Discover Minnesota’s State Bug: The Official Insect Is Not Mosquitoes
No matter how many times your dad tells the joke, mosquitoes aren't the official state bird of Minnesota. They aren't the official insect either even though they are making their presence known. DNR officials say the wet winter and spring will lead to mosquitoes being a major problem throughout the summer.
Below you'll find some ways to protect yourself from mosquitoes, read about the most hated bug in Minnesota, and learn what our state insect is.
Stacker put together a list of each state's official bug and I was happy to see Minnesota's isn't a creepy crawler or blood-sucking monster. Check out the list below to learn more.
Quiz: Do you know your state insect?
Keep The Mosquitoes Away
Nothing ruins a camping trip or a backyard fire quite like a bunch of nasty mosquitoes, but there are a few things you can do to prevent from getting eaten alive.
Start with your garden. There are 11 plants you can grow in your garden or around your house that help repel mosquitoes.
Change your clothes. A University of Washington study says mosquitoes are attracted to the colors red, orange, cyan, and black so avoid wearing those colors.
Scrub with coconut soap. Researchers at Virginia say the scent left by coconut body wash tricks the mosquito into thinking you're a plant and they'll buzz right by you.
People hate mosquitoes, but there's one bug that we despise even more.
The One Bug That Minnesotans Hate More Than Mosquitoes
A company called Pest Strategies surveyed over 3,500 people to find out what each state's least favorite bug was. Here in Minnesota, we hate cockroaches!