Does anyone have an idea when the bug season in Utah starts

I was at bear lake, utah a few weeks ago and i saw the strangest insect- i am hoping that somebody knows what it is from my description. its body was striped black and yellow, its hind legs looked like a grasshopper's, and its head looked like a wasp's. it was pretty big- maybe an inch long, and as big around as a dime- and when i got close to it, it slapped its body on the ground, it might have been its way of warning an enemy to back off. It kind of looked like a large striped cricket. I know that probably sounds weird, but does anybody know what it might have been?

Unless it is really cold outside there always seems to be some insects around, maybe not as many, but some. Winter is a good time to find aquatics that only emerge at that time of year. After the spring run-off slows down, the canyons will be profitable places to visit and the west desert should be very good for interesting insects about now. Of course snow in mid May put a damper on outside photography. :)>

I'm sure it depends on where in Utah you are, but I suspect if you went looking you would find things even now. I start looking as soon as it's comfortable to be outside. Pickings may be slim at first, but you'll also encounter things you won't find later in the year. Generally, you'll find more caterpillars and larger spiders in Summer and early Fall.

Just go hunting and I look forward to seeing what you find.