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Insects & Arthropods of California

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

943,640
recent observations
50
species listed
50
insects & arthropods

Naturalists have logged 943,640 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in California. The most frequently seen is the Western Honey Bee, with 99,499 recorded sightings.

Most-observed insects & arthropods in California

Western Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
99,499 observations
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
67,163 observations
Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
Coccinella septempunctata
29,288 observations
Gray Buckeye
Junonia grisea
27,911 observations · iNaturalist
Convergent Lady Beetle
Hippodamia convergens
27,897 observations
Fiery Skipper
Hylephila phyleus
27,468 observations · iNaturalist
Arizona Mantis
Stagmomantis limbata
27,379 observations · iNaturalist
White-lined Sphinx
Hyles lineata
26,058 observations · iNaturalist
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
25,373 observations
Asian Lady Beetle
Harmonia axyridis
24,140 observations
Yellow-faced Bumble Bee
Bombus vosnesenskii
22,384 observations · iNaturalist
Gray Bird Grasshopper
Schistocerca nitens
21,953 observations · iNaturalist
Gulf Fritillary
Dione vanillae
21,717 observations · iNaturalist
Small White
Pieris rapae
21,421 observations
Noble False Widow
Steatoda nobilis
19,975 observations · iNaturalist
Variable Checkerspot
Euphydryas chalcedona
18,931 observations · iNaturalist
Anise Swallowtail
Papilio zelicaon
18,385 observations
Mourning Cloak
Nymphalis antiopa
18,106 observations
Western Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio rutulus
17,386 observations
Gray Hairstreak
Strymon melinus
17,110 observations
Umber Skipper
Lon melane
16,939 observations · iNaturalist
Vivid Dancer
Argia vivida
15,590 observations · iNaturalist
Acmon Blue
Icaricia acmon
15,188 observations · iNaturalist
California Gall Wasp
Andricus quercuscalifornicus
14,644 observations · iNaturalist
Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor
14,620 observations
California Sister
Adelpha californica
14,438 observations
Bold Jumping Spider
Phidippus audax
14,331 observations
Flame Skimmer
Libellula saturata
13,559 observations · iNaturalist
Western Black Widow
Latrodectus hesperus
13,273 observations
Figeater Beetle
Cotinis mutabilis
13,083 observations · iNaturalist
Variegated Meadowhawk
Sympetrum corruptum
12,970 observations · iNaturalist
Black-tailed Bumble Bee
Bombus melanopygus
12,504 observations · iNaturalist
Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta
12,246 observations
Marine Blue
Leptotes marina
12,121 observations · iNaturalist
Brown Widow
Latrodectus geometricus
11,756 observations · iNaturalist
Dotted Paropsine Leaf Beetle
Paropsis atomaria
11,367 observations · iNaturalist
West Coast Lady
Vanessa annabella
11,256 observations · iNaturalist
Valley Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa sonorina
11,234 observations · iNaturalist
Lorquin's Admiral
Limenitis lorquini
11,198 observations
California Tortoiseshell
Nymphalis californica
10,996 observations
Argentine Ant
Linepithema humile
10,879 observations
European Mantis
Mantis religiosa
10,696 observations
Spotless Lady Beetle
Cycloneda sanguinea
10,650 observations · iNaturalist
Western Yellowjacket
Vespula pensylvanica
10,129 observations · iNaturalist
Spotted Cucumber Beetle
Diabrotica undecimpunctata
10,078 observations
Mylitta Crescent
Phyciodes mylitta
9,966 observations · iNaturalist
Harlequin Bug
Murgantia histrionica
9,627 observations · iNaturalist
Johnson's Jumping Spider
Phidippus johnsoni
9,614 observations · iNaturalist
Pallid-winged Grasshopper
Trimerotropis pallidipennis
9,586 observations
Common Ringlet
Coenonympha california
9,558 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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