Jun 1, 2026
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no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
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Prairies, rivers, wetlands, and open skies
Bug highlights, common sightings, and the best places to look for bugs in Iowa. Use the highlight list to start quickly, then work through the full guide for a broader local view.
Sightings
173
Species
98
Active Months
12

Category Overview
This guide focuses on butterflies, bees, beetles, and other small species within Iowa's wider region guide, making local walks, gardens, and close-up exploring feel richer.
Latest Sightings
A recent look at insect sightings across Iowa.
Jun 1, 2026
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no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
May 31, 2026
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(c) eeyipes, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
May 31, 2026
Photo attribution
(c) eeyipes, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Sep 26, 2025
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no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Sep 23, 2025
Photo attribution
(c) evangrimes, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Sep 9, 2025
Photo attribution
(c) Nicholas Stockmaster, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Sightings Map
Start wide, then zoom in to see where insect sightings cluster across Iowa.
Top Highlights
These bugs are snapped the most across this region.





10 snaps





6 snaps





5 snaps





5 snaps





5 snaps
Places to Start
These place guides connect well with the bugs covered in this region.

Iowa, US
You might spot Silver-Spotted Skipper, Question Mark, and Banded Pennant.
View place guide →

Iowa, US
You might spot Common Eastern Bumble Bee, Monarch, and American Toad.
View place guide →

Iowa, US
You might spot Bluegill, Canada Goose, and Carolina Mantis.
View place guide →

Iowa, US
You might spot American Toad, White-Tailed Deer, and Eastern Fox Squirrel.
View place guide →

Iowa, US
You might spot Monarch, House Sparrow, and American Robin.
View place guide →

Iowa, US
You might spot House Sparrow and Common Eastern Bumble Bee.
View place guide →
Full Guide
The complete ranked list for this guide, ordered by sightings count.
Monarch Butterfly
Plain Pocketbook
Brown-belted Bumble Bee
Common Eastern Bumble Bee
Silver-spotted Skipper
Bold Jumping Spider
Chinese Mantis
Goldenrod Soldier Beetle
Tan Jumping Spider
Two-spotted Bumble Bee
American Carpenter Ant
Asian Lady Beetle
Bee
Black Swallowtail
Black-and-gold Bumble Bee
Hackberry Emperor
Luna Moth
Red Admiral
Six-spotted Tiger Beetle
American Lady
Bent-Spined Acorn Ant
Blue Corporal
Eastern Eyed Click Beetle
Eastern Giant Swallowtail
European Woolcarder Bee
Four-lined Plant Bug
Hobomok Skipper
Huron Skipper
Isabella Tiger Moth
Mourning Cloak
Orange Sulphur
Pearl Crescent
Polyphemus Moth
Red-banded Leafhopper
Zabulon Skipper
Acanthocephala terminalis
American Bumble Bee
American Carrion Beetle
American Dog Tick
Autumn Meadowhawk
Banded Pennant
Banded Tussock Moth
Bearded Carpenter ant
Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee
Blue Dasher
Bronzed Tiger Beetle
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Cabbage White
Common Drone Fly
Common Green Darner
Common Pill Woodlouse
Eastern Black Carpenter Ant
Eastern Boxelder Bug
Eastern Calligrapher
Eastern Comma
Eastern Forktail
Eastern Pondhawk
Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth
Eastern Yellowjacket
Ebony Jewelwing
Eight-spotted Forester Moth
Elm Sphinx
End Band Net-winged Beetle
Essex Skipper
Gray Comma
Gray Hairstreak
Great Spangled Fritillary
Green Stink Bug
Horace's Duskywing
Japanese Beetle
Juvenal's Duskywing
Ladybug
Little Wood Satyr
Lone Star Tick
Mapleleaf
North American Wheel Bug
Northern Paper Wasp
Oleander Aphid
Painted Lady
Pale Green Assassin Bug
Pandorus Sphinx
Question Mark
Reakirt's Blue
Red Milkweed Beetle
Running Crab Spiders
Salt Marsh Moth
Slaty Skimmer
Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle
Twenty-spotted Lady Beetle
Viceroy
Virginian Tiger Moth
Waved Sphinx
Western Conifer Seed Bug
White-lined Sphinx
White-marked Tussock Moth
Widow Skimmer
Yellow-legged Mud-dauber Wasp
Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth
Other Guides
Switch from bugs to birds and flowers for a broader view of Iowa's wildlife and nature.