Places › National Parks › Badlands › Insects & Arthropods

Insects & Arthropods of Badlands National Park

The insects & arthropods most often spotted in Badlands, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

1,018
recent observations
50
species listed
50
insects & arthropods

Naturalists have logged 1,018 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Badlands. The most frequently seen is the Two-striped Grasshopper, with 77 recorded sightings.

Most-observed insects & arthropods in Badlands

Two-striped Grasshopper
Melanoplus bivittatus
77 observations · iNaturalist
Melissa Blue
Plebejus melissa
61 observations
Brown-belted Bumble Bee
Bombus griseocollis
51 observations
Variegated Fritillary
Euptoieta claudia
49 observations
Western Harvester Ant
Pogonomyrmex occidentalis
42 observations · iNaturalist
Red-backed Darkling Beetle
Eleodes suturalis
41 observations · iNaturalist
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
33 observations
Golden Paper Wasp
Polistes aurifer
31 observations · iNaturalist
Common Checkered-Skipper
Burnsius communis
31 observations · iNaturalist
American Bumble Bee
Bombus pensylvanicus
29 observations
Orange Sulphur
Colias eurytheme
28 observations
Banded Garden Spider
Argiope trifasciata
25 observations · iNaturalist
Plains Lubber Grasshopper
Brachystola magna
25 observations · iNaturalist
Rough-lipped Darkling Beetle
Eleodes hispilabris
25 observations · iNaturalist
Plains False Wireworm Beetle
Eleodes opaca
22 observations · iNaturalist
Convergent Lady Beetle
Hippodamia convergens
21 observations
Colorado Potato Beetle
Leptinotarsa decemlineata
21 observations
Margined Calligrapher
Toxomerus marginatus
21 observations · iNaturalist
Western Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
20 observations
Tigrosa grandis
Tigrosa grandis
20 observations · iNaturalist
Variegated Meadowhawk
Sympetrum corruptum
18 observations · iNaturalist
Dingy Cutworm Moth
Feltia jaculifera
18 observations · iNaturalist
Blue-bordered Pedunculate Ground Beetle
Pasimachus elongatus
16 observations · iNaturalist
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
15 observations
Gorgone Checkerspot
Chlosyne gorgone
15 observations · iNaturalist
Argus Tortoise Beetle
Chelymorpha cassidea
15 observations · iNaturalist
Hunt's Bumble Bee
Bombus huntii
14 observations · iNaturalist
Colorado Soldier Beetle
Chauliognathus basalis
14 observations · iNaturalist
Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta
13 observations
Apache Jumping Spider
Phidippus apacheanus
13 observations · iNaturalist
Small Milkweed Bug
Lygaeus kalmii
12 observations
Differential Grasshopper
Melanoplus differentialis
12 observations
Juniper Hairstreak
Callophrys gryneus
12 observations
Gray Hairstreak
Strymon melinus
11 observations
Pearl Crescent
Phyciodes tharos
11 observations
Morrison's Bumble Bee
Bombus morrisoni
11 observations · iNaturalist
Plains Cicada
Megatibicen dealbatus
11 observations · iNaturalist
Band-winged Meadowhawk
Sympetrum semicinctum
10 observations · iNaturalist
Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp
Sceliphron caementarium
10 observations
American Cochineal Bug
Dactylopius confusus
10 observations · iNaturalist
Regal Fritillary
Argynnis idalia
10 observations · iNaturalist
Western Black Widow
Latrodectus hesperus
9 observations
Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
Coccinella septempunctata
9 observations
Twelve-spotted Skimmer
Libellula pulchella
9 observations
Red Sunflower Seed Weevil
Smicronyx fulvus
9 observations · iNaturalist
Common Sootywing
Pholisora catullus
8 observations · iNaturalist
Western Thatching Ant
Formica obscuripes
8 observations · iNaturalist
Red-femured Milkweed Borer
Tetraopes femoratus
8 observations · iNaturalist
White-lined Sphinx
Hyles lineata
7 observations · iNaturalist
Spotted Cucumber Beetle
Diabrotica undecimpunctata
7 observations

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

Insects & Arthropods in nearby places

Out spotting insects & arthropods in Badlands?

Take Huck with you. Identify any insects & arthropod you find in seconds and build your collection.

Get Huck

Love insects & arthropods? Get Huck field notes

Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what people are finding in the wild - straight to your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to receive Huck emails. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. See our Privacy Policy.