The Official Insects of Every State
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The Official Insects of Every State
You most likely knew that your state had an official bird, but did you know that it had an official insect too? It's true! According to Smithsonian, California was the first state to adopt a state insect back in 1929. So unless you live in Iowa or Michigan, the two states who haven’t outwardly declared their love for bugs, your home state has one creepy crawly that is tops.
A lot of states chose the same common insect as their mascot, monarch butterflies and honey bees in particular seem to be super popular. But some states are completely original in their choices and even have insects that are named after their region. And if you are squeamish, don't worry, most are totally harmless (and not nightmare-inducing like murder hornets or zombie cicadas), most are even helpful to the environment, and some are just straight up beautiful butterflies. And there area few states that have really gone all in on the bug front. One even declared two official insects, an official butterfly, and an official agricultural insect. One even has a state macro invertebrate! Can you imagine the legislation involve in that? That's a whole lot of love for bugs. Curious about what creepy crawler represents your home state? Read on.
Monika Witte / 500px - Getty Images - 2/49
Alabama
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
In 1989, Alabama made the monarch butterfly its state insect. But that same year, it declared the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly (pictured) its state mascot and state butterfly.
Robert Young / 500px - Getty Images - 3/49
Alaska
Four-spot Skimmer Dragonfly
This spritely little bug became the state insect in 1995.Imagesines - Getty Images - 4/49
Arizona
Two-tailed Swallowtail Butterfly
These bright yellow beauties can have a wingspan of 3.5 to 5.5 inches.
Mark Newman - Getty Images - 5/49
Arkansas
Honey Bee
This hard-working insect earned this title in 1973. Want to help the bee community thrive? Plant some wildflowers.
Kees Smans - Getty Images - 6/49
California
California Dogface Butterfly
Not sure why they're called dogface, but as the first official state insect, they are a bit of a trendsetter.VW Pics - Getty Images - 7/49
Colorado
The Colorado Hairstreak
According to Colorado's Butterfly Pavilion, a fourth grade class petitioned for this purple beauty to be their state insect.milehightraveler - Getty Images - 8/49
Connecticut
European Praying Mantis
Connecticut upped its cool factor by picking this expressive insect as its state bug in 1977.fhm - Getty Images - 9/49
Delaware
Stonefly
Delaware's official state insect is the 7-spotted ladybug, its state butterfly is the Eastern tiger swallowtail, and they also have a state macro invertebrate (way to be super specific, Delaware), the stonefly.Valter Jacinto - Getty Images - 10/49
Florida
Zebra Longwing
Florida picked this aptly named state bug in 1996.
Jim McKinley - Getty Images - 11/49
Georgia
Honey Bee
This popular pollinator became Georgia's state insect in 1975, the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail became the state butterfly in 1988.Soteavy Som / EyeEm - Getty Images - 12/49
Hawaii
Pulelehua (Kamehameha butterfly)
This unique-looking insect is native to Hawaii.iso100k - Getty Images - 13/49
Idaho
Monarch Butterfly
Only honey bees have more state insect titles than these bright flying creatures.
Jasius - Getty Images - 14/49
Illinois
Monarch Butterfly
These distinctive pollinators are some of the most recognizable butterflies on the planet.Claude LeTien - Getty Images - 15/49
Indiana
Say's Firefly
Who doesn't love trying to collect these cool illuminated bugs in a mason jar?Ali Majdfar - Getty Images - 16/49
Kansas
Honey Bee
Yup, another state that picked this sweet bug as its state insect.mrs - Getty Images - 17/49
Kentucky
Viceroy Butterfly
If you're looking and thinking, hey, that looks like a monarch, you aren't wrong. Kentucky's state butterfly (the honey bee is its state insect) is very similar to the monarch, but slightly smaller.
Marcia Straub - Getty Images - 18/49
Louisiana
Honey Bee
What's the buzz? Another state with a honey bee as its state insect.Claudio Cavalensi - Getty Images - 19/49
Maine
Honey Bee
Gift shops around the state of Maine jokingly refer to the mosquito as the state "bird" because that stinging bug is everywhere, but the actual state insect of Maine is the popular honey bee.Saithong Pola / EyeEm - Getty Images - 20/49
Maryland
Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly
Points to Maryland for sticking with a color scheme and branding it with the name of their largest city. Their state bird is the black and orange Baltimore Oriole, and the state insect is this unusual Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly.bookguy - Getty Images - 21/49
Massachusetts
Ladybug
Make a wish if you see this state bug out in the wild.Copyright OneliaPG Photography - Getty Images - 22/49
Minnesota
Monarch Butterfly
The Land of 10,000 Lakes picked the monarch to rule its insect kingdom in 2000.Marcia Straub - Getty Images - 23/49
Mississippi
Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly
Mississippi is another state with the honey bee as its state insect, but it picked the unique Spicebush Swallowtail as its state butterfly.Marcia Straub - Getty Images - 24/49
Missouri
Honey Bee
The Show-Me State picked the honey bee as its state insect in 1985.ElementalImaging - Getty Images - 25/49
Montana
Mourning Cloak
Montana's state insect is this distinctive butterfly known for its maroon and yellow coloring.Zen Rial - Getty Images - 26/49
Nebraska
Honey Bee
Nebraska is another state that has recognized the importance of the honey bee to agriculture.Sumiko Scott - Getty Images - 27/49
Nevada
Vivid Dancer Damselfly
These bright blue bugs certainly live up to their name.VW Pics - Getty Images - 28/49
New Hampshire
Karner Blue Butterfly
New Hampshire's offical state insect is the ladybug, but this striking Karner Blue has the state's butterfly title.Ed Reschke - Getty Images - 29/49
New Jersey
Honey Bee
It makes sense that the Garden State would pick these prolific pollinators as their top bug.Soteavy Som / EyeEm - Getty Images - 30/49
New Mexico
Tarantula Hawk Wasp
New Mexico does not mess around. Not only is their insect a wasp, it's also named after a spider. Sure it's arachnid moniker is because that's what it snacks on, but it is still creepy as all get out.
Eric Lowenbach - Getty Images - 31/49
New York
Nine-spotted Ladybird Beetle
The Empire State's insect has a fancy name, but its really just a ladybug.
Ed Reschke - Getty Images - 32/49
North Carolina
Honey Bee
This bee-utiful creature was named the state insect back in 1973, and in 2012, North Carolina added the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail as their state butterfly.arlindo71 - Getty Images - 33/49
North Dakota
Convergent Lady Beetle
Never heard of a Lady Beetle? That's because most people call them lady bugs.
SweetyMommy - Getty Images - 34/49
Ohio
Ladybug
Not only adorable, but according to National Geographic, ladybugs happily eat insects (like aphids) that kill plants. Cute and super helpful.Martin Ruegner - Getty Images - 35/49
Oklahoma
Black Swallowtail
This eye-catching black bug became Oklahoma's state butterfly in 1996, while the honey bee is the state's insect.Susan Wiltse - Getty Images - 36/49
Oregon
Oregon Swallowtail Butterfly
This yellow beauty is native to the Pacific Northwest.BruceBlock - Getty Images - 37/49
Pennsylvania
Firefly
Depending on where you live, sometimes these luminescent creatures are called lightning bugs.
James Jordan Photography - Getty Images - 38/49
Rhode Island
American Burying Beetle
Good thing Rhode Island is a small state because we wouldn’t want to run into many of these creepers.
milehightraveler - Getty Images - 39/49
South Carolina
Carolina Mantis
Like your normal praying mantis, but you know, gray.senthil murugan - Getty Images - 40/49
South Dakota
Honey Bee
Sweet! Another state recognized these un-bee-lievably important insects.Hosam Shlash / EyeEm - Getty Images - 41/49
Tennessee
Zebra Swallowtail
Tennessee is either entirely filled with bugs, or a super indecisive state. They’ve got two official state insects (the Common Eastern Firefly and the 7-Spotted Ladybug), a state agricultural insect (the European honey bee) and a state butterfly (Zebra Swallowtail). Pick a bug, Tennessee!
michaelramsdell1967 - Getty Images - 42/49
Texas
Monarch Butterfly
The Lone Star State crowned the Danaus Plexippus its state insect in 1995.Douglas Sacha - Getty Images - 43/49
Utah
Honey Bee
According to the National Honey Board, a hive of bees has to travel over 55,000 miles to make one pound of honey.
Ed Peeters / EyeEm - Getty Images - 44/49
Vermont
Honey Bee
Vermont picked the two most popular bugs as their faves, the honey bee is the official state insect and the monarch is their state butterfly.
Soteavy Som / EyeEm - Getty Images - 45/49
Virginia
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Virginia's state insect is known for its distinctive tiger stripes.Nobuo Iwata - Getty Images - 46/49
Washington
Green Darner Dragonfly
They may be called "green" but these little flying creatures can be both green and blue.bookguy - Getty Images - 47/49
West Virginia
Honey Bee
The West Virginia state insect is seen here on the state's flower, the Rhododendron.Denise Graupner - Getty Images - 48/49
Wisconsin
Honey Bee
In 1977, a third grade class asked the legislature to select the honey bee as the state insect, and they did.setsuna - Getty Images - 49/49
Wyoming
Sheridan's Green Hairstreak
Not to be confused with Colorado's purple hairstreak, this unusual green butterfly became the state's insect in 2009.
mikroman6 - Getty Images