Template:Short description State insects are designated by 48 individual states of the fifty United States. Some states have more than one designated insect, or have multiple categories (e.g., state insect and state butterfly, etc.). Iowa and Michigan are the two states without a designated state insect.
More than half of the insects chosen are not native to North America, because of the inclusion of two European species (European honey bee and European mantis), the former having been chosen by numerous states.
TableEdit
State | State insect | Binomial name |
Image | Year | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | Monarch butterfly (state insect) |
Danaus plexippus | File:Monarch In May.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Queen Honey bee (state agricultural insect) |
Apis mellifera | File:Apis mellifera (queen and workers).jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
Eastern tiger swallowtail (state butterfly and mascot) |
Papilio glaucus | File:Pristine Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
Alaska | Four-spotted skimmer dragonfly | Libellula quadrimaculata | File:Libellula quadrimaculata - Vierflecklibelle.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Arizona | Two-tailed swallowtail (state butterfly) |
Papilio multicaudata | File:Papilio multicaudata.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Arkansas | European honey bee (state insect) |
Apis mellifera | File:Apis mellifera bi.jpg | 1973<ref name=ArkansasSymb>Arkansas - State symbols and emblems</ref> | |
Diana fritillary butterfly (state butterfly) |
Speyeria diana | File:Speyeria diana 234233304.jpg | 2007<ref name=ArkansasSymb/> | ||
California | California dogface butterfly
(state butterfly) |
Zerene eurydice | File:Zerene eurydice 150367039.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Colorado | Colorado hairstreak | Hypaurotis crysalus | File:Hypaurotis crysalus 140995323.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Connecticut | European mantis | Mantis religiosa | File:Have you seen my husband - Flickr - Mamonello.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Delaware | Lady bug (state bug) |
Coccinellidae | File:BIEDRONA.JPG | 1974<ref>Delaware Code Title 29 § 309</ref> | |
Eastern tiger swallowtail (state butterfly) |
Papilio glaucus | File:Pristine Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.jpg | 1999<ref>Delaware Code Title 29 § 315</ref> | ||
Stonefly (state macroinvertebrate) |
Order Plecoptera | File:Pteronarcyidae.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
Florida | Zebra longwing (state butterfly) |
Heliconius charitonius | File:Heliconius charithonia Kaldari 1 cropped.jpg | 1996<ref>State Symbols Template:Webarchive</ref> | |
Georgia | European honey bee (state insect) |
Apis mellifera | File:Apis mellifera bi.jpg | 1975<ref>State Symbols Template:Webarchive of Georgia, Georgia General Assembly</ref> | |
Eastern tiger swallowtail (state butterfly) |
Papilio glaucus | File:Pristine Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.jpg | 1988<ref>State Butterfly Template:Webarchive, Office of Secretary of State of Georgia website.</ref> | ||
Hawaii | Kamehameha butterfly | Vanessa tameamea | File:Starr-180723-0472-Acacia koa-with Kamehameha Butterfly Vanessa tameamea resting on underside of branch-Kipahulu Forest Reserve-Maui (44703967131).jpg | 2009<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | |
Idaho | Monarch butterfly | Danaus plexippus | File:Monarch In May.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Illinois | Monarch butterfly | Danaus plexippus | File:Monarch In May.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Indiana | Say's firefly | Pyractomena angulata | File:Firefly composite.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Kansas | European honey bee | Apis mellifera | File:Apis mellifera bi.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Kentucky | European honey bee (state agricultural insect) |
Apis mellifera | File:Apis mellifera bi.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Viceroy butterfly (state butterfly) |
Limenitis archippus | File:Viceroy Butterfly.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
Louisiana | European honey bee (state insect) | Apis mellifera | File:Apis mellifera bi.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Gulf fritillary (state butterfly) | Dione vanillae | File:Gulf Fritillary. Agraulis vanillae (37617073115).jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
Maine | European honey bee (state insect) | Apis mellifera | File:Apis mellifera bi.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Pink-edged Sulphur (state butterfly) | Colias interior | File:Pink-edged Sulphur, PE County.jpg | 2023<ref>Maine Revised Statutes, Title 1, Chapter 9, Subchapter 1, Section 231</ref> | ||
Maryland | Baltimore checkerspot butterfly | Euphydryas phaeton | File:BaltimoreDS.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Massachusetts | Ladybug | Family Coccinellidae | File:BIEDRONA.JPG | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Minnesota | Monarch butterfly (state butterfly) |
Danaus plexippus | File:Monarch In May.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Rusty patched bumblebee (state bee) |
Bombus affinis | File:Bombus affinis, m, racine wi, LW Macior 1964 face 2017-02-15-09.26 (32801121931).jpg | 2019<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | ||
Mississippi | European honey bee (state insect) |
Apis mellifera | File:Apis mellifera bi.jpg | 1980<ref name=MissSymbols>State Symbols Template:Webarchive, p. 4. Office of the Secretary of State of Mississippi. Retrieved 2008-03-29</ref> | |
Spicebush swallowtail (state butterfly) |
Papilio troilus | File:Spicebush Swallowtail in August.jpg | 1991<ref name=MissSymbols/> | ||
Missouri | European honey bee | Apis mellifera | File:Apis mellifera bi.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Montana | Mourning cloak butterfly (state butterfly) |
Nymphalis antiopa | File:Nymphalis antiopa.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Nebraska | European honey bee | Apis mellifera | File:Apis mellifera bi.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Nevada | Vivid dancer damselfly | Argia vivida | File:Vivid Dancer - Argia vivida, Packer Lake, California.jpg | 2009<ref>"Designates the official state insect of Nevada. (BDR 19-914)", Nevada Legislature. Retrieved 2017-03-28</ref> | |
New Hampshire | ladybug (state insect) |
Coccinellidae | File:BIEDRONA.JPG | 1977<ref name="New Hampshire Revised Statutes">[1]. Retrieved 2025-02-26.</ref> | |
Karner blue butterfly (state butterfly) |
Plebejus melissa samuelis | File:Lycaeides melissa samuelis (cropped).jpg | 1992<ref name="New Hampshire Almanac">State Animal, the New Hampshire Almanac, New Hampshire State Library. Retrieved 2008-03-29.</ref> | ||
New Jersey | European honey bee (state bug) |
Apis mellifera | File:Apis mellifera bi.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Black swallowtail (state butterfly) |
Papilio polyxenes | File:Pristine Black Swallowtail.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
New Mexico | Tarantula hawk wasp (state insect) |
Pepsis grossa | File:Pepsis sp 02.jpg | 1989<ref>Welcome to the New Mexico State Capitol Template:Webarchive (brochure), New Mexico Legislature. Retrieved 2008-03-29.</ref> | |
Sandia hairstreak (state butterfly) |
Callophrys mcfarlandi | File:Callophrys mcfarlandi 1.jpg | 2003<ref>House Bill 13, 46th Legislature of the State of New Mexico. Retrieved 2008-03-29.</ref> | ||
New York | 9-spotted ladybug | Coccinella novemnotata | File:Coccinella novemnotata 1.jpg | 1989<ref>"Symbols of New York State", New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Retrieved 2008-03-30</ref> | |
North Carolina | European honey bee (state insect) |
Apis mellifera | File:Apis mellifera bi.jpg | 1973<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | |
Eastern tiger swallowtail (state butterfly) |
Papilio glaucus | File:Pristine Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.jpg | 2012<ref>State butterfly: Eastern tiger swallowtail (NCpedia)</ref> | ||
North Dakota | Convergent lady beetle | Hippodamia convergens | File:Convergent Ladybeetle (29666700695).jpg | 2011<ref>State Insect ND.gov </ref> | |
Ohio | Ladybug | Family Coccinellidae | File:BIEDRONA.JPG | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Oklahoma | European honey bee (state insect) |
Apis mellifera | File:Apis mellifera bi.jpg | 1992<ref name="Oklahoma Almanac">Oklahoma Almanac, State Emblems (pp. 37-40)</ref> | |
Black swallowtail (state butterfly) |
Papilio polyxenes | File:Pristine Black Swallowtail.jpg | 1996<ref name="Oklahoma Almanac"/> | ||
Oregon | Oregon swallowtail | Papilio oregonius | File:Papiliooregoniusstamp.jpeg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania firefly | Photuris pennsylvanica | File:Photuris pensylvanica.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Rhode Island | American burying beetle | Nicrophorus americanus | File:Nicrophorus americanus - Sankt-Peterburg.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
South Carolina | Carolina mantis (state insect) |
Stagmomantis carolina | File:Mantis2 6065.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Eastern tiger swallowtail (state butterfly) |
Papilio glaucus | File:Pristine Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.jpg | 1994<ref>The State Butterfly, South Carolina Legislature Online. Retrieved 2008-03-29</ref> | ||
South Dakota | European honey bee | Apis mellifera | File:Apis mellifera bi.jpg | 1978<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | |
Tennessee | Common eastern firefly (state insect) |
Photinus pyralis | File:Photinus pyralis Firefly 2.jpg | 1975<ref name="Tennessee State Symbols">State Symbols Template:Webarchive, Tennessee Department of State. Retrieved 2008-03-29</ref> | |
ladybug (state insect) |
Coccinellidae | File:BIEDRONA.JPG | 1975<ref name="Tennessee State Symbols"/> | ||
European honey bee (state agricultural insect) |
Apis mellifera | File:Apis mellifera bi.jpg | 1990<ref name="Tennessee State Symbols"/> | ||
Zebra swallowtail (state butterfly) |
Eurytides marcellus | File:Eurytides marcellus 1 - Desert Botanical Garden.jpg | 1995<ref name="Tennessee State Symbols"/> | ||
Texas | Monarch butterfly | Danaus plexippus | File:Monarch In May.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Utah | European honey bee | Apis mellifera | File:Apis mellifera bi.jpg | 1983<ref>Utah State Insect - Honey Bee Template:Webarchive from pioneer.utah.gov "Pioneer: Utah's Online Library" page. Retrieved on 2008-09-08</ref> | |
Vermont | European honey bee (state insect) |
Apis mellifera | File:Apis mellifera bi.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Monarch butterfly (state butterfly) |
Danaus plexippus | File:Monarch In May.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
Virginia | Eastern tiger swallowtail | Papilio glaucus | File:Pristine Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Washington | Green darner dragonfly | Anax junius | File:Green Darner.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
West Virginia | European honey bee (state insect) |
Apis mellifera | File:Apis mellifera bi.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}} Page 21 (547).</ref> |
Monarch butterfly (state butterfly) |
Danaus plexippus | File:Monarch In May.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> | |
Wisconsin | European honey bee | Apis mellifera | File:Apis mellifera bi.jpg | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Wyoming | Sheridan's green hairstreak | Callophrys sheridanii | File:Callophrys sheridanii 15737 (cropped).JPG | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
Template:State symbols Template:USStateLists Template:State insignia