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 (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 three European species (European honey bee, European mantis, and 7-spotted ladybird), each having been chosen by multiple states.

Table

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State State insect Binomial
name
Image Year
Alabama Monarch butterfly
(state insect)
Danaus plexippus   1989[1]
Queen Honey bee
(state agricultural insect)
Apis mellifera   2005[2]
Eastern tiger swallowtail
(state butterfly and mascot)
Papilio glaucus   1989[3]
Alaska Four-spotted skimmer dragonfly Libellula quadrimaculata   1995[4]
Arizona Two-tailed swallowtail
(state butterfly)
Papilio multicaudata   2001[5]
Arkansas European honey bee
(state insect)
Apis mellifera   1973[6]
Diana fritillary butterfly
(state butterfly)
Speyeria diana   2007[6]
California California dogface butterfly

(state butterfly)

Zerene eurydice   1972[7]
Colorado Colorado hairstreak Hypaurotis crysalus   1996[8]
Connecticut European mantis Mantis religiosa   1977[9]
Delaware 7-spotted ladybug
(state bug)
Coccinella septempunctata   1974[10]
Eastern tiger swallowtail
(state butterfly)
Papilio glaucus   1999[11]
Stonefly
(state macroinvertebrate)
Order Plecoptera   2005[12]
Florida Zebra longwing
(state butterfly)
Heliconius charitonius   1996[13]
Georgia European honey bee
(state insect)
Apis mellifera   1975[14]
Eastern tiger swallowtail
(state butterfly)
Papilio glaucus   1988[15]
Hawaii Kamehameha butterfly Vanessa tameamea   2009[16]
Idaho Monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus   1992[17]
Illinois Monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus   1975[18]
Indiana Say's firefly Pyractomena angulata   2018[19]
Kansas European honey bee Apis mellifera   1976[20]
Kentucky European honey bee
(state agricultural insect)
Apis mellifera   2010[21]
Viceroy butterfly
(state butterfly)
Limenitis archippus   1990[22]
Louisiana European honey bee (state insect) Apis mellifera   1977[23]
Gulf fritillary (state butterfly) Dione vanillae   2022[24]
Maine European honey bee (state insect) Apis mellifera   1975[25]
Pink-edged Sulphur (state butterfly) Colias interior   2023[26]
Maryland Baltimore checkerspot butterfly Euphydryas phaeton   1973[27]
Massachusetts Ladybug Family Coccinellidae   1974[28]
Minnesota Monarch butterfly
(state butterfly)
Danaus plexippus   2000[29]
Rusty patched bumblebee
(state bee)
Bombus affinis   2019[30]
Mississippi European honey bee
(state insect)
Apis mellifera   1980[31]
Spicebush swallowtail
(state butterfly)
Papilio troilus   1991[31]
Missouri European honey bee Apis mellifera   1985[32]
Montana Mourning cloak butterfly
(state butterfly)
Nymphalis antiopa   2001[33]
Nebraska European honey bee Apis mellifera   1975[34]
Nevada Vivid dancer damselfly Argia vivida   2009[35]
New Hampshire 7-spotted ladybug
(state insect)
Coccinella septempunctata   1977[36]
Karner blue butterfly
(state butterfly)
Plebejus melissa samuelis   1992[36]
New Jersey European honey bee
(state bug)
Apis mellifera   1974[37]
Black swallowtail
(state butterfly)
Papilio polyxenes   2014[38]
New Mexico Tarantula hawk wasp
(state insect)
Pepsis grossa   1989[39]
Sandia hairstreak
(state butterfly)
Callophrys mcfarlandi   2003[40]
New York 9-spotted ladybug Coccinella novemnotata   1989[41]
North Carolina European honey bee
(state insect)
Apis mellifera   1973[42]
Eastern tiger swallowtail
(state butterfly)
Papilio glaucus   2012[43]
North Dakota Convergent lady beetle Hippodamia convergens   2011[44]
Ohio Ladybug Family Coccinellidae   1975[45]
Oklahoma European honey bee
(state insect)
Apis mellifera   1992[46]
Black swallowtail
(state butterfly)
Papilio polyxenes   1996[46]
Oregon Oregon swallowtail Papilio oregonius   1979[47]
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania firefly Photuris pennsylvanica   1974[48]
Rhode Island American burying beetle Nicrophorus americanus   2015[49]
South Carolina Carolina mantis
(state insect)
Stagmomantis carolina   1988[50]
Eastern tiger swallowtail
(state butterfly)
Papilio glaucus   1994[51]
South Dakota European honey bee Apis mellifera   1978[52]
Tennessee Common eastern firefly
(state insect)
Photinus pyralis   1975[53]
7-spotted ladybug
(state insect)
Coccinella septempunctata   1975[53]
European honey bee
(state agricultural insect)
Apis mellifera   1990[53]
Zebra swallowtail
(state butterfly)
Eurytides marcellus   1995[53]
Texas Monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus   1995[54]
Utah European honey bee Apis mellifera   1983[55]
Vermont European honey bee
(state insect)
Apis mellifera   1978[56]
Monarch butterfly
(state butterfly)
Danaus plexippus   1987[57]
Virginia Eastern tiger swallowtail Papilio glaucus   [58]
Washington Green darner dragonfly Anax junius   1997[59]
West Virginia European honey bee
(state insect)
Apis mellifera   2002[60]
Monarch butterfly
(state butterfly)
Danaus plexippus   1995[61]
Wisconsin European honey bee Apis mellifera   1977[62]
Wyoming Sheridan's green hairstreak Callophrys sheridanii   2009[63]

See also

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References

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  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".
  4. ^ "Alaska Kids' Corner, State of Alaska".
  5. ^ "State Butterfly | Arizona State Library".
  6. ^ a b Arkansas - State symbols and emblems
  7. ^ "State Symbols - California State Library".
  8. ^ "Symbols & Emblems | Archives".
  9. ^ "The State Insect".
  10. ^ Delaware Code Title 29 § 309
  11. ^ Delaware Code Title 29 § 315
  12. ^ "Chapter - Delaware General Assembly".
  13. ^ State Symbols Archived 2007-07-07 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ State Symbols Archived 2008-02-12 at the Wayback Machine of Georgia, Georgia General Assembly
  15. ^ State Butterfly Archived 2007-11-28 at the Wayback Machine, Office of Secretary of State of Georgia website.
  16. ^ Cooper, Jeanne (2009-08-21). "Emblems of Hawaii a surprise to many Americans". San Francisco Chronicle.
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ "State Symbol: Illinois Official Insect — Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)". [Illinois] State Symbols. Illinois State Museum. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
  19. ^ "Say's Firefly to become state insect after bill lights its way through the Indiana House". Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  20. ^ "Kansas Symbols - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society".
  21. ^ "2019 Kentucky Revised Statutes :: Chapter 2 - Citizenship, emblems, holidays, and time :: 2.081 State agricultural insect".
  22. ^ "2019 Kentucky Revised Statutes :: Chapter 2 - Citizenship, emblems, holidays, and time :: 2.083 State butterfly".
  23. ^ "2018 Louisiana Laws :: Revised Statutes :: TITLE 49 - State Administration :: RS 49:164 - State insect".
  24. ^ "2022 Louisiana Laws :: Revised Statutes :: Title 49 - State Administration :: RS 49:164.1 - State butterfly".
  25. ^ "Title 1, §214: State insect".
  26. ^ Maine Revised Statutes, Title 1, Chapter 9, Subchapter 1, Section 231
  27. ^ "Marylands Kids Page - State Symbols". Archived from the original on 2014-02-27. Retrieved 2007-04-08.
  28. ^ "CIS: State Symbols". Archived from the original on 2004-07-27.
  29. ^ "Minnesota State Symbols" (PDF). Minnesota House of Representatives. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
  30. ^ 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.
  31. ^ a b State Symbols Archived 2009-11-04 at the Wayback Machine, p. 4. Office of the Secretary of State of Mississippi. Retrieved 2008-03-29
  32. ^ "Missouri State Insect - Missouri Secretary of State".
  33. ^ "State Symbols". Archived from the original on 2011-04-01.
  34. ^ "File not found | School of Natural Resources | University of Nebraska-Lincoln". Archived from the original on 2015-03-29.
  35. ^ "Designates the official state insect of Nevada. (BDR 19-914)", Nevada Legislature. Retrieved 2017-03-28
  36. ^ a b State Animal, the New Hampshire Almanac, New Hampshire State Library. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
  37. ^ "The Official Web Site for the State of New Jersey | Symbols".
  38. ^ "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)
  39. ^ Welcome to the New Mexico State Capitol Archived 2014-02-21 at the Wayback Machine (brochure), New Mexico Legislature. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
  40. ^ House Bill 13, 46th Legislature of the State of New Mexico. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
  41. ^ "Symbols of New York State", New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Retrieved 2008-03-30
  42. ^ "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.
  43. ^ State butterfly: Eastern tiger swallowtail (NCpedia)
  44. ^ State Insect ND.gov
  45. ^ "Symbols of Ohio - Ohio Secretary of State". Archived from the original on 2018-08-18.
  46. ^ a b Oklahoma Almanac, State Emblems (pp. 37-40)
  47. ^ "State of Oregon: Blue Book - Oregon Almanac: Hydropower Projects to State Motto".
  48. ^ "Act of Apr. 10, 1974, P.L. 247, No. 59". Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  49. ^ "State Insect Bill Approved". NewsRadio 920 WHJJ. Retrieved 2015-05-19.
  50. ^ "The State Insect". South Carolina Legislature Online. Archived from the original on 2009-01-09. Retrieved 2012-10-01.
  51. ^ The State Butterfly, South Carolina Legislature Online. Retrieved 2008-03-29
  52. ^ "Tidbits". Ludington Daily News. Aug 4, 2001. p. 33. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  53. ^ a b c d State Symbols Archived 2008-07-24 at the Wayback Machine, Tennessee Department of State. Retrieved 2008-03-29
  54. ^ "Texas State Symbols". The Texas State Library and Archives. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
  55. ^ 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
  56. ^ "(Vermont) State Insect". Vermont Department of Libraries. Archived from the original on 2009-02-22. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
  57. ^ "(Vermont) State Butterfly". Vermont Department of Libraries. Archived from the original on 2009-02-21. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
  58. ^ "§ 1-510. Official emblems and designations".
  59. ^ "Symbols of Washington State". Washington State Legislature. Archived from the original on 2007-03-05. Retrieved 2007-03-11.
  60. ^ "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).
  61. ^ "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.
  62. ^ "Wisconsin State Symbols". State of Wisconsin. Archived from the original on 2010-01-12. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  63. ^ "Wyoming State Symbols". State of Wyoming. Archived from the original on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
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