Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 22, 2026

List of U.S. state insects

State insects are designated by 48 individual states of the fifty United States. Some states have more than one designated insect, or have multiple categories. Iowa and Michigan are the two states without a designated state insect.

Last revised
Jun 22, 2026
Read time
≈ 7 min
Length
1,524 w
Citations
74
Source

State insects are designated by 48 individual states of the fifty United States. Some states have more than one designated insect, or have multiple categories (e.g., state insect and state butterfly, etc.). Iowa and Michigan are the two states without a designated state insect.

More than half of the insects chosen are not native to North America, because of the inclusion of two European species (European honey bee and European mantis), the former having been chosen by numerous states.

Table

State State insect Binomial
name
Image Year
Alabama Monarch butterfly
(state insect)
Danaus plexippus 19891
Queen Honey bee
(state agricultural insect)
Apis mellifera 20152
Eastern tiger swallowtail
(state butterfly and mascot)
Papilio glaucus 19893
Alaska Four-spotted skimmer dragonfly Libellula quadrimaculata 19954
Arizona Two-tailed swallowtail
(state butterfly)
Papilio multicaudata 20015
Arkansas European honey bee
(state insect)
Apis mellifera 19736
Diana fritillary butterfly
(state butterfly)
Speyeria diana 20076
California California dogface butterfly

(state butterfly)

Zerene eurydice 19727
Colorado Colorado hairstreak Hypaurotis crysalus 19968
Connecticut European mantis Mantis religiosa 19779
Delaware Lady bug
(state bug)
Coccinellidae 197410
Eastern tiger swallowtail
(state butterfly)
Papilio glaucus 199911
Stonefly
(state macroinvertebrate)
Order Plecoptera 200512
Blue dasher
(state dragonfly)
Pachydiplax longipennis 202513
Florida Zebra longwing
(state butterfly)
Heliconius charitonius 199614
Georgia European honey bee
(state insect)
Apis mellifera 197515
Eastern tiger swallowtail
(state butterfly)
Papilio glaucus 198816
Hawaii Kamehameha butterfly Vanessa tameamea 200917
Idaho Monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus 199218
Illinois Monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus 197519
Indiana Say's firefly Pyractomena angulata 201820
Kansas European honey bee Apis mellifera 197621
Kentucky European honey bee
(state agricultural insect)
Apis mellifera 201022
Viceroy butterfly
(state butterfly)
Limenitis archippus 199023
Louisiana European honey bee (state insect) Apis mellifera 197724
Gulf fritillary (state butterfly) Dione vanillae Large orange butterfly with large white spots bordered in black, nectaring on small purple flowers 202225
Maine European honey bee (state insect) Apis mellifera 197526
Pink-edged Sulphur (state butterfly) Colias interior 202327
Maryland Baltimore checkerspot butterfly Euphydryas phaeton 197328
Massachusetts Ladybug Family Coccinellidae 197429
Minnesota Monarch butterfly
(state butterfly)
Danaus plexippus 200030
Rusty patched bumblebee
(state bee)
Bombus affinis A closeup of a yellow and black bee head on, against a black backdrop 201931
Mississippi European honey bee
(state insect)
Apis mellifera 198032
Spicebush swallowtail
(state butterfly)
Papilio troilus 199132
Missouri European honey bee Apis mellifera 198533
Montana Mourning cloak butterfly
(state butterfly)
Nymphalis antiopa 200134
Nebraska European honey bee Apis mellifera 197535
Nevada Vivid dancer damselfly Argia vivida 200936
New Hampshire ladybug
(state insect)
Coccinellidae 197737
Karner blue butterfly
(state butterfly)
Plebejus melissa samuelis 199238
New Jersey European honey bee
(state bug)
Apis mellifera 197439
Black swallowtail
(state butterfly)
Papilio polyxenes 201440
New Mexico Tarantula hawk wasp
(state insect)
Pepsis grossa 198941
Sandia hairstreak
(state butterfly)
Callophrys mcfarlandi 200342
New York 9-spotted ladybug Coccinella novemnotata 198943
North Carolina European honey bee
(state insect)
Apis mellifera 197344
Eastern tiger swallowtail
(state butterfly)
Papilio glaucus 201245
North Dakota Convergent lady beetle Hippodamia convergens 201146
Ohio Ladybug Family Coccinellidae 197547
Oklahoma European honey bee
(state insect)
Apis mellifera 199248
Black swallowtail
(state butterfly)
Papilio polyxenes 199648
Oregon Oregon swallowtail Papilio oregonius 197949
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania firefly Photuris pennsylvanica 197450
Rhode Island American burying beetle Nicrophorus americanus 201551
South Carolina Carolina mantis
(state insect)
Stagmomantis carolina 198852
Eastern tiger swallowtail
(state butterfly)
Papilio glaucus 199453
South Dakota European honey bee Apis mellifera 197854
Tennessee Common eastern firefly
(state insect)
Photinus pyralis 197555
ladybug
(state insect)
Coccinellidae 197555
European honey bee
(state agricultural insect)
Apis mellifera 199055
Zebra swallowtail
(state butterfly)
Eurytides marcellus 199555
Texas Monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus 199556
Utah European honey bee Apis mellifera 198357
Vermont European honey bee
(state insect)
Apis mellifera 197858
Monarch butterfly
(state butterfly)
Danaus plexippus 198759
Virginia Eastern tiger swallowtail

(state insect)

Papilio glaucus 19916061
European honey bee

(state pollinator)

Apis mellifera 20246263
Washington Green darner dragonfly Anax junius 199764
West Virginia European honey bee
(state insect)
Apis mellifera 200265
Monarch butterfly
(state butterfly)
Danaus plexippus 199566
Wisconsin European honey bee Apis mellifera 197767
Wyoming Sheridan's green hairstreak Callophrys sheridanii 200968
See also

See also

References

References

  1. "Official Alabama Insect". Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors. Alabama Department of Archives & History. 2001-07-12. Retrieved 2007-03-19.
  2. "Alabama HB286 | 2015 | Regular Session".
  3. "Alabama Department of Archives and History, Alabama Emblems: Official State Mascot, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail". Archived from the original on May 9, 2008.
  4. "Alaska Kids' Corner, State of Alaska".
  5. "State Butterfly | Arizona State Library".
  6. Arkansas - State symbols and emblems
  7. "State Symbols - California State Library".
  8. "Symbols & Emblems | Archives". Archived from the original on September 7, 2015.
  9. "The State Insect".
  10. Delaware Code Title 29 § 309
  11. Delaware Code Title 29 § 315
  12. "Chapter - Delaware General Assembly".
  13. Delaware Code Title 29 § 334
  14. State Symbols Archived 2007-07-07 at the Wayback Machine
  15. State Symbols Archived 2008-02-12 at the Wayback Machine of Georgia, Georgia General Assembly
  16. State Butterfly Archived 2007-11-28 at the Wayback Machine, Office of Secretary of State of Georgia website.
  17. Cooper, Jeanne (2009-08-21). "Emblems of Hawaii a surprise to many Americans". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on August 24, 2009.
  18. "Idaho Symbols, Insect: Monarch Butterfly". Idaho State Symbols, Emblems, and Mascots. SHG resources, state handbook & guide. Archived from the original on 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
  19. "State Symbol: Illinois Official Insect — Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)". [Illinois] State Symbols. Illinois State Museum. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
  20. "Say's Firefly to become state insect after bill lights its way through the Indiana House". Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  21. "Kansas Symbols - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society".
  22. "2019 Kentucky Revised Statutes :: Chapter 2 - Citizenship, emblems, holidays, and time :: 2.081 State agricultural insect".
  23. "2019 Kentucky Revised Statutes :: Chapter 2 - Citizenship, emblems, holidays, and time :: 2.083 State butterfly".
  24. "2018 Louisiana Laws :: Revised Statutes :: TITLE 49 - State Administration :: RS 49:164 - State insect".
  25. "2022 Louisiana Laws :: Revised Statutes :: Title 49 - State Administration :: RS 49:164.1 - State butterfly".
  26. "Title 1, §214: State insect".
  27. Maine Revised Statutes, Title 1, Chapter 9, Subchapter 1, Section 231
  28. "Marylands Kids Page - State Symbols". Archived from the original on 2014-02-27. Retrieved 2007-04-08.
  29. "CIS: State Symbols". Archived from the original on 2004-07-27.
  30. "Minnesota State Symbols" (PDF). Minnesota House of Representatives. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
  31. Gunderson, Dan (May 31, 2019). "Meet the rusty patched bumblebee, Minnesota's new bee ambassador". NPR News. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  32. State Symbols Archived 2009-11-04 at the Wayback Machine, p. 4. Office of the Secretary of State of Mississippi. Retrieved 2008-03-29
  33. "Missouri State Insect - Missouri Secretary of State".
  34. "State Symbols". Archived from the original on 2011-04-01.
  35. "File not found | School of Natural Resources | University of Nebraska-Lincoln". Archived from the original on 2015-03-29.
  36. "Designates the official state insect of Nevada. (BDR 19-914)", Nevada Legislature. Retrieved 2017-03-28
  37. [1]. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  38. State Animal, the New Hampshire Almanac, New Hampshire State Library. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
  39. "The Official Web Site for the State of New Jersey | Symbols".
  40. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-07-19. Retrieved 2020-07-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  41. Welcome to the New Mexico State Capitol Archived 2014-02-21 at the Wayback Machine (brochure), New Mexico Legislature. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
  42. House Bill 13, 46th Legislature of the State of New Mexico. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
  43. "Symbols of New York State", New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Retrieved 2008-03-30
  44. "Official State Symbols of North Carolina". North Carolina State Library. State of North Carolina. Archived from the original on 2008-02-06. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
  45. State butterfly: Eastern tiger swallowtail (NCpedia)
  46. State Insect ND.gov
  47. "Symbols of Ohio - Ohio Secretary of State". Archived from the original on 2018-08-18.
  48. Oklahoma Almanac, State Emblems (pp. 37-40)
  49. "State of Oregon: Blue Book - Oregon Almanac: Hydropower Projects to State Motto".
  50. "Act of Apr. 10, 1974, P.L. 247, No. 59". Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  51. "State Insect Bill Approved". NewsRadio 920 WHJJ. Retrieved 2015-05-19.
  52. "The State Insect". South Carolina Legislature Online. Archived from the original on 2009-01-09. Retrieved 2012-10-01.
  53. The State Butterfly, South Carolina Legislature Online. Retrieved 2008-03-29
  54. "Tidbits". Ludington Daily News. Aug 4, 2001. p. 33. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  55. State Symbols Archived 2008-07-24 at the Wayback Machine, Tennessee Department of State. Retrieved 2008-03-29
  56. "Texas State Symbols". The Texas State Library and Archives. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
  57. Utah State Insect - Honey Bee Archived 2012-11-14 at the Wayback Machine from pioneer.utah.gov "Pioneer: Utah's Online Library" page. Retrieved on 2008-09-08
  58. "(Vermont) State Insect". Vermont Department of Libraries. Archived from the original on 2009-02-22. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
  59. "(Vermont) State Butterfly". Vermont Department of Libraries. Archived from the original on 2009-02-21. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
  60. "§ 1-510. Official emblems and designations".
  61. "VIRGINIA ADOPTED BUTTERFLY IN 1991". The Virginian-Pilot. 2002-12-20. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  62. "Bill Tracking - 2024 session > Legislation". legacylis.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  63. Hosts (2024-07-01). "The European honey bee is now Virginia's official state pollinator". NPR. Retrieved 2025-10-30.
  64. "Symbols of Washington State". Washington State Legislature. Archived from the original on 2007-03-05. Retrieved 2007-03-11.
  65. "Appendix A/State Profile (State of West Virginia FY 2009 Executive Budget)" (PDF). Official West Virginia Web Portal. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2008-03-29. Page 21 (547).
  66. "West Virginia Statistical Information, General State Information" (PDF). Official West Virginia Web Portal. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 22, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2010.
  67. "Wisconsin State Symbols". State of Wisconsin. Archived from the original on 2010-01-12. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  68. "Wyoming State Symbols". State of Wyoming. Archived from the original on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
External links