State-insect
Guides
Argia vivida
Vivid Dancer
Argia vivida, known as the vivid dancer, is a narrow-winged damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is notable for its striking temperature-dependent coloration, with individuals displaying bright blue, red, brown, or grey morphs. The species exhibits sophisticated thermoregulatory behavior, moving between forested roosting sites and sunlit clearings to maintain optimal body temperature. It is widely distributed across Central and North America and is recognized as the state insect of Nevada.
Callophrys mcfarlandi
Sandia Hairstreak
Callophrys mcfarlandi, the Sandia Hairstreak, is a small butterfly species native to North America with a restricted geographic range. It was discovered in 1958 in La Cueva Canyon, Albuquerque, New Mexico, by University of Kansas student Noel McFarland and formally described in 1960. The species was designated as one of New Mexico's state insects in 2003. It belongs to the hairstreak group within the family Lycaenidae.
Coccinella novemnotata
nine-spotted ladybug, nine-spotted lady beetle, C9
Coccinella novemnotata is a native North American lady beetle that experienced a drastic population decline beginning in the 1960s. Once among the most common coccinellids in the northeastern United States and southern Canada, it has become rare across much of its former range. The species is a specialized aphid predator with potential value as a biocontrol agent in agriculture. It is the state insect of New York, designated in 1989.
Coccinella septempunctata
seven-spot ladybird, seven-spotted ladybug, seven-spotted lady beetle, C-7
Coccinella septempunctata is a predatory lady beetle native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, now widely established in North America following intentional introduction for biological control. Adults measure 6.5–7.8 mm with distinctive red elytra bearing seven black spots. The species is among the most extensively studied coccinellids due to its importance in aphid biocontrol and its invasive success in new ranges. It completes up to five generations annually with a six-week development cycle from egg to adult.
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phaeton
Baltimore Checkerspot
Euphydryas phaeton, commonly known as the Baltimore Checkerspot, is a North American butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It has been the official state insect of Maryland since 1973. The species is part of the checkerspot group within the genus Euphydryas, which includes several closely related species with similar wing patterns and ecological requirements.
Hypaurotis crysalus
Colorado Hairstreak
Hypaurotis crysalus, the Colorado Hairstreak, is a montane butterfly and the sole member of its genus. It was designated Colorado's state insect in 1996 following advocacy by a fourth-grade class in Aurora, Colorado. The species is univoltine, with adults peaking in July and August. It exhibits distinctive purple upper wing surfaces and cryptic gray undersides, and has specialized feeding habits that rarely include flower nectar.
Papilio glaucus
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus, the eastern tiger swallowtail, is a large and familiar butterfly native to eastern North America. Adults are recognized by their distinctive yellow and black tiger-striped pattern; males are consistently yellow with four black stripes on each forewing, while females exhibit dimorphism with both yellow and dark morphs. The species is notable for its remarkable caterpillar defenses, including bird-dropping mimicry in early instars and snake-mimicry eyespots in later stages. Dark-morph females employ Batesian mimicry of the unpalatable pipevine swallowtail. The butterfly is highly polyphagous as a larva, feeding on numerous tree species across multiple plant families, and is an important pollinator as an adult. It produces two to three broods annually and is active from spring through fall.
Pepsis grossa
tarantula hawk, New Mexico state insect
Pepsis grossa is one of the largest spider wasps in North America, reaching up to 51 mm in females. This species hunts tarantulas exclusively, paralyzing them with a sting to serve as living food for its larvae. The sting is considered among the most painful of any insect, though not medically dangerous to humans. The species exhibits three distinct color morphs—orange-winged (xanthic), black-winged (melanic), and a dark-amber intermediate form (lygamorphic)—that are geographically segregated across its broad range from the southern United States to northern South America. It was designated the state insect of New Mexico in 1989.
Pyractomena angulata
Say's Firefly, Angle Candled Firefly
Pyractomena angulata is a firefly species in the beetle family Lampyridae, native to North America. It is notable as the state insect of Indiana and produces amber-to-orange bioluminescence characteristic of its genus. Adults are active from May through mid-July and inhabit woodland environments. The species was named in honor of entomologist Thomas Say, who first described it in 1825.
Zerene eurydice
California dogface butterfly, flying pansy, dog head butterfly
Zerene eurydice, commonly known as the California dogface butterfly, is a pierid butterfly endemic to California and designated as the state's official insect since 1972. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism: males display distinctive black and yellow-orange wing patterns resembling a dog's head silhouette, while females are predominantly yellow with black forewing markings. The butterfly is closely associated with its larval host plants, false indigo species (Amorpha californica and A. fruticosa), and is most abundant at the Shutamul Bear River Preserve near Auburn. Despite its cultural prominence, the species remains rarely encountered in the wild due to its fast, high-flying behavior and specific habitat requirements.