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Insects & Arthropods of South Dakota

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

17,550
recent observations
50
species listed
50
insects & arthropods

Naturalists have logged 17,550 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in South Dakota. The most frequently seen is the Monarch, with 1,169 recorded sightings.

Most-observed insects & arthropods in South Dakota

Monarch
Danaus plexippus
1,169 observations
Brown-belted Bumble Bee
Bombus griseocollis
1,010 observations
Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta
890 observations
American Bumble Bee
Bombus pensylvanicus
731 observations
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
730 observations
Asian Lady Beetle
Harmonia axyridis
623 observations
Common Eastern Bumble Bee
Bombus impatiens
503 observations
Melissa Blue
Plebejus melissa
497 observations
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus
468 observations
Eastern Boxelder Bug
Boisea trivittata
453 observations
White-lined Sphinx
Hyles lineata
413 observations · iNaturalist
Two-spotted Bumble Bee
Bombus bimaculatus
411 observations
Western Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
401 observations
Convergent Lady Beetle
Hippodamia convergens
393 observations
Bold Jumping Spider
Phidippus audax
344 observations
Two-striped Grasshopper
Melanoplus bivittatus
340 observations · iNaturalist
European Mantis
Mantis religiosa
335 observations
Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
Coccinella septempunctata
327 observations
Purple Tiger Beetle
Cicindela purpurea
325 observations · iNaturalist
Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes
312 observations
Orange Sulphur
Colias eurytheme
307 observations
Hunt's Bumble Bee
Bombus huntii
307 observations · iNaturalist
Small White
Pieris rapae
306 observations
Silver-spotted Skipper
Epargyreus clarus
295 observations
Differential Grasshopper
Melanoplus differentialis
291 observations
Common Checkered-Skipper
Burnsius communis
288 observations · iNaturalist
Banded Garden Spider
Argiope trifasciata
277 observations · iNaturalist
Punctured Tiger Beetle
Cicindelidia punctulata
269 observations · iNaturalist
Goldenrod Soldier Beetle
Chauliognathus pensylvanicus
251 observations · iNaturalist
Big Sand Tiger Beetle
Cicindela formosa
248 observations · iNaturalist
Widow Skimmer
Libellula luctuosa
235 observations
Variegated Fritillary
Euptoieta claudia
224 observations
Twelve-spotted Skimmer
Libellula pulchella
222 observations
Margined Calligrapher
Toxomerus marginatus
212 observations · iNaturalist
American Dog Tick
Dermacentor variabilis
210 observations
Isabella Tiger Moth
Pyrrharctia isabella
209 observations
Red Milkweed Beetle
Tetraopes tetrophthalmus
206 observations
Chickweed Geometer Moth
Haematopis grataria
205 observations · iNaturalist
Common Whitetail
Plathemis lydia
204 observations
Band-winged Meadowhawk
Sympetrum semicinctum
201 observations · iNaturalist
Western Conifer Seed Bug
Leptoglossus occidentalis
200 observations · iNaturalist
Viceroy
Limenitis archippus
198 observations
Weidemeyer's Admiral
Limenitis weidemeyerii
196 observations
Dogbane Leaf Beetle
Chrysochus auratus
196 observations · iNaturalist
Virginian Tiger Moth
Spilosoma virginica
194 observations
Eastern Comma
Polygonia comma
189 observations
Yellow Garden Spider
Argiope aurantia
184 observations
Common Green Darner
Anax junius
184 observations
Hackberry Emperor
Asterocampa celtis
184 observations
Grapevine Beetle
Pelidnota punctata
183 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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