Insects & Arthropods of California
The insects & arthropods most often spotted in California, ranked by recent research-grade observations.
Most-observed insects & arthropods in California
Western Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
92,803 observations
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
61,771 observations
Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
Coccinella septempunctata
28,621 observations
Convergent Lady Beetle
Hippodamia convergens
27,058 observations
White-lined Sphinx
Hyles lineata
25,709 observations · iNaturalist
Fiery Skipper
Hylephila phyleus
25,462 observations · iNaturalist
Gray Buckeye
Junonia grisea
25,043 observations · iNaturalist
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
24,691 observations
Asian Lady Beetle
Harmonia axyridis
22,698 observations
Arizona Mantis
Stagmomantis limbata
21,690 observations · iNaturalist
Yellow-faced Bumble Bee
Bombus vosnesenskii
21,559 observations · iNaturalist
Gray Bird Grasshopper
Schistocerca nitens
20,812 observations · iNaturalist
Small White
Pieris rapae
20,104 observations
Gulf Fritillary
Dione vanillae
19,323 observations · iNaturalist
Variable Checkerspot
Euphydryas chalcedona
18,795 observations · iNaturalist
Noble False Widow
Steatoda nobilis
18,197 observations · iNaturalist
Mourning Cloak
Nymphalis antiopa
17,535 observations
Anise Swallowtail
Papilio zelicaon
17,036 observations
Western Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio rutulus
16,603 observations
Umber Skipper
Lon melane
16,067 observations · iNaturalist
Gray Hairstreak
Strymon melinus
15,271 observations
Vivid Dancer
Argia vivida
14,595 observations · iNaturalist
Acmon Blue
Icaricia acmon
14,343 observations · iNaturalist
Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor
13,925 observations
California Gall Wasp
Andricus quercuscalifornicus
13,666 observations · iNaturalist
California Sister
Adelpha californica
13,620 observations
Bold Jumping Spider
Phidippus audax
12,974 observations
Flame Skimmer
Libellula saturata
12,471 observations · iNaturalist
Black-tailed Bumble Bee
Bombus melanopygus
12,435 observations · iNaturalist
Variegated Meadowhawk
Sympetrum corruptum
11,957 observations · iNaturalist
Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta
11,596 observations
Marine Blue
Leptotes marina
11,198 observations · iNaturalist
Western Black Widow
Latrodectus hesperus
11,061 observations · iNaturalist
Figeater Beetle
Cotinis mutabilis
10,980 observations · iNaturalist
West Coast Lady
Vanessa annabella
10,513 observations · iNaturalist
Valley Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa sonorina
10,504 observations · iNaturalist
Lorquin's Admiral
Limenitis lorquini
10,469 observations
Argentine Ant
Linepithema humile
10,408 observations
California Tortoiseshell
Nymphalis californica
9,685 observations
Western Yellowjacket
Vespula pensylvanica
9,527 observations · iNaturalist
Brown Widow
Latrodectus geometricus
9,436 observations · iNaturalist
Spotted Cucumber Beetle
Diabrotica undecimpunctata
9,367 observations
Spotless Lady Beetle
Cycloneda sanguinea
9,293 observations · iNaturalist
Common Ringlet
Coenonympha california
9,287 observations
Mylitta Crescent
Phyciodes mylitta
9,152 observations · iNaturalist
Johnson's Jumping Spider
Phidippus johnsoni
9,107 observations · iNaturalist
Harlequin Bug
Murgantia histrionica
9,097 observations · iNaturalist
Dotted Paropsine Leaf Beetle
Paropsis atomaria
8,955 observations · iNaturalist
Pallid-winged Grasshopper
Trimerotropis pallidipennis
8,890 observations
European Mantis
Mantis religiosa
8,829 observations