Official State Insects

Just like trees and birds, most states in America also have official State Insects.

It may come as a surprise to some but states actually adopt official 'state insects' as part of their identity. In the same way that states name official trees and birds, they also take on a special connection with a particular species (or multiple in some cases) of insect. The state of California became the first to formally select a 'state insect', this occurring in 1929 and becoming the Dogface Butterfly.

The most popular choice appears to be the hard-working Honey Bee followed by the beautiful and common Monarch Butterfly. Other states think 'outside the box' and have selected entries like the ferocious Tarantula Hawk Wasp (New Mexico) or the inquisitive Carolina Mantid (South Carolina).

NOTE: Iowa, Michigan, and the District of Columbia DO NOT name official state insects. Some states like Mississippi and New Hampshire name two. The state of Tennessee names new fewer than three official insects.

A - ALABAMA

Monarch Butterfly

A - ALASKA

Four-spotted Skimmer Dragonfly

A - ARIZONA

Two-tailed Swallowtail Butterfly

A - ARKANSAS

Detailed color picture of an adult Hony Bee

Honey Bee

C - CALIFORNIA

California Dogface Butterfly

C - COLORADO

Colorado Hairstreak

C - CONNECTICUTT

European Mantis

D - DELAWARE

Detailed color picture of an adult Convergent Ladybug

Convergent Ladybug / Tiger Swallowtail

F - FLORIDA

Zebra Longwing Butterfly

G - GEORGIA

Detailed color picture of an adult Honey Bee

European Honey Bee

H - HAWAII

Kamehameha Butterfly

I - IDAHO

Monarch Butterfly

I - ILLINOIS

Monarch Butterfly

I - INDIANA

Say's Firefly

K - KANSAS

European Honey Bee

K - KENTUCKY

European Honey Bee

L - LOUISIANA

European Honey Bee

M - MAINE

European Honey Bee

M - MARYLAND

Detailed color picture of an adult Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly insect

Baltimore Checkerspot Insect

M - MASSACHUSETTS

Ladybug Beetle

M - MINNESOTA

Monarch Butterfly

M - MISSISSIPPI

Honey Bee / Spicebush Swallowtail

M - MISSOURI

Honey Bee

M - MONTANA

Mourning Cloak

N - NEBRASKA

Honey Bee

N - NEVADA

Vivid Dancer Damselfly

N - NEW HAMPSHIRE

Detailed color picture of an adult Two-spotte Ladybug Beetle

Two-spotted Ladybug / Karner Blue Butterfly

N - NEW JERSEY

Honey Bee

N - NEW MEXICO

Tarantula Hawk Wasp

N - NEW YORK

Nine-spotted Ladybird Beetle

N - NORTH CAROLINA

Honey Bee

N - NORTH DAKOTA

Convergent Lady Beetle

O - OHIO

Ladybug Beetle

O - OKLAHOMA

Honey Bee / Black Swallowtail

O - OREGON

Oregon Swallowtail Butterfly

P - PENNSYLVANIA

Firefly

R - Rhode Island

American Burying Beetle

S - SOUTH CAROLINA

Detailed color picture of an adult Carolina Mantid

Carolina Mantid / Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

S - SOUTH DAKOTA

Honey Bee

T - TENNESSEE

Detailed color picture of an adult Firefly Beetle insect

Firefly, Ladybug, and Zebra Swallowtail

T - TEXAS

Monarch Butterfly

U - UTAH

Honey Bee

V - VERMONT

Honey Bee / Monarch Butterfly

V - VIRGINIA

Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly

WASHINGTON

Green Darner Dragonfly

W - WEST VIRGINIA

Monarch Butterfly

W - WISCONSIN

Honey Bee

W - WYOMING

Sheridan's Green Hairstreak

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