Top 20 Most Common Insects in Bavaria

Melanargia galathea has a wingspan of 1.8–2.2 in. In these medium-sized butterflies the upper side of the wings is decorated with white and gray-black or dark brown markings, but it is always gray-black or dark brown checkered in the basal and distal areas. The underside is similar to the upper side but the drawings is light gray or light brown. On the underside of the hindwings is present a row of gray eye spots. The males and the females are quite similar, except that some females may have a yellowish nuance on the underside of the wings. The larvae are a lime-green colour, with a dark green line running down the middle of their back. The caterpillars are about 3 cm long. They are green or yellow with some lighter and darker narrow longitudinal lines. The head is always light brown.

The painted lady is a migratory butterfly that spends part of the year in Northern Africa and then migrates to Europe during the warmer months. Although the adults feed on nectar from flowers, the larvae feed on the leaves of nettles and thistles.

Aphantopus hyperantus is a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of up to 3.5 - 4 cm . The wing upper and lower sides are solid brown with small, yellowish-rimmed eyespots. The newly emerged ringlet has a velvety appearance and is almost black with a white fringe to the wings. The number and size of the eyespots is variable, they may be missing on the upper wing surface. The eggs are pale yellow when first laid, but become pale brown.The caterpillars are about 2.5 cm long. They are gray or light reddish brown and have dark, reddish brown and very fine dots. Dorsally there is a dark longitudinal line, which is widened at the segment boundaries. Toward the rear, this line is more intensely colored. The head is darker and has several faint longitudinal stripes.

Named after its resemblance to hummingbirds, the hummingbird hawk-moth feeds on nectar-rich, tube-shaped flowers. This large, fast, buzzing insect is known for its ability to learn colors; its food preferences are based on visual recognition. It is a migratory species that starts its journey in Africa. The hummingbird hawk-moth is considered a lucky omen.

The silver y (Autographa gamma) has an interesting name that comes from the silver, y-shaped patterns on each of its wings. Patterns on those wings also provide for decent camouflage. Its colors can be different depending on the local climate. You may catch them in your garden given their love of taking nectar from flowers.

Western honey bee（Apis mellifera） is the most common species of honeybee in the world. Among the first domesticated insects, its cultural and economic impact on humanity has been vast and far-reaching, providing honey, wax and its services as a pollinator. Western honey bee faces challenges worldwide, such as colony collapse disorder, and populations are thought to be decreasing.

The silver, comma-shaped marked on the butterfly’s wings give it the common name the Comma. It is a common butterfly in southern Britain that was once on the verge of extinction in the 1930s. The butterflies are often found at the edge of forests, close to meadows with plenty of nectar-rich wildflowers.

Large white (Pieris brassicae) is visually similar but quite larger than its close relative P. rapae. It lays its eggs on food plants such as cabbages – the origin of its common name – leading to many farmers' classifying this species as a pest.

The speckled wood (Pararge aegeria) prefers to live in damp, dark woodlands. Unlike other butterflies, it's more active in shadier habitats rather than sunny ones. Males often fight over a perch, spiraling up to the treetops until they determine a winner. These perches are where the males find passing females.

The map butterfly is unusual in that its two annual broods look very different. The summer brood are black with white markings, looking like a miniature version of the white admiral and lacking most of the orange of the pictured spring brood. The eggs are laid in long strings, one on top of the other, on the underside of stinging nettles, the larval food plant.