Insects & Arthropods of San Francisco, California
The insects & arthropods most often spotted near San Francisco, ranked by recent research-grade observations.
Most-observed insects & arthropods near San Francisco
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
12,013 observations
Western Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
9,059 observations
Anise Swallowtail
Papilio zelicaon
6,431 observations
Umber Skipper
Lon melane
5,188 observations · iNaturalist
Gray Buckeye
Junonia grisea
4,328 observations · iNaturalist
Variable Checkerspot
Euphydryas chalcedona
4,300 observations · iNaturalist
Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor
4,227 observations
Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta
4,185 observations
Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
Coccinella septempunctata
3,795 observations
Asian Lady Beetle
Harmonia axyridis
3,505 observations
Noble False Widow
Steatoda nobilis
3,451 observations · iNaturalist
Convergent Lady Beetle
Hippodamia convergens
3,243 observations
Cross Orbweaver
Araneus diadematus
3,157 observations
Small White
Pieris rapae
3,129 observations
Black-tailed Bumble Bee
Bombus melanopygus
3,080 observations · iNaturalist
Fiery Skipper
Hylephila phyleus
3,072 observations · iNaturalist
Gulf Fritillary
Dione vanillae
3,008 observations · iNaturalist
West Coast Lady
Vanessa annabella
2,845 observations · iNaturalist
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
2,715 observations
Johnson's Jumping Spider
Phidippus johnsoni
2,462 observations · iNaturalist
Vivid Dancer
Argia vivida
2,192 observations · iNaturalist
Gray Hairstreak
Strymon melinus
1,997 observations
Western Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio rutulus
1,945 observations
Yellow-faced Bumble Bee
Bombus vosnesenskii
1,917 observations · iNaturalist
Spotted Cucumber Beetle
Diabrotica undecimpunctata
1,851 observations
Western Yellowjacket
Vespula pensylvanica
1,828 observations · iNaturalist
European Mantis
Mantis religiosa
1,709 observations
Bronze Beetle
Chrysolina bankii
1,681 observations · iNaturalist
Acmon Blue
Icaricia acmon
1,661 observations · iNaturalist
Common Checkered-Skipper
Burnsius communis
1,593 observations · iNaturalist
Common Ringlet
Coenonympha california
1,582 observations
Spotted Tussock Moth
Lophocampa maculata
1,512 observations
Mylitta Crescent
Phyciodes mylitta
1,499 observations · iNaturalist
Mediterranean Katydid
Phaneroptera nana
1,499 observations · iNaturalist
California Oak Moth
Phryganidia californica
1,476 observations · iNaturalist
American Lady
Vanessa virginiensis
1,408 observations
California Tortoiseshell
Nymphalis californica
1,380 observations
California Lady Beetle
Coccinella californica
1,323 observations · iNaturalist
Echo Azure
Celastrina echo
1,315 observations · iNaturalist
Coyote Brush Bud Gall Midge
Rhopalomyia californica
1,311 observations · iNaturalist
Western Forest Scorpion
Uroctonus mordax
1,239 observations · iNaturalist
White-lined Sphinx
Hyles lineata
1,184 observations · iNaturalist
Horse-fly Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa tabaniformis
1,183 observations
Lorquin's Admiral
Limenitis lorquini
1,143 observations
Argentine Ant
Linepithema humile
1,140 observations
Field Crescent
Phyciodes pulchella
1,095 observations · iNaturalist
Grey House Spider
Badumna longinqua
1,084 observations · iNaturalist
European Paper Wasp
Polistes dominula
1,068 observations
Mediterranean Spiny False Wolf Spider
Zoropsis spinimana
1,056 observations
Variegated Meadowhawk
Sympetrum corruptum
1,035 observations · iNaturalist