Also commonly known as Praying Mantis or Preying Mantis.

Brown Mantis on screen, Glen Burnie, Maryland, October 2011. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

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Mosquitos (family Culicidae)
A common nuisance during warmer months in Maryland, mosquitos feed on blood, and can carry infectious diseases. While both sexes consume nectar, females also feed on animal blood to further nourish their eggs. As their larval stage is aquatic, eggs are laid on water. Thus, eliminating standing water is a primary deterrent against mosquitos. Exceptionally short lived, mosquitos usually only reach two-weeks old in nature. The exception to this occurs in Winter. Mosquitos can place themselves into a suspended state, allowing them to live through colder months. Eggs also enter such a state, surviving ice and snow, hatching only when warm temperatures ensure their survival. Mosquitos are crepuscular, active primarily at dawn and dusk.

One major threat to native Maryland mosquitos is the Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus).

Moths (order Lepidoptera)
see: Butterflies & Moths

Stink Bugs (family Pentatomidae)
Members of Order Hemiptera, stink bugs (also known as shield bugs) are found throughout the world. They come in many forms, although all possess certain traits. Stink bugs bear five-segmented antennae from which their scientific name derives. They also have hardened wings that protect them on the ground. With most species, wings interlock with thorax plates forming an hourglass pattern on their backs. Glands located in the thorax produce a foul odor when they are startled or killed, thus their common name. In Maryland, native species as adults average a half inch in length. Feeding on crops and vegetation, stink bugs are generally harmless. However, this family is resistant to most pesticides, making them a much more destructive pest when they arrive in great numbers. For most species, the life span is one year, and they are most active between June and October.

Also found in Maryland, the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) is an invasive species from Asia.

Termites (order Isoptera)
Termites feed primarily on dead plant material: wood, fallen leaves, soil, and other organic detritus. This diet makes termites a pest insect that can seriously damage crops, as well as homes and property. Members of a caste system led by the queen, termites produce overlapping generations with workers to care for the young. Unlike many other caste system hives, termite nests may hold more than one egg-laying queen at a time. Lastly, the soldier class is primarily responsible for keeping intruders out of the hive. The largest threat to the hive is ants, although other insects may enter if openings are large enough. Sometimes called white ants due to physical similarities, termites are members of the infraclass Neoptera, and are more closely related to grasshoppers and earwigs. Besides color, one of the most differentiating traits is their antennae, which resemble a string of beads, and are slightly curved. Termites are tiny, generally some 0.25 to 0.37 inches in length, although a queen’s abdomen may distend before laying eggs. During this time, a queen’s total size may increase by over ten times.

Wasps (family Vespidae)
Only female wasps possess stingers, and may sting repeatedly, unlike bees. Both hornets and yellow jackets are classified in the wasp family. Another distinction is that wasp nests die out each year, with a single queen hibernating elsewhere over the winter to start a new colony the following Spring. Each year, a new queen is born to start the next colony. Although painful, allergic or hypersensitive reactions to wasp stings generally affect only one to two people in a thousand.

Also members of the superfamily Vespoidea, ants are close biological cousins of wasps.

Yellow Jackets (genus vespula, Dolichovespula)
Two genus within the wasp family (Vespidae) are collectively known as yellow jackets. Though each possesses differing traits and habits, both bear similar abdomen coloration and patterns. In Maryland, the most common species is the Eastern Yellow Jacket (Vespula maculifrons). Approximately half an inch in length, these yellow jackets prefer nesting in the ground, but also may be found inside attics, basements, garages, or any other protected area where they can gain acces.

Another species native to Maryland, the Bald-Faced Hornet (Dolichovespula maculata), despite its name, actually is a yellow jacket. This species differs from most yellow jackets in that its patterns are very light yellow, bordering on white, and are only found on its face and at the tip of its abdomen. This distinction led to its name.

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