Insects & Arthropods of Badlands National Park
The insects & arthropods most often spotted in Badlands, ranked by recent research-grade observations.
Most-observed insects & arthropods in Badlands
Two-striped Grasshopper
Melanoplus bivittatus
72 observations · iNaturalist
Brown-belted Bumble Bee
Bombus griseocollis
50 observations
Melissa Blue
Plebejus melissa
42 observations
Variegated Fritillary
Euptoieta claudia
35 observations
Red-backed Darkling Beetle
Eleodes suturalis
33 observations · iNaturalist
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
29 observations
Golden Paper Wasp
Polistes aurifer
28 observations · iNaturalist
American Bumble Bee
Bombus pensylvanicus
25 observations
Orange Sulphur
Colias eurytheme
24 observations
Plains Lubber Grasshopper
Brachystola magna
24 observations · iNaturalist
Common Checkered-Skipper
Burnsius communis
24 observations · iNaturalist
Banded Garden Spider
Argiope trifasciata
23 observations · iNaturalist
Rough-lipped Darkling Beetle
Eleodes hispilabris
22 observations · iNaturalist
Western Harvester Ant
Pogonomyrmex occidentalis
21 observations · iNaturalist
Convergent Lady Beetle
Hippodamia convergens
20 observations
Colorado Potato Beetle
Leptinotarsa decemlineata
20 observations
Plains False Wireworm Beetle
Eleodes opaca
20 observations · iNaturalist
Margined Calligrapher
Toxomerus marginatus
18 observations · iNaturalist
Tigrosa grandis
Tigrosa grandis
18 observations · iNaturalist
Western Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
17 observations
Variegated Meadowhawk
Sympetrum corruptum
17 observations · iNaturalist
Argus Tortoise Beetle
Chelymorpha cassidea
15 observations · iNaturalist
Hunt's Bumble Bee
Bombus huntii
14 observations · iNaturalist
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
13 observations
Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta
13 observations
Gorgone Checkerspot
Chlosyne gorgone
13 observations · iNaturalist
Differential Grasshopper
Melanoplus differentialis
12 observations
Dingy Cutworm Moth
Feltia jaculifera
12 observations · iNaturalist
Apache Jumping Spider
Phidippus apacheanus
12 observations · iNaturalist
Pearl Crescent
Phyciodes tharos
11 observations
Juniper Hairstreak
Callophrys gryneus
11 observations
Morrison's Bumble Bee
Bombus morrisoni
11 observations · iNaturalist
Colorado Soldier Beetle
Chauliognathus basalis
11 observations · iNaturalist
Plains Cicada
Megatibicen dealbatus
11 observations · iNaturalist
Gray Hairstreak
Strymon melinus
10 observations
Small Milkweed Bug
Lygaeus kalmii
10 observations
Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp
Sceliphron caementarium
10 observations
Blue-bordered Pedunculate Ground Beetle
Pasimachus elongatus
10 observations · iNaturalist
Regal Fritillary
Argynnis idalia
10 observations · iNaturalist
Western Black Widow
Latrodectus hesperus
9 observations · iNaturalist
Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
Coccinella septempunctata
9 observations
Twelve-spotted Skimmer
Libellula pulchella
9 observations
Band-winged Meadowhawk
Sympetrum semicinctum
9 observations · iNaturalist
Common Sootywing
Pholisora catullus
8 observations · iNaturalist
Red-femured Milkweed Borer
Tetraopes femoratus
8 observations · iNaturalist
Red Sunflower Seed Weevil
Smicronyx fulvus
8 observations · iNaturalist
American cochineal bug
Dactylopius confusus
8 observations · iNaturalist
White-lined Sphinx
Hyles lineata
7 observations · iNaturalist
Familiar Bluet
Enallagma civile
7 observations
Eastern Tumblebug
Canthon pilularius
7 observations · iNaturalist