What insects & arthropods live near San Francisco?

Commonly observed insects & arthropods near San Francisco include Monarch, Western Honey Bee, Anise Swallowtail, Umber Skipper, Gray Buckeye, based on recent research-grade iNaturalist observations.

Insects & Arthropods of San Francisco, California

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

140,545

recent observations

species listed

insects & arthropods

Naturalists have logged 140,545 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species near San Francisco. The most frequently seen is the Monarch, with 13,376 recorded sightings.

Most-observed insects & arthropods near San Francisco

5,488 observations · iNaturalist

Gray Buckeye

Junonia grisea

4,952 observations · iNaturalist

Euphydryas chalcedona

4,321 observations · iNaturalist

Seven-spotted Lady Beetle

Coccinella septempunctata

3,716 observations · iNaturalist

3,352 observations · iNaturalist

Fiery Skipper

Hylephila phyleus

3,346 observations · iNaturalist

Small White

Pieris rapae

3,314 observations

Convergent Lady Beetle

Hippodamia convergens

3,313 observations

West Coast Lady

Vanessa annabella

3,138 observations · iNaturalist

Black-tailed Bumble Bee

Bombus melanopygus

3,087 observations · iNaturalist

Painted Lady

Vanessa cardui

2,812 observations

Johnson's Jumping Spider

Phidippus johnsoni

2,553 observations · iNaturalist

2,335 observations · iNaturalist

Western Tiger Swallowtail

Spotted Cucumber Beetle

Diabrotica undecimpunctata

1,995 observations

Yellow-faced Bumble Bee

Bombus vosnesenskii

1,967 observations · iNaturalist

Bronze Beetle

Chrysolina bankii

1,942 observations · iNaturalist

Western Yellowjacket

Vespula pensylvanica

1,897 observations · iNaturalist

Acmon Blue

Icaricia acmon

1,808 observations · iNaturalist

Common Checkered-Skipper

Burnsius communis

1,776 observations · iNaturalist

Mylitta Crescent

Phyciodes mylitta

1,688 observations · iNaturalist

Mediterranean Katydid

Phaneroptera nana

1,641 observations · iNaturalist

Common Ringlet

Coenonympha california

Phryganidia californica

1,485 observations · iNaturalist

California Tortoiseshell

Nymphalis californica

1,432 observations

California Lady Beetle

Coccinella californica

1,350 observations · iNaturalist

Echo Azure

Celastrina echo

1,340 observations · iNaturalist

Coyote Brush Bud Gall Midge

Rhopalomyia californica

1,334 observations · iNaturalist

Horse-fly Carpenter Bee

Xylocopa tabaniformis

1,273 observations

Western Forest Scorpion

Uroctonus mordax

1,271 observations · iNaturalist

White-lined Sphinx

Hyles lineata

1,200 observations · iNaturalist

Field Crescent

Phyciodes pulchella

1,194 observations · iNaturalist

Grey House Spider

Badumna longinqua

1,180 observations · iNaturalist

Argentine Ant

Linepithema humile

1,179 observations

Mediterranean Spiny False Wolf Spider

Variegated Meadowhawk

Sympetrum corruptum

1,143 observations · iNaturalist

European Paper Wasp

Polistes dominula

1,141 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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