Jun 1, 2026
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no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
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Bugs Guide
Bugs Guide for Iowa
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
Bugs across Iowa
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
Recent insect sightings in Iowa
A recent look at insect sightings across Iowa.
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
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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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Photo attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Sep 23, 2025
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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
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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
See where insect sightings cluster
Start wide, then zoom in to see where insect sightings cluster across Iowa.
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Top Highlights
Top 5 bugs to look for in Iowa
These bugs are snapped the most across this region.
Monarch Butterfly
10 snaps
Plain Pocketbook
6 snaps
Brown-belted Bumble Bee
5 snaps
Common Eastern Bumble Bee
5 snaps
Silver-spotted Skipper
5 snaps
Places to Start
Best places for bugs in Iowa
These place guides connect well with the bugs covered in this region.
Park30 sightings12 species
Iowa, US
Shimek State Forest
You might spot Silver-Spotted Skipper, Question Mark, and Banded Pennant.
View place guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
Iowa, US
Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
You might spot Common Eastern Bumble Bee, Monarch, and American Toad.
View place guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
Iowa, US
Des Moines Botanical Center
You might spot Bluegill, Canada Goose, and Carolina Mantis.
View place guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
Iowa, US
Iowa State Fairgrounds
You might spot American Toad, White-Tailed Deer, and Eastern Fox Squirrel.
View place guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
Iowa, US
Lauritzen Gardens
You might spot Monarch, House Sparrow, and American Robin.
View place guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
Iowa, US
Hickory Hill Park
You might spot House Sparrow and Common Eastern Bumble Bee.
View place guide →
Full Guide
Full Iowa bugs list
The complete ranked list for this guide, ordered by sightings count.
110 snaps26 snaps35 snaps45 snaps55 snaps64 snaps74 snaps84 snaps94 snaps104 snaps113 snaps123 snaps133 snaps143 snaps153 snaps163 snaps173 snaps183 snaps193 snaps202 snaps212 snaps222 snaps232 snaps242 snaps252 snaps262 snaps272 snaps282 snaps292 snaps302 snaps312 snaps322 snaps332 snaps342 snaps352 snaps361 snaps371 snaps381 snaps391 snaps401 snaps411 snaps421 snaps431 snaps441 snaps451 snaps461 snaps471 snaps481 snaps491 snaps501 snaps511 snaps521 snaps531 snaps541 snaps551 snaps561 snaps571 snaps581 snaps591 snaps601 snaps611 snaps621 snaps631 snaps641 snaps651 snaps661 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 snaps
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
Keep exploring Iowa
Switch from bugs to birds and flowers for a broader view of Iowa's wildlife and nature.
