Top 20 Most Common Insects in Louisiana

1. Monarch butterfly

The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is the most recognizable butterfly in North America. It is best known for its appearance, but should be better known for the fact that it has a 3000-mile migration that takes the butterfly 4 generations to complete. Their diet is also a natural deterrent for predators, as they eat milkweed, a poison that induces vomiting.

2. Blue crab

Thanks to its sapphire blue claws, blue crab is famous for its attractive appearance. Despite its lovely looks, the crab shows aggressive nature when it feels threatened. Blue crab has important commercial value and it's harvested for culinary use. Many people find its meat to be sweet and delicious.

3. Eastern pondhawk

The eastern pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) has much in common with American fishermen, they love living near the sides of ponds. They are a beautiful insect that is easy to distinguish when it comes to different genders. Females are bright green with bands around the abdomen and the males are bright blue with a green face.

4. Blue dasher

The name Pachydiplax longipennis implies that the blue dasher has long wings due to the "longipennis" section literally translating to it. But this would be misleading, as the insect does not have particularly long wings. Instead, they stick out with vibrant blue colors. The dasher part of their name may be in reference to their voracious diet, as they can eat up to 10 percent of their body weight daily.

5. Eastern Lubber Grasshopper

The eastern Lubber Grasshopper ( Romalea microptera) is the most distinctive grasshopper within the south-eastern United States. This large and brightly colored insect can emit a noxious dark-colored foamy secretion from the thorax when it is disturbed. A bird would feel very regretful after ate this insect by mistake.

6. Western honey bee

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.

7. Multicolored asian ladybeetle

Often confused for the ladybug, multicolored asian ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis) is a separate species that, unlike the ladybug, is a household pest. It is considered particularly annoying for its habit of returning to places from which it is removed. One of the most variable species in the world, there are many different colors and patterns multicolored asian ladybeetle may display, making identification potentially difficult.

8. Banana spider

The banana spider (Nephila clavipes) is called that because it is commonly found in banana shipments leading from South America. There are many spiders that fit this category (often found in banana shipments), so this one is also called the Golden silk orb-weaver to distinguish them. This name is more related to the strength of its silk, which is stronger than steel based on tensile strength.

9. Great blue skimmer

With a total length of 5 - 6 cm, it is one of the largest skimmers. The immature forms of the skimmer are brown in color and mature forms are blue-hued.

10. Milkweed Assassin Bug

The milkweed Assassin Bug (Zelus longipes) targets all sorts of pests that affect crops, flowers, and grasses. And it was named milkweed assassin bug for its striking resemblance to the milkweed bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus). If you discover a milkweed Assassin Bug in your garden, be sure to leave it there as it is very beneficial for your plants!

11. Common Buckeye

The common Buckeye (Junonia coenia) has distinguishable target-shaped spots on its dark wings, along with patches of orange and white. It produces multiple generations each year as it migrates to sunny landscapes. When it flies, it moves rapidly in an irregular pattern, often low to the ground.

12. Twin-flagged jumping spider

As its name suggests, the tiny twin-flagged jumping spider can quickly jump long distances, which helps it catch its prey but might be startling to humans. This spider lives and hunts in wooded areas but can make its way close to human homes.

13. Yellow garden spider

The yellow garden spider (Argiope aurantia) is an arachnid that connects itself to its web to feel vibrations that signal to him prey has been caught. Its venom is harmless to humans but perfect for catching smaller insects that might cause harm to your garden. Yellow garden spiders web construction process includes bridge construction and scaffolding, making it among the more complicated web patterns.

14. Eastern Carpenter Bee

The eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica) is considered a pest and a benefit in the same body. It has earned its pest status from its ability to tunnel into human-made structures and weaken them. They can also stain their excrement on the building as they leave the tunnel. Their benefits as pollinators heavily outweigh any damage they do to structures.

15. Black Swallowtail

The black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) is one of the fastest swallowtails out there. With a lifespan that maxes out at 45 days, it has a limited amount of time to get a mate. As a result, courtship is only around forty seconds long. They can also put their abdomen at the top of their wings, keeping them warm during colder flights.

16. Long-tailed skipper

It is a showy butterfly, with wings of light brown tinted with iridescent blue, and two long tails extending from the hindwings. The robust body is light blue dorsally. It has a large head, prominent eyes, and a wingspan between 4.5 cm and 6 cm.

17. American bumble bee

The american bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus) used to be a prevalent bumblebee that lived in farmlands and enjoyed sunflowers. However, they are currently considered to be a vulnerable species given their population diminishing. They like hanging around their nests, but have been known to return from more than a mile away.

18. Red Imported Fire Ant

The red Imported Fire Ant( Solenopsis invicta ) is native to central South America. These aggressive ants can pose a serious threat to the health of humans, plants, and animals. The worker ants can sting their enemies repeatedly, unlike honeybee for once, and attack anything that disturbs them. In order to get honeydew easily, they farm aphids on plants, which are also harmful to plants. The red Imported Fire Ant cause billions of loss annually in the US.

19. Giant swallowtail

The giant swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) is a beautiful butterfly with black and yellow patterns on its wings. The adult butterflies sip nectar, but the larvae are considered a pest. The larvae are nicknamed "orangedogs" because they can cause damage to sweet oranges and other young plants.

20. Pearl crescent

The pearl crescent (Phyciodes tharos) is an orange butterfly that lives in open areas that are generally moist and sunny. These butterflies are attracted to puddles, and the males will often fight with other male butterflies that land near the same puddle. However, females are not as aggressive and prefer to stay in groups.

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