Insects & Arthropods of California
The insects & arthropods most often spotted in California, ranked by recent research-grade observations.
911,504
recent observations
50
species listed
50
insects & arthropods
Naturalists have logged 911,504 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in California. The most frequently seen is the Western Honey Bee, with 96,369 recorded sightings.
Most-observed insects & arthropods in California
Western Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
96,369 observations
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
64,366 observations
Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
Coccinella septempunctata
28,892 observations
Convergent Lady Beetle
Hippodamia convergens
27,470 observations
Gray Buckeye
Junonia grisea
26,866 observations · iNaturalist
Fiery Skipper
Hylephila phyleus
26,266 observations · iNaturalist
White-lined Sphinx
Hyles lineata
25,931 observations · iNaturalist
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
25,007 observations
Arizona Mantis
Stagmomantis limbata
24,814 observations · iNaturalist
Asian Lady Beetle
Harmonia axyridis
23,345 observations
Yellow-faced Bumble Bee
Bombus vosnesenskii
22,117 observations · iNaturalist
Gray Bird Grasshopper
Schistocerca nitens
21,392 observations · iNaturalist
Small White
Pieris rapae
20,773 observations
Gulf Fritillary
Dione vanillae
20,369 observations · iNaturalist
Noble False Widow
Steatoda nobilis
18,950 observations · iNaturalist
Variable Checkerspot
Euphydryas chalcedona
18,889 observations · iNaturalist
Mourning Cloak
Nymphalis antiopa
17,940 observations
Anise Swallowtail
Papilio zelicaon
17,667 observations
Western Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio rutulus
17,180 observations
Umber Skipper
Lon melane
16,342 observations · iNaturalist
Gray Hairstreak
Strymon melinus
16,229 observations
Vivid Dancer
Argia vivida
15,242 observations · iNaturalist
Acmon Blue
Icaricia acmon
14,879 observations · iNaturalist
Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor
14,322 observations
California Gall Wasp
Andricus quercuscalifornicus
14,143 observations · iNaturalist
California Sister
Adelpha californica
14,056 observations
Bold Jumping Spider
Phidippus audax
13,505 observations
Flame Skimmer
Libellula saturata
13,114 observations · iNaturalist
Figeater Beetle
Cotinis mutabilis
12,596 observations · iNaturalist
Western Black Widow
Latrodectus hesperus
12,517 observations · iNaturalist
Black-tailed Bumble Bee
Bombus melanopygus
12,481 observations · iNaturalist
Variegated Meadowhawk
Sympetrum corruptum
12,142 observations · iNaturalist
Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta
11,924 observations
Marine Blue
Leptotes marina
11,770 observations · iNaturalist
Brown Widow
Latrodectus geometricus
10,976 observations · iNaturalist
Lorquin's Admiral
Limenitis lorquini
10,929 observations
West Coast Lady
Vanessa annabella
10,914 observations · iNaturalist
Valley Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa sonorina
10,859 observations · iNaturalist
Argentine Ant
Linepithema humile
10,645 observations
California Tortoiseshell
Nymphalis californica
10,537 observations
Dotted Paropsine Leaf Beetle
Paropsis atomaria
10,224 observations · iNaturalist
Spotless Lady Beetle
Cycloneda sanguinea
10,060 observations · iNaturalist
European Mantis
Mantis religiosa
9,873 observations
Spotted Cucumber Beetle
Diabrotica undecimpunctata
9,794 observations
Western Yellowjacket
Vespula pensylvanica
9,772 observations · iNaturalist
Mylitta Crescent
Phyciodes mylitta
9,602 observations · iNaturalist
Common Ringlet
Coenonympha california
9,454 observations
Harlequin Bug
Murgantia histrionica
9,426 observations · iNaturalist
Johnson's Jumping Spider
Phidippus johnsoni
9,349 observations · iNaturalist
Pallid-winged Grasshopper
Trimerotropis pallidipennis
9,225 observations
Insects & Arthropods in nearby places
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