Jun 6, 2026
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no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
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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
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
A recent look at insect sightings across North Carolina.
Jun 6, 2026
Photo attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 6, 2026
Photo attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 3, 2026
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no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 3, 2026
Photo attribution
(c) Conway Hawn, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 3, 2026
Photo attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
May 31, 2026
Photo attribution
(c) Leigha S, 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 North Carolina.
Top Highlights
These bugs are snapped the most across this region.





16 snaps





15 snaps





11 snaps





7 snaps





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

North Carolina, US
You might spot Anole, Leatherleaf Mahonia, and Northern Cardinal.
View place guide →

North Carolina, US
You might spot Northern Cardinal and Dekay's Brownsnake.
View place guide →

North Carolina, US
You might spot Eastern Fence Lizard and Common Five-Lined Skink.
View place guide →

North Carolina, US
You might spot Orange-Fringed Orchid and Purple Pitcher Plant.
View place guide →

North Carolina, US
You might spot American Tuliptree and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.
View place guide →

North Carolina, US
You might spot Anole, Common Eastern Bumble Bee, and Asian Lady Beetle.
View place guide →
Full Guide
The complete ranked list for this guide, ordered by sightings count.
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
Switch from bugs to birds and flowers for a broader view of North Carolina's wildlife and nature.