On the left is a player inside a butterfly exhibit in Animal Crossing, the right shows a player holding a captured tarantula.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Bug Guide

Bug catching is a buzzworthy hobby!

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Maya is a professional writer currently based in the South of England, with her niche being esports and video games. Having written for several popular websites, Maya thinks she has a trick up her sleeve for most games and is passionate about sharing them!

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Reyadh is a writer of fantasy, horror, and science fiction who loves to play video games full of monsters and magic. When he's not scribing unique and unrelenting speculative fiction or slaying demons in virtual worlds, he is writing strategy guides to help others reach their gaming goals.

Key Takeaway

To start catching bugs in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you’ll need a Net, which can be bought at Nook’s Cranny or crafted using materials like Tree Branches once you’ve got the crafting recipe from Tom Nook. There are 80 different bugs to catch, which can be donated to the Museum or sold as a money-making method. 

Bugs can spawn anywhere on your island: on trees, the water’s surface, by flowers, or even on the ground. Each bug has specific time and weather conditions to spawn, with different months for the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. 

Dive on a journey beneath leaves and trees in our Animal Crossing: New Horizons Bug guide. From swinging your net to capturing all 80 different creepy critters, we’ve got everything you need to know about becoming the ultimate Animal Crossing bugs collector on your virtual island!

Table Of Contents

    About Bugs in Animal Crossing: New Horizons 

    A player sitting inside the insectarium exhibit with a blue butterfly near the tree leaves above them..

    After catching an insect in your Net, they’ll show up in your Critterpedia: the number one destination for documenting all your catches. This in-game app gives a detailed breakdown of every critter you collect, including their active seasons and where to catch them. 

    If you want to catch every insect and create your own insectarium, you can donate them to Blathers at the Museum. While this doesn’t yield any rewards, it’s fun to check out all the bugs you’ve ensnared.

    Sell excess bugs at Nook’s Cranny for a pretty penny. Or save them for a rainy day and sell them to bug fanatic Flick whenever he visits your island for even more Bells. Like fish in AC: NH, the rarer the insect, the more money you’ll get in return!

    Note
    If you have three of the same insect, Flick can even make you an artistic sculpture for a small fee.

    How to Catch Bugs in Animal Crossing: New Horizons 

    An Animal Crossing: New Horizons player attempting to catch a beetle on a tree stump.

    To start bug collecting, you’ll first need a Net. You can either craft one yourself or purchase one from the upgraded Nook’s CrannyTake a look at the table below for every Net available in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, including their durability and how to get them.

    Net NameDurabilityHow to ObtainCrafting Materials (if any)Buy Price
    Flimsy Net10 usesRecipe obtained from Tom Nook (first DIY workshop)5 Tree Branches100 Bells
    Net30 usesRecipe obtained from Pretty Good Tools Recipes, which costs 3,000 Miles at the Nook Stop in Resident Services1 Flimsy Net, 1 Iron NuggetN/A
    Outdoorsy Net30 usesPurchased from the cabinet at Nook's Cranny after the first upgradeN/A2,500 Bells
    Star Net 30 usesPurchased from the cabinet at Nook's Cranny after the first upgradeN/A2,500 Bells
    Colorful Net30 usesPurchased from the cabinet at Nook's Cranny after the first upgradeN/A2,500 Bells
    Golden Net90 usesRecipe obtained by catching every bug in the game1 Net, 1 Gold NuggetN/A

    Bug Catching Tips

    Catching bugs can be extremely tough, especially if you’re heavy-footed! Here are some simple tips to keep in mind before swinging your Net. 

    • Walk – don’t run! Some insects, being the delicate creatures they are, will flee if you’re running or sprinting around. To maximize your chances of success, carefully walk to get near the insect before attempting to capture them. 
    • Tiptoe. Having your Net equipped and holding down the “A” button lets you tiptoe near the bug. Aiming and letting go of “A” causes the Net to come crashing down on the unsuspecting critter. 
    • Learn their patterns. Unlike Fish, Bugs in Animal Crossing: New Horizons have a wider range of patterns and behaviors. Learning what to look out for will increase your success rate, rather than swinging and missing. Missing your net will also cause the bug in question to flee and despawn.

      • For example, Grasshoppers hop around on the ground, Scorpions chase after the player, and Beetles chill out on tree stumps.
    • Sound = On. Having your in-game sound effects turned up helps you listen out for nearby insects.
      • For instance, the chirp of a Grasshopper helps point you in the right direction to capture them. 
    • Nature and flora are your friends! To attract a wider variety of insects, you should ensure your island has various perch options for insects. This includes Tree Stumps and Flowers to attract bugs like Beetles and Butterflies.

    All Bugs in Animal Crossing: New Horizons 

    There’s a grand total of 80 insects to catch in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, an increase of eight from Animal Crossing: New Leaf. Among the more recent additions include: the Atlas Moth, Blue Weevil Beetle, Common Bluebottle, Damselfly, Giant Water Bug, Giraffe Stag, Madagascan Sunset Moth, Man-Faced Stink Bug, and Paper Kite Butterfly. 

    Without further ado, here’s a list of all insects in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, divided into where each bug can be found (Flying, Ground, Flowers, Trees, and Other). Start swinging your Net, and you’ll fill in your Critterpedia faster than a Scorpion can sting you!

    Flying Bugs

    A captured Great Purple Emperor butterfly.

    There are 22 different Flying Bugs in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Just like in real life, Butterflies find their home amongst the colorful flower blooms, so make sure you have plenty planted! Butterflies don’t fly away when you sprint, but watch out for their erratic movements; they can be a tricky catch.

    Bug NameWhere to CatchSelling PriceSpawn TimeWeather ConditionsNorthern HemipshereSouthern Hemisphere
    MosquitoFlying130 Bells5 PM - 4 AMAny (except rain)June, July, August, SeptemberDecember, January, February, March
    Common ButterflyFlying160 Bells4 AM - 7 PMAny (except rain)All months, except JulyAll months except January and February
    Yellow ButterflyFlying160 Bells4 AM - 7 PMAny (except rain)March, April, May, June, September, OctoberSeptember, October, November, December, March, April
    Tiger ButterflyFlying240 Bells4 AM - 7 PMAny (except rain)March, April, May, June, July, August, SeptemberSeptember, October, November, December, January, February
    Common BluebottleFlying300 Bells4 AM - 7 PMAny (except rain)April, May, June, July, AugustOctober, November, December, January, February
    Peacock ButterflyFlying2,500 Bells4 AM - 7 PMAny (except rain)March, April, May, JuneSeptember, October, November, December
    Agrias ButterflyFlying (near flowers)3,000 Bells8 AM - 5 PMAny (except rain)April, May, June, July, August, SeptemberNovember, December, January, February, March
    Paper Kite ButterflyFlying (near flowers)1,000 Bells8 AM - 7 PMAny (except rain)All monthsAll months
    Monarch ButterflyFlying (near flowers)140 Bells4 AM - 5 PMAny (except rain)September, October, NovemberMarch, April, May
    Emperor ButterflyFlying (near flowers)4,000 Bells5 PM - 8 AMAny (except rain)All months except April, May, October, NovemberAll months except April, May, October, November
    Great Purple EmperorFlying (near flowers)3,000 Bells4 AM - 7 PMAny (except rain)May, June, July, AugustNovember, December, January, February
    Rajah Brooke's BirdwingFlying (near flowers)2,500 Bells8 AM - 5 PMAny (except rain)All months except March, October, NovemberAll months except April, May, September
    Queen Alexandra's BirdwingFlying (near flowers)4,000 Bells8 AM - 4 PMAny (except rain)May, June, July, August, SeptemberNovember, December, January, February, March
    Madagascan Sunset MothFlying (near flowers)2,500 Bells8 AM - 4 PMAny (except rain)April, May, June, July, August, SeptemberSeptember, October, November, December, January
    HoneybeeFlying (near flowers)200 Bells8 AM - 5 PMAny (except rain)March, April, May, June, JulySeptember, October, November, December, January
    MothFlying (near light sources like Resident Services or villager houses)130 Bells7 PM - 4 AMAny (except rain)All monthsAll months
    FlyFlying (near trash or rotten turnips)60 BellsAll dayAny All monthsAll months
    Red DragonflyFlying (near water)180 Bells8 AM - 7 PMAny (except rain)September, OctoberMarch, April
    Darner DragonflyFlying (near water)230 Bells8 AM - 5 PMAny (except rain)April, May, June, July, August, September, OctoberNovember, December, January, February, March, April
    Banded DragonflyFlying (near water)4,500 Bells8 AM - 5 PMAny (except rain)May, June, July, August, September, OctoberNovember, December, January, February, March, April
    DamselflyFlying (near water)500 BellsAll dayAny (except rain)November, December, January, FebruaryMay, June, July, August
    FireflyFlying (near water)300 Bells7 PM - 4 AMAny (except rain)JuneDecember

    Ground Bugs

    A player showing off a Tarantula they have caught and kept.

    There are 10 different types of Ground Bugs, found prowling or hopping around on your island’s soil. Keep your wits about you, especially when seeking out Tarantulas or Scorpions, as these are particularly aggressive and will cause your character to pass out if they attack you. 

    Tip
    You can dig holes around a Tarantula or Scorpion to trap them. They can’t jump across, so you can easily capture them with your Net
    Bug NameSelling PriceSpawn TimeWeather ConditionsNorthern HemisphereSouthern Hemisphere
    Long Locust200 Bells8 AM - 7 PMAnyAll months except December, January, February, MarchAll months except June, July, August, September
    Migratory Locust600 Bells8 AM - 7 PMAnyAugust, September, October, NovemberFebruary, March, April, May
    Rice Grasshopper400 Bells8 AM - 7 PMAnyAugust, September, October, NovemberFebruary, March, April, May
    Grasshopper160 Bells8 AM - 5 PMAny (except rain)July, August, SeptemberJanuary, February, March
    Cricket130 Bells5 PM - 8 AMAny (except rain)September, October, NovemberMarch, April, May
    Bell Cricket430 Bells5 PM - 8 AMAny (except rain)September, OctoberMarch, April
    Tiger Beetle1,500 BellsAll dayAny (except rain)All months except November, December, JanuaryAll months except May, June, July
    Earth-boring Dung Beetle300 BellsAll dayAnyJuly, August, SeptemberJanuary, February, March
    Tarantula8,000 Bells7 PM - 4 AMAnyNovember, December, January, February, March, AprilMay, June, July, August, September, October
    Scorpion8,000 Bells7 PM - 4 AMAnyMay, June, July, August, September, OctoberNovember, December, January, February, March, April

    Flower Bugs

    An example of a captured Orchid Mantis.

    The 5 Flower Bugs prefer to make their homes on the floral residents of your island. Make sure to approach with care, as any sudden movements can cause these little critters to despawn and disappear.

    Bug NameWhere to CatchSelling PriceSpawn TimeWeather ConditionsNorthern HemipshereSouthern Hemisphere
    MantisOn any type of flowers430 Bells8 AM - 5 PMAny (except rain)All months except December, January, FebruaryAll months except June, July, August
    Orchid MantisOn white flowers2,400 Bells8 AM - 5 PMAny (except rain)All months except December, January, FebruaryAll months except June, July, August
    LadybugOn any type of flowers200 Bells8 AM - 5 PMAny (except rain)March, April, May, June, OctoberApril, September, October, November, December
    StinkbugOn any type of flowers120 BellsAll day Any (except rain)All months except November, December, January, FebruaryAll months except May, June, July, August
    Man-faced StinkbugOn any type of flowers1,000 Bells7 PM - 8 AMAny (except rain)All months except November, December, January, FebruaryAll months except May, June, July, August

    Tree Bugs

    A Jewel Beetle in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

    Trees and their Stumps are a bountiful resource in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, both for crafting materials and providing a home for many in-game insects like Beetles, Wasps, and Spiders. There are 31 of these arboreal creatures.

    Warning
    Approach with caution! If you sprint around, you risk potentially scaring these critters away.
    Bug NameWhere to CatchSelling PriceSpawn TimeWeather ConditionsNorthern HemisphereSouthern Hemisphere
    Walking LeafDisguised as a leaf under trees600 BellsAll dayAnyJuly, August, SeptemberJanuary, February, March
    Blue Weevil BeetleOn palm trees800 BellsAll dayAnyJuly, AugustJanuary, February
    Goliath BeetleOn palm trees8,000 Bells5 PM - 8 AMAnyJune, July, August, SeptemberDecember, January, February, March
    Cyclommatus StagOn palm trees8,000 Bells5 PM - 8 AMAnyJuly, AugustJanuary, February
    Golden StagOn palm trees12,000 Bells5 PM - 8 AMAnyJuly, AugustJanuary, February
    Giraffe StagOn palm trees12,000 Bells5 PM - 8 AMAnyJuly, AugustJanuary, February
    Horned AtlasOn palm trees8.000 Bells5 PM - 8 AMAnyJuly, AugustJanuary, February
    Horned ElephantOn palm trees8,000 Bells5 PM - 8 AMAnyJuly, AugustJanuary, February
    Horned HerculesOn palm trees12,000 Bells5 PM - 8 AMAnyJuly, AugustJanuary, February
    Jewel BeetleTree stumps2,400 BellsAll dayAny (except rain)April, May, June, July, AugustOctober, November, December, January, February
    Violin BeetleTree stumps450 BellsAll dayAny (except rain)May, June, October, NovemberMarch, April, May, November, December
    Citrus Long-horned BeetleTree stumps350 BellsAll dayAny (except rain)All monthsAll months
    Rosalia Batesi BeetleTree stumps3,000 BellsAll dayAny (except rain)May, June, July, August, SeptemberNovember, December, January, February, March
    Atlas MothTrees (any kind)3,000 Bells7 PM - 4 AMAny April, May, June, July, August, SeptemberOctober, November, December, January, February, March
    Scarab BeetleTrees (any kind)10,000 Bells11 PM - 8 AMAnyJuly, AugustJanuary, February
    Drone BeetleTrees (any kind)200 BellsAll dayAnyJune, July, AugustDecember, January, February
    Saw StagTrees (any kind)2,000 BellsAll dayAnyJuly, AugustJanuary, February
    Miyama StagTrees (any kind)1,000 BellsAll dayAnyJuly, AugustJanuary, February
    Giant StagTrees (any kind)10,000 Bells11 PM - 8 AMAnyJuly, AugustJanuary, February
    Rainbow StagTrees (any kind)6,000 Bells7 PM - 8 AMAnyJune, July, August, SeptemberDecember, January, February, March
    Horned DynastidTrees (any kind)1,350 Bells7 PM - 8 AMAnyJuly, AugustJanuary, February
    Walking StickTrees (any kind)600 Bells4 AM - 8 AM and 5 PM - 7 PMAnyJuly, August, September, October, NovemberJanuary, February, March, April, May
    Brown CicadaTrees (Hardwood and Cedar)250 Bells8 AM - 5 PMAnyJuly, AugustJanuary, February
    Robust CicadaTrees (Hardwood and Cedar)300 Bells8 AM - 5 PMAnyJuly, AugustJanuary, February
    Giant CicadaTrees (Hardwood and Cedar)500 Bells8 AM - 5 PMAnyJuly, AugustJanuary, February
    Walker CicadaTrees (Hardwood and Cedar)400 Bells8 AM - 5 PMAnyAugust, SeptemberFebruary, March
    Evening CicadaTrees (Hardwood and Cedar)550 Bells4 AM - 8 AM and 4 PM - 7 PMAnyJuly, AugustJanuary, February
    Cicada ShellTrees (Hardwood and Cedar)10 BellsAll dayAnyJuly, AugustJanuary, February
    WaspShaking trees (Cedar or Hardwood)2,500 BellsAll dayAnyAll monthsAll months
    SpiderShaking trees600 Bells7 PM - 8 AMAnyAll monthsAll months
    BagwormShaking trees600 BellsAll dayAnyAll monthsAll months

    Other Bugs

    A Wharf Roach insect.

    Aside from the previously mentioned locations, Bugs can spawn in many other locations. In this table, we’ve included the exact location or requirements to get these Bugs to spawn so that you can fill the remainder of your Critterpedia. These last few multi-legged fellows count 12 overall.

    Bug NameWhere to CatchSelling PriceSpawn TimeWeather ConditionsNorthern HemisphereSouthern Hemisphere
    FleaOn villager's heads70 BellsAll dayAnyApril, May, June, July, August, September, October, NovemberJanuary, February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December
    Mole CricketDug from underground500 BellsAll dayAnyJanuary, February, March, April, May, November, DecemberMay, June, July, August, September, October, November
    AntOn spoiled food left on the ground, like turnips80 BellsAll dayAnyAll monthsAll months
    SnailOn rocks and bushes250 BellsAll dayRainAll monthsAll months
    Wharf RoachOn beach rocks200 BellsAll dayAnyAll months All months
    CentipedeFrom hitting rocks with a shovel300 Bells4 PM - 11 PMAnyAll months except July and AugustAll months except January and February
    Pill BugFrom hitting rocks with a shovel250 Bells11 PM - 4 PMAnyAll months except July and AugustAll months except January and February
    Hermit CrabDisguised as a shell on the beach1,000 Bells7 PM - 8 AMAnyAll monthsAll months
    Dung BeetlePushes around snowballs on the ground3,000 BellsAll dayAnyDecember, January, FebruaryJune, July, August
    PondskaterOn rivers and ponds130 Bells8 AM - 7 PMAnyMay, June, July, August, SeptemberNovember, December, January, February, March
    Diving BeetleOn rivers and ponds800 Bells8 AM - 7 PMAnyMay, June, July, August, SeptemberNovember, December, January, February, March
    Giant Water BugOn rivers and ponds2,000 Bells7 PM - 8 AMAnyApril, May, June, July, August, SeptemberOctober, November, December, January, February, March

    As you swing your virtual Net in the world of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, armed with our valuable knowledge from our Bug guide, you’ll become an experienced Bug Collector in no time at all. If you’ve got a green thumb, try breeding the rare Blue Roses or even Golden Roses to make your island critters even happier.

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