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Insects & Arthropods of Badlands National Park

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

1,013
recent observations
50
species listed
50
insects & arthropods

Naturalists have logged 1,013 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Badlands. The most frequently seen is the Two-striped Grasshopper, with 77 recorded sightings.

Most-observed insects & arthropods in Badlands

Two-striped Grasshopper
Melanoplus bivittatus
77 observations · iNaturalist
Melissa Blue
Plebejus melissa
61 observations
Brown-belted Bumble Bee
Bombus griseocollis
50 observations
Variegated Fritillary
Euptoieta claudia
49 observations
Western Harvester Ant
Pogonomyrmex occidentalis
42 observations · iNaturalist
Red-backed Darkling Beetle
Eleodes suturalis
41 observations · iNaturalist
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
33 observations
Golden Paper Wasp
Polistes aurifer
31 observations · iNaturalist
Common Checkered-Skipper
Burnsius communis
30 observations · iNaturalist
American Bumble Bee
Bombus pensylvanicus
28 observations
Orange Sulphur
Colias eurytheme
28 observations
Banded Garden Spider
Argiope trifasciata
25 observations · iNaturalist
Plains Lubber Grasshopper
Brachystola magna
25 observations · iNaturalist
Rough-lipped Darkling Beetle
Eleodes hispilabris
25 observations · iNaturalist
Plains False Wireworm Beetle
Eleodes opaca
22 observations · iNaturalist
Convergent Lady Beetle
Hippodamia convergens
21 observations
Colorado Potato Beetle
Leptinotarsa decemlineata
21 observations
Margined Calligrapher
Toxomerus marginatus
21 observations · iNaturalist
Western Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
20 observations
Tigrosa grandis
Tigrosa grandis
20 observations · iNaturalist
Variegated Meadowhawk
Sympetrum corruptum
18 observations · iNaturalist
Dingy Cutworm Moth
Feltia jaculifera
18 observations · iNaturalist
Blue-bordered Pedunculate Ground Beetle
Pasimachus elongatus
16 observations · iNaturalist
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
15 observations
Gorgone Checkerspot
Chlosyne gorgone
15 observations · iNaturalist
Argus Tortoise Beetle
Chelymorpha cassidea
15 observations · iNaturalist
Hunt's Bumble Bee
Bombus huntii
14 observations · iNaturalist
Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta
13 observations
Apache Jumping Spider
Phidippus apacheanus
13 observations · iNaturalist
Small Milkweed Bug
Lygaeus kalmii
12 observations
Differential Grasshopper
Melanoplus differentialis
12 observations
Juniper Hairstreak
Callophrys gryneus
12 observations
Colorado Soldier Beetle
Chauliognathus basalis
12 observations · iNaturalist
Gray Hairstreak
Strymon melinus
11 observations
Pearl Crescent
Phyciodes tharos
11 observations
Morrison's Bumble Bee
Bombus morrisoni
11 observations · iNaturalist
Plains Cicada
Megatibicen dealbatus
11 observations · iNaturalist
Band-winged Meadowhawk
Sympetrum semicinctum
10 observations · iNaturalist
Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp
Sceliphron caementarium
10 observations
American Cochineal Bug
Dactylopius confusus
10 observations · iNaturalist
Regal Fritillary
Argynnis idalia
10 observations · iNaturalist
Western Black Widow
Latrodectus hesperus
9 observations
Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
Coccinella septempunctata
9 observations
Twelve-spotted Skimmer
Libellula pulchella
9 observations
Red Sunflower Seed Weevil
Smicronyx fulvus
9 observations · iNaturalist
Common Sootywing
Pholisora catullus
8 observations · iNaturalist
Western Thatching Ant
Formica obscuripes
8 observations · iNaturalist
Red-femured Milkweed Borer
Tetraopes femoratus
8 observations · iNaturalist
White-lined Sphinx
Hyles lineata
7 observations · iNaturalist
Spotted Cucumber Beetle
Diabrotica undecimpunctata
7 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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