Looking for Large Insects in Connecticut? Come to Torrington

Looking for big bugs in Connecticut? The kind of killer beasts that will protect your precious home from puny pests and vermin? King Kong-sized Ants and Moths that would make Mothra nervous? Come to Torrington.

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I've lived there for almost two years, and every week I find the biggest version of insects that I've ever seen in my life. Three inch grasshoppers? We got them. Wolf Spiders the size of your hand? Yup. Is it the clean air of the new Naugatuck River Greenway? The welcoming crevices of Iffland Lumber? Who's to say? But yesterday two beasts stopped by my place, and I took pics.

First, the largest Earwig that I've ever seen in my life made an appearance. Ready for the Heebie Jeebies?

This beast was snuggled into the housing of my retractable screen door. It startled the hell out my chihuahua and I. I thought that it was the Wasp Queen of Coe Park, with the yellow belly and huge pinchers coming out of it's rear, a revolting combo. Earwigs are harmless to humans, they aren't known to crawl in your ear while you're sleeping, and mostly nocturnal. At 2 inches long, this is the biggest one that I've ever seen.

Not even an hour later, the largest praying mantis I've ever seen seemed to be on the earwig's trail. This 3 inch beauty crawled across my screen in hot pursuit. By the way, the mantis is the Official Insect of Connecticut.

Giant mantis, mega earwig, and crow-killing eagles, Torrington never disappoints.