Jun 6, 2026
Coker Arboretumi
Photo attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
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
243
Species
107
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
St. Augustine's Universityi
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no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 3, 2026
Bodie Island Lifesaving and Coast Guard Stationi
Photo attribution
(c) Conway Hawn, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
May 31, 2026
Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardeni
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
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.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
16 snaps
Silver-spotted Skipper
16 snaps
Great Spangled Fritillary
11 snaps
Monarch Butterfly
7 snaps
Bee
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 sightings5 species
North Carolina, US
Museum of Life and Science
You might spot Ring-Tailed Lemur, Black Bear, and Flies.
View place guide →
Zoo30 sightings13 species
North Carolina, US
Triangle Metro Zoo
You might spot Tiger, African Lion, and Bears.
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 →
Park48 sightings50 species
North Carolina, US
Coker Arboretum
You might spot American Robin and Eastern Gray Squirrel.
View place guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
North Carolina, US
Bethabara Historic District
You might spot American Tuliptree and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.
View place guide →
Full Guide
Full North Carolina bugs list
The complete ranked list for this guide, ordered by sightings count.
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Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Silver-spotted Skipper
Great Spangled Fritillary
Monarch Butterfly
Bee
Pipevine Swallowtail
Blue Dasher
Common Whitetail
Zabulon Skipper
Asian Lady Beetle
Eastern Leaf-footed Bug
Eastern Oyster
Eastern Pondhawk
Ebony Jewelwing
Luna Moth
Magnolia Green Jumping Spider
Variable Dancer
American Nursery Web Spider
Brown-belted Bumble Bee
Carolina Mantis
Carolina Sphinx
Eastern Eyed Click Beetle
False Milkweed Bug
Hummingbird Hawk-Moth
Narcissus Bulb Fly
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
Firefly
Fragile Forktail
Japanese Beetle
Margined Leatherwing Beetle
Seven-spotted Lady Beetle
Tulip-tree Silkmoth
Abbot'S Bagworm Moth
Admiral Butterfly
Banded Tussock Moth
Black Widow
Blue Crab
Blue-Winged Scoliid Wasp
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 Tailed-Blue
Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth
Eight-spotted Forester Moth
European Hornet
F-winged Barklouse
Garden Tortrix
Giant leaf-footed bug
Golden-backed Snipe Fly
Gray Hairstreak
Gulf Fritillary
Halloween Pennant
Horned Passalid
Imperial Moth
Isabella Tiger Moth
Jewel Beetle
Keeled Treehopper
Large Maple Spanworm Moth
Lesser Anglewing
Metric Paper Wasp
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.
