List of U.S. state insects

State insects are designated by 48 individual states of the fifty United States. Some states have more than one designated insect, or have multiple categories (e.g., state insect and state butterfly, etc.). Iowa and Michigan are the two states without a designated state insect.

More than half of the insects chosen are not native to North America, because of the inclusion of two European species (European honey bee and European mantis), the former having been chosen by numerous states.

## Table

[edit]

State | State insect | Binomial
name | Image | Year

|
|
|
|

Alabama | Monarch butterfly
(state insect) | Danaus plexippus |  | 1989[1]
Queen Honey bee
(state agricultural insect) | Apis mellifera |  | 2005[2]
Eastern tiger swallowtail
(state butterfly and mascot) | Papilio glaucus |  | 1989[3]
Alaska | Four-spotted skimmer dragonfly | Libellula quadrimaculata |  | 1995[4]
Arizona | Two-tailed swallowtail
(state butterfly) | Papilio multicaudata |  | 2001[5]
Arkansas | European honey bee
(state insect) | Apis mellifera |  | 1973[6]
Diana fritillary butterfly
(state butterfly) | Speyeria diana |  | 2007[6]
California | California dogface butterfly

(state butterfly)

| Zerene eurydice |  | 1972[7]
Colorado | Colorado hairstreak | Hypaurotis crysalus |  | 1996[8]
Connecticut | European mantis | Mantis religiosa |  | 1977[9]
Delaware | Lady bug
(state bug) | Coccinellidae |  | 1974[10]
Eastern tiger swallowtail
(state butterfly) | Papilio glaucus |  | 1999[11]
Stonefly
(state macroinvertebrate) | Order Plecoptera |  | 2005[12]
Florida | Zebra longwing
(state butterfly) | Heliconius charitonius |  | 1996[13]
Georgia | European honey bee
(state insect) | Apis mellifera |  | 1975[14]
Eastern tiger swallowtail
(state butterfly) | Papilio glaucus |  | 1988[15]
Hawaii | Kamehameha butterfly | Vanessa tameamea |  | 2009[16]
Idaho | Monarch butterfly | Danaus plexippus |  | 1992[17]
Illinois | Monarch butterfly | Danaus plexippus |  | 1975[18]
Indiana | Say's firefly | Pyractomena angulata |  | 2018[19]
Kansas | European honey bee | Apis mellifera |  | 1976[20]
Kentucky | European honey bee
(state agricultural insect) | Apis mellifera |  | 2010[21]
Viceroy butterfly
(state butterfly) | Limenitis archippus |  | 1990[22]
Louisiana | European honey bee (state insect) | Apis mellifera |  | 1977[23]
Gulf fritillary (state butterfly)  | Dione vanillae |  | 2022[24]
Maine | European honey bee (state insect) | Apis mellifera |  | 1975[25]
Pink-edged Sulphur (state butterfly) | Colias interior |  | 2023[26]
Maryland | Baltimore checkerspot butterfly | Euphydryas phaeton |  | 1973[27]
Massachusetts | Ladybug | Family Coccinellidae |  | 1974[28]
Minnesota | Monarch butterfly
(state butterfly) | Danaus plexippus |  | 2000[29]
Rusty patched bumblebee
(state bee) | Bombus affinis |  | 2019[30]
Mississippi | European honey bee
(state insect) | Apis mellifera |  | 1980[31]
Spicebush swallowtail
(state butterfly) | Papilio troilus |  | 1991[31]
Missouri | European honey bee | Apis mellifera |  | 1985[32]
Montana | Mourning cloak butterfly
(state butterfly) | Nymphalis antiopa |  | 2001[33]
Nebraska | European honey bee | Apis mellifera |  | 1975[34]
Nevada | Vivid dancer damselfly | Argia vivida |  | 2009[35]
New Hampshire | ladybug
(state insect) | Coccinellidae |  | 1977[36]
Karner blue butterfly
(state butterfly) | Plebejus melissa samuelis |  | 1992[37]
New Jersey | European honey bee
(state bug) | Apis mellifera |  | 1974[38]
Black swallowtail
(state butterfly) | Papilio polyxenes |  | 2014[39]
New Mexico | Tarantula hawk wasp
(state insect) | Pepsis grossa |  | 1989[40]
Sandia hairstreak
(state butterfly) | Callophrys mcfarlandi |  | 2003[41]
New York | 9-spotted ladybug | Coccinella novemnotata |  | 1989[42]
North Carolina | European honey bee
(state insect) | Apis mellifera |  | 1973[43]
Eastern tiger swallowtail
(state butterfly) | Papilio glaucus |  | 2012[44]
North Dakota | Convergent lady beetle | Hippodamia convergens |  | 2011[45]
Ohio | Ladybug | Family Coccinellidae |  | 1975[46]
Oklahoma | European honey bee
(state insect) | Apis mellifera |  | 1992[47]
Black swallowtail
(state butterfly) | Papilio polyxenes |  | 1996[47]
Oregon | Oregon swallowtail | Papilio oregonius |  | 1979[48]
Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania firefly | Photuris pennsylvanica |  | 1974[49]
Rhode Island | American burying beetle | Nicrophorus americanus |  | 2015[50]
South Carolina | Carolina mantis
(state insect) | Stagmomantis carolina |  | 1988[51]
Eastern tiger swallowtail
(state butterfly) | Papilio glaucus |  | 1994[52]
South Dakota | European honey bee | Apis mellifera |  | 1978[53]
Tennessee | Common eastern firefly
(state insect) | Photinus pyralis |  | 1975[54]
ladybug
(state insect) | Coccinellidae |  | 1975[54]
European honey bee
(state agricultural insect) | Apis mellifera |  | 1990[54]
Zebra swallowtail
(state butterfly) | Eurytides marcellus |  | 1995[54]
Texas | Monarch butterfly | Danaus plexippus |  | 1995[55]
Utah | European honey bee | Apis mellifera |  | 1983[56]
Vermont | European honey bee
(state insect) | Apis mellifera |  | 1978[57]
Monarch butterfly
(state butterfly) | Danaus plexippus |  | 1987[58]
Virginia | Eastern tiger swallowtail | Papilio glaucus |  | [59]
Washington | Green darner dragonfly | Anax junius |  | 1997[60]
West Virginia | European honey bee
(state insect) | Apis mellifera |  | 2002[61]
Monarch butterfly
(state butterfly) | Danaus plexippus |  | 1995[62]
Wisconsin | European honey bee | Apis mellifera |  | 1977[63]
Wyoming | Sheridan's green hairstreak | Callophrys sheridanii |  | 2009[64]

## See also

[edit]

* Lists of United States state insignia

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Official Alabama Insect". Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors. Alabama Department of Archives & History. 2001-07-12. Retrieved 2007-03-19.
2. ^ "Alabama HB286 | 2015 | Regular Session".
3. ^ "Alabama Department of Archives and History, Alabama Emblems: Official State Mascot, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail". Archived from the original on May 9, 2008.
4. ^ "Alaska Kids' Corner, State of Alaska".
5. ^ "State Butterfly | Arizona State Library".
6. ^ a b Arkansas - State symbols and emblems
7. ^ "State Symbols - California State Library".
8. ^ "Symbols & Emblems | Archives". Archived from the original on September 7, 2015.
9. ^ "The State Insect".
10. ^ Delaware Code Title 29 § 309
11. ^ Delaware Code Title 29 § 315
12. ^ "Chapter - Delaware General Assembly".
13. ^ State Symbols Archived 2007-07-07 at the Wayback Machine
14. ^ State Symbols Archived 2008-02-12 at the Wayback Machine of Georgia, Georgia General Assembly
15. ^ State Butterfly Archived 2007-11-28 at the Wayback Machine, Office of Secretary of State of Georgia website.
16. ^ Cooper, Jeanne (2009-08-21). "Emblems of Hawaii a surprise to many Americans". San Francisco Chronicle.
17. ^ "Idaho Symbols, Insect: Monarch Butterfly". Idaho State Symbols, Emblems, and Mascots. SHG resources, state handbook & guide. Archived from the original on 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
18. ^ "State Symbol: Illinois Official Insect — Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)". [Illinois] State Symbols. Illinois State Museum. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
19. ^ "Say's Firefly to become state insect after bill lights its way through the Indiana House". Retrieved 2018-02-28.
20. ^ "Kansas Symbols - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society".
21. ^ "2019 Kentucky Revised Statutes :: Chapter 2 - Citizenship, emblems, holidays, and time :: 2.081 State agricultural insect".
22. ^ "2019 Kentucky Revised Statutes :: Chapter 2 - Citizenship, emblems, holidays, and time :: 2.083 State butterfly".
23. ^ "2018 Louisiana Laws :: Revised Statutes :: TITLE 49 - State Administration :: RS 49:164 - State insect".
24. ^ "2022 Louisiana Laws :: Revised Statutes :: Title 49 - State Administration :: RS 49:164.1 - State butterfly".
25. ^ "Title 1, §214: State insect".
26. ^ Maine Revised Statutes, Title 1, Chapter 9, Subchapter 1, Section 231
27. ^ "Marylands Kids Page - State Symbols". Archived from the original on 2014-02-27. Retrieved 2007-04-08.
28. ^ "CIS: State Symbols". Archived from the original on 2004-07-27.
29. ^ "Minnesota State Symbols" (PDF). Minnesota House of Representatives. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
30. ^ Gunderson, Dan (May 31, 2019). "Meet the rusty patched bumblebee, Minnesota's new bee ambassador". NPR News. Archived from the original on January 23, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
31. ^ a b State Symbols Archived 2009-11-04 at the Wayback Machine, p. 4. Office of the Secretary of State of Mississippi. Retrieved 2008-03-29
32. ^ "Missouri State Insect - Missouri Secretary of State".
33. ^ "State Symbols". Archived from the original on 2011-04-01.
34. ^ "File not found | School of Natural Resources | University of Nebraska-Lincoln". Archived from the original on 2015-03-29.
35. ^ "Designates the official state insect of Nevada. (BDR 19-914)", Nevada Legislature. Retrieved 2017-03-28
36. ^ [1]. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
37. ^ State Animal, the New Hampshire Almanac, New Hampshire State Library. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
38. ^ "The Official Web Site for the State of New Jersey | Symbols".
39. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-07-19. Retrieved 2020-07-19.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
40. ^ Welcome to the New Mexico State Capitol Archived 2014-02-21 at the Wayback Machine (brochure), New Mexico Legislature. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
41. ^ House Bill 13, 46th Legislature of the State of New Mexico. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
42. ^ "Symbols of New York State", New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Retrieved 2008-03-30
43. ^ "Official State Symbols of North Carolina". North Carolina State Library. State of North Carolina. Archived from the original on 2008-02-06. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
44. ^ State butterfly: Eastern tiger swallowtail (NCpedia)
45. ^ State Insect ND.gov
46. ^ "Symbols of Ohio - Ohio Secretary of State". Archived from the original on 2018-08-18.
47. ^ a b Oklahoma Almanac, State Emblems (pp. 37-40)
48. ^ "State of Oregon: Blue Book - Oregon Almanac: Hydropower Projects to State Motto".
49. ^ "Act of Apr. 10, 1974, P.L. 247, No. 59". Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
50. ^ "State Insect Bill Approved". NewsRadio 920 WHJJ. Retrieved 2015-05-19.
51. ^ "The State Insect". South Carolina Legislature Online. Archived from the original on 2009-01-09. Retrieved 2012-10-01.
52. ^ The State Butterfly, South Carolina Legislature Online. Retrieved 2008-03-29
53. ^ "Tidbits". Ludington Daily News. Aug 4, 2001. p. 33. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
54. ^ a b c d State Symbols Archived 2008-07-24 at the Wayback Machine, Tennessee Department of State. Retrieved 2008-03-29
55. ^ "Texas State Symbols". The Texas State Library and Archives. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
56. ^ Utah State Insect - Honey Bee Archived 2012-11-14 at the Wayback Machine from pioneer.utah.gov "Pioneer: Utah's Online Library" page. Retrieved on 2008-09-08
57. ^ "(Vermont) State Insect". Vermont Department of Libraries. Archived from the original on 2009-02-22. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
58. ^ "(Vermont) State Butterfly". Vermont Department of Libraries. Archived from the original on 2009-02-21. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
59. ^ "§ 1-510. Official emblems and designations".
60. ^ "Symbols of Washington State". Washington State Legislature. Archived from the original on 2007-03-05. Retrieved 2007-03-11.
61. ^ "Appendix A/State Profile (State of West Virginia FY 2009 Executive Budget)" (PDF). Official West Virginia Web Portal. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2008-03-29. Page 21 (547).
62. ^ "West Virginia Statistical Information, General State Information" (PDF). Official West Virginia Web Portal. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 22, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2010.
63. ^ "Wisconsin State Symbols". State of Wisconsin. Archived from the original on 2010-01-12. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
64. ^ "Wyoming State Symbols". State of Wyoming. Archived from the original on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2014-05-14.

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