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Insects & Arthropods of San Diego, California

The insects & arthropods most often spotted near San Diego, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

111,984
recent observations
50
species listed
50
insects & arthropods

Naturalists have logged 111,984 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species near San Diego. The most frequently seen is the Western Honey Bee, with 11,395 recorded sightings.

Most-observed insects & arthropods near San Diego

Western Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
11,395 observations
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
6,728 observations
Yellow-faced Bumble Bee
Bombus vosnesenskii
5,821 observations · iNaturalist
Silver Garden Orbweaver
Argiope argentata
4,288 observations · iNaturalist
Fiery Skipper
Hylephila phyleus
3,477 observations · iNaturalist
Mourning Cloak
Nymphalis antiopa
3,454 observations
Gray Bird Grasshopper
Schistocerca nitens
3,263 observations · iNaturalist
Figeater Beetle
Cotinis mutabilis
3,144 observations · iNaturalist
Noble False Widow
Steatoda nobilis
3,095 observations · iNaturalist
Harlequin Bug
Murgantia histrionica
2,856 observations · iNaturalist
Arizona Mantis
Stagmomantis limbata
2,639 observations · iNaturalist
Peridot Sweat Bee
Augochlorella pomoniella
2,609 observations · iNaturalist
White-lined Sphinx
Hyles lineata
2,603 observations · iNaturalist
Behr's Metalmark
Apodemia virgulti
2,567 observations · iNaturalist
Dotted Paropsine Leaf Beetle
Paropsis atomaria
2,564 observations · iNaturalist
Marine Blue
Leptotes marina
2,439 observations · iNaturalist
Small White
Pieris rapae
2,257 observations
Fine Striped Sweat Bee
Agapostemon subtilior
2,188 observations · iNaturalist
Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
Coccinella septempunctata
2,166 observations
Western Giant Swallowtail
Heraclides rumiko
2,013 observations · iNaturalist
Gray Hairstreak
Strymon melinus
2,001 observations
Asian Lady Beetle
Harmonia axyridis
1,973 observations
Brown Widow
Latrodectus geometricus
1,906 observations · iNaturalist
Gulf Fritillary
Dione vanillae
1,845 observations · iNaturalist
Salt Marsh Moth
Estigmene acrea
1,820 observations · iNaturalist
Anise Swallowtail
Papilio zelicaon
1,787 observations
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
1,664 observations
Spotless Lady Beetle
Cycloneda sanguinea
1,664 observations · iNaturalist
Western Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio rutulus
1,540 observations
Vivid Dancer
Argia vivida
1,435 observations · iNaturalist
Green Lynx Spider
Peucetia viridans
1,388 observations · iNaturalist
Western Pygmy-Blue
Brephidium exilis
1,350 observations · iNaturalist
Ligated Furrow Bee
Halictus ligatus
1,317 observations · iNaturalist
Lorquin's Admiral
Limenitis lorquini
1,260 observations
Red-shouldered Bug
Jadera haematoloma
1,255 observations · iNaturalist
Oblique Streaktail
Allograpta obliqua
1,253 observations · iNaturalist
Umber Skipper
Lon melane
1,195 observations · iNaturalist
Tripartite Sweat Bee
Halictus tripartitus
1,193 observations · iNaturalist
Gray Buckeye
Junonia grisea
1,181 observations · iNaturalist
Convergent Lady Beetle
Hippodamia convergens
1,128 observations
Argentine Ant
Linepithema humile
1,103 observations
Blue Dasher
Pachydiplax longipennis
1,068 observations
California Bumble Bee
Bombus californicus
1,051 observations · iNaturalist
Black-tailed Bumble Bee
Bombus melanopygus
1,042 observations · iNaturalist
West Coast Lady
Vanessa annabella
1,032 observations · iNaturalist
Margined Calligrapher
Toxomerus marginatus
1,005 observations · iNaturalist
Johnson's Jumping Spider
Phidippus johnsoni
997 observations · iNaturalist
Sonoran Bumble Bee
Bombus sonorus
994 observations · iNaturalist
Spotted Orbweaver
Neoscona crucifera
986 observations
Southwestern Shortface
Dufourea australis
985 observations · iNaturalist

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.

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