Places › States › Colorado › Insects & Arthropods

Insects & Arthropods of Colorado

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

114,692
recent observations
50
species listed
50
insects & arthropods

Naturalists have logged 114,692 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Colorado. The most frequently seen is the Western Honey Bee, with 7,605 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed in Colorado include Ambush Bug - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Ambush Bug

Most-observed insects & arthropods in Colorado

Western Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
7,605 observations
Bold Jumping Spider
Phidippus audax
5,355 observations
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
4,727 observations
Convergent Lady Beetle
Hippodamia convergens
4,255 observations
Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
Coccinella septempunctata
4,188 observations
White-lined Sphinx
Hyles lineata
4,092 observations · iNaturalist
Hunt's Bumble Bee
Bombus huntii
3,725 observations · iNaturalist
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
3,296 observations
European Paper Wasp
Polistes dominula
3,069 observations
Two-tailed Swallowtail
Papilio multicaudata
2,957 observations · iNaturalist
Asian Lady Beetle
Harmonia axyridis
2,899 observations
Two-striped Grasshopper
Melanoplus bivittatus
2,825 observations · iNaturalist
European Mantis
Mantis religiosa
2,702 observations
Japanese Beetle
Popillia japonica
2,677 observations
Common Checkered-Skipper
Burnsius communis
2,501 observations · iNaturalist
Weidemeyer's Admiral
Limenitis weidemeyerii
2,336 observations
Small White
Pieris rapae
2,292 observations
Police Car Moth
Gnophaela vermiculata
2,256 observations · iNaturalist
Brown-belted Bumble Bee
Bombus griseocollis
2,155 observations
Four-spotted Moth
Tyta luctuosa
2,099 observations · iNaturalist
Western Black Widow
Latrodectus hesperus
2,085 observations
Variegated Fritillary
Euptoieta claudia
2,022 observations
Eastern Boxelder Bug
Boisea trivittata
1,996 observations
Blue Fungus Beetle
Cypherotylus californicus
1,953 observations · iNaturalist
Western Conifer Seed Bug
Leptoglossus occidentalis
1,846 observations · iNaturalist
Rocky Mountain Parnassian
Parnassius smintheus
1,782 observations · iNaturalist
Nevada Bumble Bee
Bombus nevadensis
1,765 observations
American Bumble Bee
Bombus pensylvanicus
1,739 observations
Mourning Cloak
Nymphalis antiopa
1,729 observations
Band-winged Meadowhawk
Sympetrum semicinctum
1,714 observations · iNaturalist
Small Milkweed Bug
Lygaeus kalmii
1,668 observations
Variegated Meadowhawk
Sympetrum corruptum
1,662 observations · iNaturalist
Apache Jumping Spider
Phidippus apacheanus
1,625 observations · iNaturalist
Golden Northern Bumble Bee
Bombus fervidus
1,618 observations
Colorado Soldier Beetle
Chauliognathus basalis
1,614 observations · iNaturalist
Widow Skimmer
Libellula luctuosa
1,596 observations
Western Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio rutulus
1,554 observations
Checkered White
Pontia protodice
1,525 observations · iNaturalist
Taxiles Skipper
Lon taxiles
1,474 observations · iNaturalist
Hoary Comma
Polygonia gracilis
1,373 observations
Differential Grasshopper
Melanoplus differentialis
1,363 observations
Greater Anglewing
Microcentrum rhombifolium
1,290 observations · iNaturalist
Red-femured Milkweed Borer
Tetraopes femoratus
1,277 observations · iNaturalist
Jagged Ambush Bug
Phymata americana
1,262 observations
Spotted Tussock Moth
Lophocampa maculata
1,236 observations
Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta
1,193 observations
White-spotted Sawyer
Monochamus scutellatus
1,189 observations
Gray Hairstreak
Strymon melinus
1,180 observations
Dainty Sulphur
Nathalis iole
1,176 observations
Ornate Checkered Beetle
Trichodes ornatus
1,175 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 Colorado?

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.