See what the buzz is about: Here are the official state insects, butterflies of 48 states

Olivia Munson, USA TODAY
·5 min read
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There are plenty of things to buzz about when it comes to the 50 states. From their state flowers to animals, there are many fascinating pieces of fauna that identify and symbolize each state.

Also among those are the official state insects and butterflies. Nearly every state has a state insect or butterfly, with only two states not having one: Iowa and Michigan, as well as the District of Columbia. The first state to adopt a state insect was California.

It's time to see which state bug is more fly than the other. Here are the official state insects and butterflies from 48 states:

Alabama

The monarch butterfly is Alabama's state insect. It was designated in 1989

On July 21, 2022, the International Union for Conservation of Nature said migrating monarch butterflies have moved closer to extinction.
On July 21, 2022, the International Union for Conservation of Nature said migrating monarch butterflies have moved closer to extinction.

The eastern tiger swallowtail is Alabama's state mascot and state butterfly. It was adopted in 1989.

Alaska

The four spot skimmer dragonfly is the state insect of Alaska. It was designated in 1995.

Arizona

The two-tailed swallowtail butterfly is Arizona's state butterfly. It was designated in 2001.

Arkansas

The honeybee is Arkansas' state insect. It was designated in 1973.

California

The California dogface butterfly is California's state insect. It was designated in 1972.

Colorado

The Colorado hairstreak butterfly is the state insect of Colorado. It was designated in 1996.

Connecticut

The European praying mantis is the official state insect of Connecticut. It was designated in 1977.

A praying mantis looks on from the top rail of the St. Louis Cardinals dugout during the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
A praying mantis looks on from the top rail of the St. Louis Cardinals dugout during the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

Delaware

The state bug of Delaware is the ladybug. It was designated in 1974.

The tiger swallowtail is Delaware's state butterfly. It was designated in 1999.

Florida

The zebra longwing is Florida's state butterfly. It was designated in 1996.

Georgia

The state insect of Georgia is the honeybee. 

The tiger swallowtail is the state butterfly of Georgia.

Hawaii

The Kamehameha butterfly, or Pulelehua, is Hawaii's state insect. It was designated in 2009.

Idaho

The monarch butterfly is Idaho's state insect. It was designated in 1992.

Illinois

The state insect of Illinois is the monarch butterfly. It was designated in 1975.

Indiana

The Say's firefly is Indiana's state insect. It was designated in 2018.

Kansas

The honeybee is Kansas' state insect. It was designated in 1976.

Kentucky

The viceroy butterfly is Kentucky's state butterfly. It as designated in 1990.

Wildlife abounds in Florida's Everglades National Park.
Wildlife abounds in Florida's Everglades National Park.

Louisiana

Louisiana's state insect is the honeybee. It was designated in 1977.

Maine

The honeybee is Maine's state insect. It was designated in 1975.

Maryland

The Baltimore checkerspot butterfly is the official insect of Maryland. It was designated in 1973.

Massachusetts

The ladybug is Massachusetts' state insect. It was designated in 1974.

Minnesota

The Monarch is Minnesota's state butterfly. It was designated in 2000.

Mississippi

The state butterfly of Mississippi is the spicebush swallowtail. It was chosen in 1991.

The honeybee is the state insect of Mississippi. It was designated in 1980.

Missouri

The western honeybee is Missouri’s state insect. It was designated in 1985.

Montana

The mourning cloak is Montana's state insect. It was designated in 2001.

Nebraska

The honeybee is Nebraska's state insect. It was designated in 1975.

Nevada

Nevada's state insect is the vivid dancer damselfly. It was designated in 2009.

New Hampshire

The ladybug is New Hampshire's state insect. It was designated in 1977.

The Karner Blue is New Hampshire's state butterfly. It was adopted in 1992.

A Karner blue butterfly sits on a leaf in the Ivanhoe Nature Preserve in Gary, Ind.
A Karner blue butterfly sits on a leaf in the Ivanhoe Nature Preserve in Gary, Ind.

New Jersey

New Jersey's state insect is the honeybee. It was designated in 1974.

New Mexico

The Tarantula hawk wasp is New Mexico's state insect. It was designated in 1989.

New York

The ladybug is New York's state insect. It was selected in 1989.

North Carolina

The honeybee is North Carolina's state insect. It was designated in 1973.

The Eastern tiger swallowtail is North Carolina's state butterfly. It was designated in 2012.

North Dakota

The ladybug is North Dakota's state insect. It was selected in 2011.

Ohio

Ohio's state insect is the ladybug. It was designated in 1975.

Oklahoma

The European honeybee is Oklahoma's state insect. It was designated in 1992

The black swallowtail is Oklahoma's state butterfly. It was selected in 1996.

Oregon

The Oregon swallowtail butterfly is Oregon's state insect. It was designated in 1977.

Pennsylvania

The firefly is Pennsylvania's state insect. It was selected in 1988.

In this June 18, 2019 photo, a firefly blinks and flirts for the opposite sex on a June Strawberry Moon, in Spanish Fork, Utah. It's a rarity to see fireflies in the West. It's even more unheard of in the dry deserts of Utah. So about 50 people each night march through the mud on Diane Garcia's property just outside of Spanish Fork, which she opens for free, to see the glowing insect spectacle and find out if they are really here.

Rhode Island

The American burying beetle is Rhode Island's state insect. It was designated in 2015.

South Carolina

The Eastern tiger swallowtail is South Carolina's state butterfly. It was designated in 1994.

The Carolina Mantis is South Carolina's state insect. It was selected in 1988.

South Dakota

South Dakota's state insect is the honeybee. It was designated in 1978.

Tennessee

The official state insects of Tennessee are the firefly and ladybug. They were designated in 1975.

The honeybee is Tennessee's state agricultural insect. It was designated in 1990.

The state butterfly of Tennessee is the zebra swallowtail. It was adopted in 1995.

Texas

The Monarch butterfly is Texas' state insect. It was adopted in 1995.

Utah

The honeybee is Utah's state insect. It was adopted in 1983.

Vermont

The honeybee is Vermont's state insect. It was adopted in 1978.

The Monarch is Vermont's state butterfly. It was designated in 1987.

Virginia

The tiger swallowtail butterfly is Virginia's state insect. It was designated in 1991

Washington

The green darner dragonfly is Washington's state insect. It was adopted in 1997.

West Virginia

West Virginia's state butterfly is the Monarch. It was designated in 1995.

The honeybee is West Virginia's state insect. It was adopted in 2002.

Wisconsin

The honeybee is Wisconsin's state insect. It was designated in 1977.

Wyoming

The Sheridan's green hairstreak is Wyoming's state insect. It was adopted in 2009.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: State insects: A list of the official bug for (almost) all 50 states