Jun 6, 2026
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Bugs Guide
Bugs Guide for North Carolina
Mountains, forests, wetlands, and Outer Banks
Bug highlights, common sightings, and the best places to look for bugs in North Carolina. Use the highlight list to start quickly, then work through the full guide for a broader local view.
Sightings
231
Species
103
Active Months
12
Category Overview
Bugs across North Carolina
This guide focuses on butterflies, bees, beetles, and other small species within North Carolina's wider region guide, making local walks, gardens, and close-up exploring feel richer.
Latest Sightings
Recent insect sightings in North Carolina
A recent look at insect sightings across North Carolina.
Jun 6, 2026
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no rights reserved
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Jun 3, 2026
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Jun 3, 2026
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(c) Conway Hawn, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
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Jun 3, 2026
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May 31, 2026
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(c) Leigha S, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
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Sightings Map
See where insect sightings cluster
Start wide, then zoom in to see where insect sightings cluster across North Carolina.
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Top Highlights
Top 5 bugs to look for in North Carolina
These bugs are snapped the most across this region.
Silver-spotted Skipper
16 snaps
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
15 snaps
Great Spangled Fritillary
11 snaps
Monarch Butterfly
7 snaps
Pipevine Swallowtail
6 snaps
Places to Start
Best places for bugs in North Carolina
These place guides connect well with the bugs covered in this region.
Zoo30 sightings12 species
North Carolina, US
Museum of Life and Science
You might spot Anole, Leatherleaf Mahonia, and Northern Cardinal.
View place guide →
Zoo30 sightings12 species
North Carolina, US
Triangle Metro Zoo
You might spot Northern Cardinal and Dekay's Brownsnake.
View place guide →
Park29 sightings12 species
North Carolina, US
North Carolina Arboretum
You might spot Eastern Fence Lizard and Common Five-Lined Skink.
View place guide →
Park29 sightings12 species
North Carolina, US
Goodwin State Forest
You might spot Orange-Fringed Orchid and Purple Pitcher Plant.
View place guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
North Carolina, US
Bethabara Historic District
You might spot American Tuliptree and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.
View place guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
North Carolina, US
Elizabeth
You might spot Anole, Common Eastern Bumble Bee, and Asian Lady Beetle.
View place guide →
Full Guide
Full North Carolina bugs list
The complete ranked list for this guide, ordered by sightings count.
116 snaps215 snaps311 snaps47 snaps56 snaps65 snaps75 snaps84 snaps94 snaps104 snaps114 snaps124 snaps134 snaps144 snaps154 snaps164 snaps174 snaps183 snaps193 snaps203 snaps213 snaps223 snaps233 snaps243 snaps253 snaps263 snaps273 snaps283 snaps293 snaps303 snaps312 snaps322 snaps332 snaps342 snaps352 snaps362 snaps372 snaps382 snaps392 snaps402 snaps412 snaps422 snaps432 snaps442 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 snaps991 snaps1001 snaps1011 snaps1021 snaps1031 snaps
Silver-spotted Skipper
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Great Spangled Fritillary
Monarch Butterfly
Pipevine Swallowtail
Blue Dasher
Common Whitetail
Asian Lady Beetle
Bee
Eastern Leaf-footed Bug
Eastern Oyster
Eastern Pondhawk
Ebony Jewelwing
Luna Moth
Magnolia Green Jumping Spider
Variable Dancer
Zabulon Skipper
American Nursery Web Spider
Brown-belted Bumble Bee
Carolina Mantis
Carolina Sphinx
Eastern Eyed Click Beetle
False Milkweed Bug
Hummingbird Hawk-Moth
Oriental Beetle
Red-banded Leafhopper
Spicebush Swallowtail
Spotted Lanternfly
Versute Sharpshooter
Virginian Tiger Moth
American Carrion Beetle
American Lady
Black Swallowtail
Cabbage White
Canopy Jumping Spider
Common Picture-winged Fly
Dark Fishing Spider
Eastern Amberwing
Eastern Boxelder Bug
Eastern Carpenter Bee
Fragile Forktail
Margined Leatherwing Beetle
Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
Tulip-tree Silkmoth
Admiral Butterfly
Banded Tussock Moth
Black Widow
Blue Crab
Blue-ringed Dancer
Bold Jumping Spider
Broad-headed Sharpshooter
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Calico Pennant
Common Atlantic Slippersnail
Common Buckeye
Common Eastern Bumble Bee
Common Pill Woodlouse
Coppery Leafhopper
Dobsonfly
Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth
Eight-spotted Forester Moth
European Hornet
Firefly
Garden Tortrix
Giant leaf-footed bug
Golden-backed Snipe Fly
Gray Hairstreak
Gulf Fritillary
Halloween Pennant
Horned Passalid
Imperial Moth
Isabella Tiger Moth
Japanese Beetle
Jewel Beetle
Keeled Treehopper
Large Maple Spanworm Moth
Lesser Anglewing
Metric Paper Wasp
Narcissus Bulb Fly
North American Wheel Bug
Northern Paper Wasp
Orchard Orbweaver
Painted Lady
Pale Green Assassin Bug
Pandorus Sphinx
Pearl Crescent
Question Mark
Red Milkweed Beetle
Slaty Skimmer
Smoky Tetanolita Moth
Spotted Cucumber Beetle
Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle
Tan Jumping Spider
Tulip-tree Beauty
Two-Lined Spittlebug
Variegated Fritillary
White-marked Tussock Moth
Widow Skimmer
Winter Firefly
Wool Sower Gall Wasp
Yellow Garden Spider
Yellow-striped Leafhopper
Zebra Swallowtail
Other Guides
Keep exploring North Carolina
Switch from bugs to birds and flowers for a broader view of North Carolina's wildlife and nature.
