Jun 8, 2026
Morton Arboretumi
Photo attribution
(c) Belinda Ramos, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Bugs Guide
Bugs Guide for Illinois
Prairies, wetlands, woodlands, and migratory birds
Bug highlights, common sightings, and the best places to look for bugs in Illinois. Use the highlight list to start quickly, then work through the full guide for a broader local view.
Sightings
489
Species
134
Active Months
12
Category Overview
Bugs across Illinois
This guide focuses on butterflies, bees, beetles, and other small species within Illinois' wider region guide, making local walks, gardens, and close-up exploring feel richer.
Latest Sightings
Recent insect sightings in Illinois
A recent look at insect sightings across Illinois.
Jun 6, 2026
Oak Park Conservatoryi
Photo attribution
(c) Jessica W., some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 5, 2026
Shedd Aquariumi
Photo attribution
(c) Nick S., some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 4, 2026
Busse Woodsi
Photo attribution
(c) Chris, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
License: CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 3, 2026
Naval Station Great Lakesi
Photo attribution
(c) Isaac Larkin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
License: CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 3, 2026
Robert Allerton Parki
Photo attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Sightings Map
See where insect sightings cluster
Start wide, then zoom in to see where insect sightings cluster across Illinois.
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Top Highlights
Top 5 bugs to look for in Illinois
These bugs are snapped the most across this region.
Monarch Butterfly
65 snaps
Bee
59 snaps
Black Swallowtail
26 snaps
Asian Lady Beetle
20 snaps
Bold Jumping Spider
16 snaps
Places to Start
Best places for bugs in Illinois
These place guides connect well with the bugs covered in this region.
Park122 sightings14 species
Illinois, US
River Park
You might spot Duck, American Robin, and Black-Crowned Night Heron.
View place guide →
Park129 sightings15 species
Illinois, US
Humboldt (Alexander Von) Park
You might spot Wood Duck, Red-Winged Blackbird, and Duck.
View place guide →
Park98 sightings9 species
Illinois, US
Northerly Island
You might spot Canada Goose, Ring-Billed Gull, and Red-Winged Blackbird.
View place guide →
Zoo30 sightings12 species
Illinois, US
Phillips Park Zoo
You might spot Japanese Creeper, Oleander Aphid, and Japanese Beetle.
View place guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
Illinois, US
Robert Allerton Park
You might spot Spring Blue-Eyed Mary and Dutchman's Breeches.
View place guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
Illinois, US
Bronzeville
You might spot Eastern Gray Squirrel, Duck, and Canada Goose.
View place guide →
Full Guide
Full Illinois bugs list
The complete ranked list for this guide, ordered by sightings count.
165 snaps259 snaps326 snaps420 snaps516 snaps612 snaps711 snaps89 snaps99 snaps108 snaps118 snaps126 snaps136 snaps146 snaps156 snaps165 snaps175 snaps185 snaps195 snaps205 snaps215 snaps225 snaps234 snaps244 snaps254 snaps264 snaps274 snaps284 snaps294 snaps304 snaps314 snaps323 snaps333 snaps343 snaps353 snaps363 snaps373 snaps383 snaps393 snaps403 snaps413 snaps423 snaps433 snaps443 snaps452 snaps462 snaps472 snaps482 snaps492 snaps502 snaps512 snaps522 snaps532 snaps542 snaps552 snaps562 snaps572 snaps582 snaps592 snaps602 snaps612 snaps622 snaps632 snaps642 snaps652 snaps662 snaps671 snaps681 snaps691 snaps701 snaps711 snaps721 snaps731 snaps741 snaps751 snaps761 snaps771 snaps781 snaps791 snaps801 snaps811 snaps821 snaps831 snaps841 snaps851 snaps861 snaps871 snaps881 snaps891 snaps901 snaps911 snaps921 snaps931 snaps941 snaps951 snaps961 snaps971 snaps981 snaps991 snaps1001 snaps1011 snaps1021 snaps1031 snaps1041 snaps1051 snaps1061 snaps1071 snaps1081 snaps1091 snaps1101 snaps1111 snaps1121 snaps1131 snaps1141 snaps1151 snaps1161 snaps1171 snaps1181 snaps1191 snaps1201 snaps1211 snaps1221 snaps1231 snaps1241 snaps1251 snaps1261 snaps1271 snaps1281 snaps1291 snaps1301 snaps1311 snaps1321 snaps1331 snaps1341 snaps
Monarch Butterfly
Bee
Black Swallowtail
Asian Lady Beetle
Bold Jumping Spider
Common Eastern Bumble Bee
Red Admiral
Brown-belted Bumble Bee
Six-spotted Tiger Beetle
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Red Milkweed Beetle
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Silver-spotted Skipper
Tan Jumping Spider
Two-spotted Bumble Bee
Bald-faced Hornet
Eastern Forktail
Four-lined Plant Bug
Isabella Tiger Moth
Mapleleaf
Mourning Cloak
Oleander Aphid
Chinese Mantis
Common Whitetail
Eastern Carpenter Bee
Hackberry Emperor
Japanese Beetle
Luna Moth
Pearl Crescent
Polyphemus Moth
Question Mark
American Dog Tick
American Lady
Cabbage White
Dark Fishing Spider
Fiery Skipper
Great Spangled Fritillary
Metric Paper Wasp
North American Wheel Bug
Painted Lady
Stream Bluet
Tawny Emperor
Zabulon Skipper
Zebra Jumping Spider
Ailanthus Webworm Moth
American Nursery Web Spider
Common Pill Woodlouse
Differential Grasshopper
Eastern Eyed Click Beetle
Eastern Pondhawk
Eastern Yellow-Backed Laphria
Ebony Jewelwing
False Milkweed Bug
Fragile Papershell
Golden-backed Snipe Fly
Great Black Digger Wasp
Green Cloverworm Moth
House Centipede
Lone Star Tick
Margined Calligrapher
Meadow Fritillary
Periodical Cicadas
Salt Marsh Moth
Spotted Lanternfly
Spring Fishfly
Twelve-spotted Skimmer
Acanthocephala terminalis
Admiral Butterfly
American Bumble Bee
Banded Tussock Moth
Bearded Carpenter ant
Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee
Black Saddlebags
Black Vine Weevil
Black-and-gold Bumble Bee
Blinded Sphinx
Blue Dasher
Blue-Faced Meadowhawk
Blue-tipped Dancer
Bluegrass Webworm Moth
Brown Recluse Spider
Calico Pennant
Carolina Mantis
Cecropia Moth
Celery Leaftier Moth
Changeable Grass-veneer
Common Buckeye
Common Picture-winged Fly
Dark Flower Scarab
Eastern Boxelder Bug
Eastern Comma
Eastern Regal Oak Mirid
Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth
Eight-spotted Forester Moth
European Woolcarder Bee
Evergreen Bagworm Moth
Ferruginous Carpenter Ant
Firefly
Gerris
Goldenrod Soldier Beetle
Gray Hairstreak
Green Immigrant Leaf Weevil
Grey Cross Spider
Hickory Tussock Moth
Hobomok Skipper
Large Lace-Border Moth
Large Milkweed Bug
Ligated Furrow Bee
Little Wood Satyr
Narcissus Bulb Fly
Narrow-headed Marsh Fly
Northern Cloudywing
Northern Paper Wasp
Northern Pearly-eye
Oak Bush-cricket
Orange Sulphur
Peppered Moth
Pink Papershell
Rainbow Scarab
Rathke'S Woodlouse
Red-banded Leafhopper
Running Crab Spiders
Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
Small Bird-dropping Moth
Spongy Moth
Viceroy
Waved Sphinx
Wetland Giant Wolf Spider
White-dotted Prominent
White-marked Tussock Moth
Widow Skimmer
Wool Sower Gall Wasp
Yellow Garden Spider
Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp
Other Guides
Keep exploring Illinois
Switch from bugs to birds and flowers for a broader view of Illinois' wildlife and nature.
