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Insects & Arthropods of San Francisco, California

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

141,566
recent observations
50
species listed
50
insects & arthropods

Naturalists have logged 141,566 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species near San Francisco. The most frequently seen is the Monarch, with 13,495 recorded sightings.

Most-observed insects & arthropods near San Francisco

Monarch
Danaus plexippus
13,495 observations
Western Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
9,736 observations
Anise Swallowtail
Papilio zelicaon
7,274 observations
Umber Skipper
Lon melane
5,542 observations · iNaturalist
Gray Buckeye
Junonia grisea
4,964 observations · iNaturalist
Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor
4,545 observations
Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta
4,544 observations
Variable Checkerspot
Euphydryas chalcedona
4,329 observations · iNaturalist
Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
Coccinella septempunctata
3,868 observations
Asian Lady Beetle
Harmonia axyridis
3,770 observations
Noble False Widow
Steatoda nobilis
3,733 observations · iNaturalist
Fiery Skipper
Hylephila phyleus
3,401 observations · iNaturalist
Cross Orbweaver
Araneus diadematus
3,396 observations
Gulf Fritillary
Dione vanillae
3,371 observations · iNaturalist
Small White
Pieris rapae
3,336 observations
Convergent Lady Beetle
Hippodamia convergens
3,325 observations
West Coast Lady
Vanessa annabella
3,157 observations · iNaturalist
Black-tailed Bumble Bee
Bombus melanopygus
3,089 observations · iNaturalist
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
2,813 observations
Johnson's Jumping Spider
Phidippus johnsoni
2,561 observations · iNaturalist
Gray Hairstreak
Strymon melinus
2,373 observations
Vivid Dancer
Argia vivida
2,343 observations · iNaturalist
Western Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio rutulus
2,058 observations
European Mantis
Mantis religiosa
2,028 observations
Spotted Cucumber Beetle
Diabrotica undecimpunctata
2,003 observations
Yellow-faced Bumble Bee
Bombus vosnesenskii
1,971 observations · iNaturalist
Bronze Beetle
Chrysolina bankii
1,971 observations · iNaturalist
Western Yellowjacket
Vespula pensylvanica
1,914 observations · iNaturalist
Common Checkered-Skipper
Burnsius communis
1,825 observations · iNaturalist
Acmon Blue
Icaricia acmon
1,811 observations · iNaturalist
Mylitta Crescent
Phyciodes mylitta
1,697 observations · iNaturalist
Mediterranean Katydid
Phaneroptera nana
1,641 observations · iNaturalist
Common Ringlet
Coenonympha california
1,624 observations
Spotted Tussock Moth
Lophocampa maculata
1,615 observations
American Lady
Vanessa virginiensis
1,522 observations
California Oak Moth
Phryganidia californica
1,487 observations · iNaturalist
California Tortoiseshell
Nymphalis californica
1,435 observations
California Lady Beetle
Coccinella californica
1,356 observations · iNaturalist
Echo Azure
Celastrina echo
1,340 observations · iNaturalist
Coyote Brush Bud Gall Midge
Rhopalomyia californica
1,336 observations · iNaturalist
Western Forest Scorpion
Uroctonus mordax
1,278 observations · iNaturalist
Horse-fly Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa tabaniformis
1,274 observations
Field Crescent
Phyciodes pulchella
1,207 observations · iNaturalist
White-lined Sphinx
Hyles lineata
1,203 observations · iNaturalist
Argentine Ant
Linepithema humile
1,186 observations
Grey House Spider
Badumna longinqua
1,183 observations · iNaturalist
Mediterranean Spiny False Wolf Spider
Zoropsis spinimana
1,183 observations
Lorquin's Admiral
Limenitis lorquini
1,163 observations
Variegated Meadowhawk
Sympetrum corruptum
1,149 observations · iNaturalist
European Paper Wasp
Polistes dominula
1,141 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.

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