State Insects and Butterflies: Lessons for Teachers and Students

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State Insects and Butterflies: Information and Links for Teachers and Students

This guide to state insects and butterflies is easy to use and accurate. Each insect is pictured and has link to more information. Whether you are a student looking for information for a project, a teacher looking for project ideas, an entomologist in need of information, or just someone curious about the subject, this guide to state insects will be useful.

Alabama: Monarch Butterfly

Scientific Name: Danaus plexippus

Date Designated: 1989

More Information: "The State Insect of Alabama"

Fun Fact: Both the monarch caterpillar and adult butterfly are protected from predators by the toxic sap of milkweed, the larval food plant.

Alaska: 4-Spotted Skimmer Dragonfly

Scientific Name: Libellula quadrimaculata

Date Designated: 1995

More Information: "The State Insect of Alaska"

Fun Fact: Dragonflies like the 4-spotted skimmer catch and eat their prey in mid-air.

Arizona: Two-Tailed Swallowtail

Scientific Name: Papilio multicaudata

Date Designated: 2001

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More Information: The State Insect of Arizona

Fun Fact: This butterfly only lives in desert areas.

Arkansas: European Honey Bee, Diana Fritillary

European Honey Bee (State Insect)

Scientific Name: Apis mellifera

Date Designated: 1973

More Information: "State Insect of Arkansas"

Diana Fritillary Butterfly (State Butterfly)

Scientific Name: Speyeria diana

Date Designated: 2007

More Information: "State Butterfly of Arkansas"

California: California Dogface Butterfly

Scientific Name: Zerene eurydice

Date Designated: 1972

More Information: "The State Insect of California"

Fun Fact: This butterfly gets its common name from the "dog face" shape on its upper wings.

Colorado: Colorado Hairstreak Butterfly

Scientific Name: Hypaurotis crysalus

Date Designated: 1972

More Information: "The State Insect of Colorado"

Fun Fact: This butterfly is seldom found far from its food plant, the gambel oak tree.

Connecticut: European Mantis

Scientific Name: Mantis religiosa

Date Designated: 1972

More Information: "The State Insect of Connecticut"

Fun Fact: Mantises have been kept as pets in parts of Asia for thousands of years.

Delaware: 7-Spotted Ladybug, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

7-Spotted Ladybug (State Insect)

Scientific Name: Coccinella septempunctata

Date Designated: 1974

More Information: Delaware's State Insect

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (State Butterfly)

Scientific Name: Papilio glaucus

Date Designated: 1999

More Information: Delaware's State Butterfly

Georgia: European Honey Bee, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

European Honey Bee (State Insect)

Scientific Name: Apis mellifera

Date Designated: 1973

More Information: "Georgia's State Insect"

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (State Butterfly)

Scientific Name: Papilio glaucus

Date Designated: 1988

More Information: Georgia's State Butterfly

Florida: Zebra Longwing Butterfly

Scientific Name: Heliconius charitonius

Date Designated: 1996

More Information: "Florida's State Insect"

Fun Fact: The zebra longwing is a tropical insect found from Florida all the way to South America.

Hawaii: Kamehameha Butterfly

Scientific Name: Vanessa tameamea

Date Designated: 2009

More Information: "Hawaii's State Insect"

Fun Fact: This insect is named after one of Hawaii's legendary rulers, King Kamehameha.

Idaho: Monarch Butterfly

Scientific Name: Danaus plexippus

Date Designated: 1992

More Information: "Idaho's State Insect"

Fun Fact: Monarchs are one of the world's most famous examples of butterfly migration.

Illinois: Monarch Butterfly

Scientific Name: Danaus plexippus

Date Designated: 1975

More Information: "Illinois's State Insect"

Fun Fact: The monarch gets its common name partly due to the fact that the white-on-black edging of the wings resembles the sable robes worn by kings.

Kansas: European Honey Bee

Scientific Name: Apis mellifera

Date Designated: 1976

More Information: Kansas's State Insect

Fun Fact: European honeybees are the most successfully "domesticated" insect in the world. Others include silkworms and ladybugs.

Kentucky: Viceroy Butterfly

Scientific Name: Limenitis archippus

Date Designated: 1990

More Information: "Kentucky's State Insect"

Fun Fact: The viceroy is a near-perfect mimic of the monarch butterfly. Both are protected by having toxic chemicals in their tissues.

Louisiana: European Honey Bee

Scientific Name: Apis mellifera

Date Designated: 1977

More Information: "Louisiana's State Insect"

Maine: European Honey Bee

Scientific Name: Apis mellifera

Date Designated: 1975

More Information: Maine's State Insect

Maryland: Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly

Scientific Name: Euphydryas phaeton

Date Designated: 1973

More Information: Maryland's's State Insect

Fun Fact: The Baltimore checkerspot gets its name due to its orange and black colors, which are the same as the family crest of Maryland's founding family.

Massachusetts: 7-Spotted Ladybug

Scientific Name: Coccinella septempunctata

Date Designated: 1974

More Information: Massachusetts' State Insect

Minnesota: Monarch Butterfly

Scientific Name: Danaus plexippus

Date Designated: 2000

More Information: "Minnesota's State Insect"

Mississippi: European Honey Bee, Spicebush Swallowtail

European Honey Bee (State Insect)

Scientific Name: Apis mellifera

Date Designated: 1980

More Information: Mississippi's State Insect

Spicebush Swallowtail (State Butterfly)

Scientific Name: Papilio troilus

Date Designated: 1991

More Information: Mississippi's State Butterfly

Fun Fact: This butterfly is sometimes confused with other swallowtails, but the green coloring on the male is unique.

Missouri: European Honey Bee

Scientific Name: Apis mellifera

Date Designated: 1985

More Information: Missouri's State Insect

Montana: Mourning Cloak Butterfly

Scientific Name: Nymphalis antiopa

Date Designated: 2001

More Information: Montana's State Insect

Fun Fact: This butterfly is a rare prize for naturalists in England, where it is known as "The Camberwell Beauty."

Nebraska: European Honey Bee

Scientific Name: Apis mellifera

Date Designated: 1975

More Information: Nebraska's State Insect

Nevada: Vivid Dancer Damselfly

Scientific Name: Argia vivida

Date Designated: 2009

More Information: Nebraska's State Insect

Fun Fact: Damselflies can be told from dragonflies by the way they hold their wings up over their back -- dragonflies hold their wings spread out flat.

New Hampshire: 7-Spotted Ladybug, Karner Blue Butterfly

7-Spotted Ladybug (State Insect)

Scientific Name: Coccinella septempunctata

Date Designated: 1977

More Information: New Hampshire's State Insect

Karner Blue (State Butterfly)

Scientific Name: Lycaeides melissa samuelis

Date Designated: 1992

More Information: "New Hampshire's State Butterfly"

New Jersey: European Honey Bee

Scientific Name: Apis mellifera

Date Designated: 1974

More Information: New Jersey's State Insect

New Mexico: Tarantula Hawk Wasp, Sandia Hairstreak Butterfly

Tarantula Hawk Wasp (State Insect)

Scientific Name: Pepsis formosa

Date Designated: 1989

More Information: New Mexico State Insect

Sandia Hairstreak (State Butterfly)

Scientific Name: Callophrys mcfarlandi

Date Designated: 2003

More Information: New Mexico State Butterfly

Fun Fact: The Sandia hairstreak was discovered in the 1950's by a college student who was out collecting butterflies in the desert.

New York: 9-Spotted Ladybug

Scientific Name: Coccinella novemnotata

Date Designated: 1989

More Information: "State Insect of New York"

North Carolina: European Honey Bee, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

European Honey Bee (State Insect)

Scientific Name: Apis mellifera

Date Designated: 1973

More Information: North Carolina's State Insect

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (State Butterfly)

Scientific Name: Papilio glaucus

Date Designated: 2012

More Information: North Carolina's State Butterfly

Ohio: 7-Spotted Ladybug

Scientific Name: Coccinella septempunctata

Date Designated: 1975

More Information: Ohio's State Insect

Oklahoma: European Honey Bee, Black Swallowtail

European Honey Bee (State Insect)

Scientific Name: Apis mellifera

Date Designated: 1992

More Information: Oklahoma's State Insect

Black Swallowtail (State Butterfly)

Scientific Name: Papilio polyxenes

Date Designated: 1996

More Information: Oklahoma's State Butterfly

Oregon: Oregon Swallowtail Butterfly

Scientific Name: Papilio oregonius

Date Designated: 1996

More Information: "Oregon's State Butterfly"

Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Firefly

Scientific Name: Photuris pennsylvanica

Date Designated: 1974

More Information: "Pennsylvania's State Insect"

Rhode Island: American Burying Beetle

Scientific Name: Nicrophorus americanus

Date Designated: 2015

More Information: "Rhode Island's State Insect"

South Carolina: Carolina Mantis, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Carolina Mantis (State Insect)

Scientific Name: Stagmomantis carolina

Date Designated: 1988

More Information: "South Carolina's State Insect"

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (State Butterfly)

Scientific Name: Papilio glaucus

Date Designated: 1994

More Information: "South Carolina's State Butterfly"

South Dakota: European Honey Bee

Scientific Name: Apis mellifera

Date Designated: 1978

More Information: South Dakota's State Insect