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Insects & Arthropods of San Diego, California

The insects & arthropods most often spotted near San Diego, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

111,433
recent observations
50
species listed
50
insects & arthropods

Naturalists have logged 111,433 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species near San Diego. The most frequently seen is the Western Honey Bee, with 11,366 recorded sightings.

Most-observed insects & arthropods near San Diego

Western Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
11,366 observations
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
6,708 observations
Yellow-faced Bumble Bee
Bombus vosnesenskii
5,817 observations · iNaturalist
Silver Garden Orbweaver
Argiope argentata
4,256 observations · iNaturalist
Fiery Skipper
Hylephila phyleus
3,464 observations · iNaturalist
Mourning Cloak
Nymphalis antiopa
3,452 observations
Gray Bird Grasshopper
Schistocerca nitens
3,248 observations · iNaturalist
Figeater Beetle
Cotinis mutabilis
3,134 observations · iNaturalist
Noble False Widow
Steatoda nobilis
3,078 observations · iNaturalist
Harlequin Bug
Murgantia histrionica
2,855 observations · iNaturalist
Arizona Mantis
Stagmomantis limbata
2,607 observations · iNaturalist
Peridot Sweat Bee
Augochlorella pomoniella
2,604 observations · iNaturalist
White-lined Sphinx
Hyles lineata
2,601 observations · iNaturalist
Behr's Metalmark
Apodemia virgulti
2,566 observations · iNaturalist
Dotted Paropsine Leaf Beetle
Paropsis atomaria
2,503 observations · iNaturalist
Marine Blue
Leptotes marina
2,433 observations · iNaturalist
Small White
Pieris rapae
2,254 observations
Fine Striped Sweat Bee
Agapostemon subtilior
2,183 observations · iNaturalist
Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
Coccinella septempunctata
2,164 observations
Gray Hairstreak
Strymon melinus
1,996 observations
Western Giant Swallowtail
Heraclides rumiko
1,989 observations · iNaturalist
Asian Lady Beetle
Harmonia axyridis
1,966 observations
Brown Widow
Latrodectus geometricus
1,888 observations · iNaturalist
Gulf Fritillary
Dione vanillae
1,835 observations · iNaturalist
Salt Marsh Moth
Estigmene acrea
1,817 observations · iNaturalist
Anise Swallowtail
Papilio zelicaon
1,678 observations
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
1,661 observations
Spotless Lady Beetle
Cycloneda sanguinea
1,653 observations · iNaturalist
Western Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio rutulus
1,537 observations
Vivid Dancer
Argia vivida
1,434 observations · iNaturalist
Green Lynx Spider
Peucetia viridans
1,387 observations · iNaturalist
Western Pygmy-Blue
Brephidium exilis
1,337 observations · iNaturalist
Ligated Furrow Bee
Halictus ligatus
1,315 observations · iNaturalist
Lorquin's Admiral
Limenitis lorquini
1,258 observations
Oblique Streaktail
Allograpta obliqua
1,252 observations · iNaturalist
Red-shouldered Bug
Jadera haematoloma
1,213 observations · iNaturalist
Umber Skipper
Lon melane
1,194 observations · iNaturalist
Tripartite Sweat Bee
Halictus tripartitus
1,191 observations · iNaturalist
Gray Buckeye
Junonia grisea
1,180 observations · iNaturalist
Convergent Lady Beetle
Hippodamia convergens
1,127 observations
Argentine Ant
Linepithema humile
1,102 observations
Blue Dasher
Pachydiplax longipennis
1,063 observations
California Bumble Bee
Bombus californicus
1,051 observations · iNaturalist
Black-tailed Bumble Bee
Bombus melanopygus
1,042 observations · iNaturalist
West Coast Lady
Vanessa annabella
1,029 observations · iNaturalist
Margined Calligrapher
Toxomerus marginatus
1,002 observations · iNaturalist
Johnson's Jumping Spider
Phidippus johnsoni
996 observations · iNaturalist
Sonoran Bumble Bee
Bombus sonorus
984 observations · iNaturalist
Southwestern Shortface
Dufourea australis
983 observations · iNaturalist
Spotted Orbweaver
Neoscona crucifera
980 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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