5 Creepy Crawler Bug Costumes You Won't See Kids Wearing

With Halloween right around the corner, kids are aflutter with thoughts of candy and dressing up. Halloween can be scary enough for little guys, so parents often choose cutesy costumes for the younger ones, like the ladybug pictured below. Older kids often take on the scarier ghosts and ghouls, but more likely than not, you won't see them choosing our Top 5 Creepy Crawler Bugs for their costumes - and with good reason!

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# 5: Earwigs

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Earwigs earned their name a long time ago. They were thought to crawl into the ears of sleeping people, and once inside, the Earwig would bore into the brain! Earwigs have claw-like forceps, as you can see in the picture, which are straight-sided on most females and more pincer-like in males. They use their forceps as protective weapons and to capture prey. Not too many kids would be able to pull this look off and still get candy!

# 4: Flesh Flies

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Most flesh flies breed in some pretty disgusting areas, such as decaying materials or dung. Some will lay eggs in the open wounds of animals - EW! The eggs they lay produce maggots, and there just isn't much that is yuckier than maggots. A few species of large flesh flies can lay so many eggs on a dead animal that it will actually look like it is moving when they hatch. Believe it or not, this is an indication of a beneficial insect - cleaning the world of dead animals. Road kill clean-up at its finest! Even though some kids choose fly costumes for Halloween, the flesh fly's bugged-out red eyes and exceedingly unsanitary ways are sure to prevent a friendly "Trick-or-Treat" response from your neighbor.

#3: Brown Recluse Spiders

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An easily identifiable mark for brown recluse spiders is the dark brown violin marking on their back. This spider normally moves about at night, and they like to hide - sometimes in your shoes! They eat other bugs, such as cockroaches and crickets. Brown recluse spiders often live outdoors in debris and woodpiles, but they can also be found in storage areas and dark recesses. These spiders bite to defend themselves; however, their goal isn't to actually bite humans. Imagine their fright when a human foot enters their new abode. Wouldn't you try to defend your home?

The brown recluse venom is extremely poisonous, even worse than the bite of a rattlesnake. Its bite often goes unnoticed because they are usually painless. This stealth, creepy crawler has scary, long legs and a nasty bite, and as the name suggests - recluse - it probably doesn't share well with others. The brown recluse wouldn't get along well with other Trick-or-Treaters.

#2: Bed Bugs

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Good night, sleep tight. Don't let the bed bugs bite. How many times has your mother said this to you?
Well, guess what? Bed bugs get their dinner from your blood! They can squeeze into cracks and crevices and sometimes go unnoticed until they begin to bite, or bloodstains appear on sheets. Bed bugs generally get in clusters around where people sleep - waiting to suck your blood! Some bed bugs will also hide because they don't like light. Although the vampire costume is typical for Halloween, these tiny vampires aren't just a figment of your imagination. They are real and extremely creepy!

#1: German Cockroaches

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The German cockroach is an active traveler, frequently moving from one location to another and passing through very small openings. They are often transported in common items such as bagged potatoes and onions, beverage cartons, grocery bags, food cans, food packages, handbags, and the folds of clothing. If a concentration of German cockroaches exists, such as in a restaurant (yes, a restaurant!) or an apartment, they produce a distinct, nasty smell. These disease-carrying bugs leave their dead skin lying around and can give people food poisoning, upset stomachs, and even diarrhea. This creepy crawler garners the number one position on our list for two reasons:

1. Invasion of privacy and
2. Ability to make people squirm and scream more than the monsters from Monsters, Inc.!

Kids - don't choose these bugs as your next costume, or your friends will turn in the opposite direction running and screaming!

To learn more about these creepy crawler and other icky pests, visit our pest guide. Arrow offers pest control, wildlife control and other services to protect your home and family from unwanted pests this fall.