You might not think they're common in the Midwest, but five species of lizard are found in Ohio.There are about 90 species of lizards in America. Most species are native to the southwest. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, four species are native to Ohio, and one exotic species has established itself in the state.According to the Ohio Division of Wildlife, they are very beneficial, feeding on insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, beetles and insect larvae.There are four species that are native to Ohio: Eastern fence lizards, little brown skinks (aka ground skinks), common five-lined skinks and broad-headed skinks. An exotic, invasive species has established itself, called the common (European) wall lizard. The species was actually introduced into Cincinnati in 1951 and has become well-established, sometimes called the Lazarus lizards. The wall lizards were brought to eastern Cincinnati from northern Italy by a resident after a vacation near Milan and were released in a backyard.The lizards can now be found in several areas in Hamilton, Butler and Clermont Counties, as well as neighboring areas in Kentucky and Indiana. They're typically found along old rock walls, railroad tracks, refuse piles and rocky ravines. ODNR said it's not known what effects the species has on native species, but their spread is discouraged, saying it's illegal to release animals into the wild in Ohio.