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.

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.

Four-spot Skimmer Dragonfly

This spritely little bug became the state insect in 1995.

Two-tailed Swallowtail Butterfly

These bright yellow beauties can have a wingspan of 3.5 to 5.5 inches.

Honey Bee

This hard-working insect earned this title in 1973. Want to help the bee community thrive? Plant some wildflowers.

California Dogface Butterfly

Not sure why they're called dogface, but as the first official state insect, they are a bit of a trendsetter.

The Colorado Hairstreak

According to Colorado's Butterfly Pavilion, a fourth grade class petitioned for this purple beauty to be their state insect.

European Praying Mantis

Connecticut upped its cool factor by picking this expressive insect as its state bug in 1977.

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.

Zebra Longwing

Florida picked this aptly named state bug in 1996.

Honey Bee

This popular pollinator became Georgia's state insect in 1975, the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail became the state butterfly in 1988.

Pulelehua (Kamehameha butterfly)

This unique-looking insect is native to Hawaii.

Monarch Butterfly

Only honey bees have more state insect titles than these bright flying creatures.

Monarch Butterfly

These distinctive pollinators are some of the most recognizable butterflies on the planet.

Say's Firefly

Who doesn't love trying to collect these cool illuminated bugs in a mason jar?

Honey Bee

Yup, another state that picked this sweet bug as its state insect.

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.

Honey Bee

What's the buzz? Another state with a honey bee as its state insect.

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.

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.

Ladybug

Make a wish if you see this state bug out in the wild.

Monarch Butterfly

The Land of 10,000 Lakes picked the monarch to rule its insect kingdom in 2000.

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.

Honey Bee

The Show-Me State picked the honey bee as its state insect in 1985.

Mourning Cloak

Montana's state insect is this distinctive butterfly known for its maroon and yellow coloring.

Honey Bee

Nebraska is another state that has recognized the importance of the honey bee to agriculture.

Vivid Dancer Damselfly

These bright blue bugs certainly live up to their name.

Karner Blue Butterfly

New Hampshire's offical state insect is the ladybug, but this striking Karner Blue has the state's butterfly title.

Honey Bee

It makes sense that the Garden State would pick these prolific pollinators as their top bug.

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.

Nine-spotted Ladybird Beetle

The Empire State's insect has a fancy name, but its really just a ladybug.

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.

Convergent Lady Beetle

Never heard of a Lady Beetle? That's because most people call them lady bugs.

Ladybug

Not only adorable, but according to National Geographic, ladybugs happily eat insects (like aphids) that kill plants. Cute and super helpful.

Black Swallowtail

This eye-catching black bug became Oklahoma's state butterfly in 1996, while the honey bee is the state's insect.

Oregon Swallowtail Butterfly

This yellow beauty is native to the Pacific Northwest.

Firefly

Depending on where you live, sometimes these luminescent creatures are called lightning bugs.

American Burying Beetle

Good thing Rhode Island is a small state because we wouldn’t want to run into many of these creepers.

Carolina Mantis

Like your normal praying mantis, but you know, gray.

Honey Bee

Sweet! Another state recognized these un-bee-lievably important insects.

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!

Monarch Butterfly

The Lone Star State crowned the Danaus Plexippus its state insect in 1995.

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.

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.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Virginia's state insect is known for its distinctive tiger stripes.

Green Darner Dragonfly

They may be called "green" but these little flying creatures can be both green and blue.

Honey Bee

The West Virginia state insect is seen here on the state's flower, the Rhododendron.

Honey Bee

In 1977, a third grade class asked the legislature to select the honey bee as the state insect, and they did.

Sheridan's Green Hairstreak

Not to be confused with Colorado's purple hairstreak, this unusual green butterfly became the state's insect in 2009.