e-ReferenceDesk's College and 50 State Learning Resource Guide

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State Insects and Butterflies

State Symbols

Find information on the official State Insects and Butterflies of each of the states that have adopted one.

US Official State Insects

History of the Adoptions of the State Insect and Butterfly

Find images, descriptions, taxonomic hierarchy, and a history of the insect and butterfly representing the symbols for each of the 50 states. Lists their basic characteristics, including history, description, and characteristics. Access almanac; sections on the that list facts such as symbols, including the insect, butterfly, flower, tree, bird, animal, symbol, flag, and capital.

State Insects

Many states have selected insects as one of their state symbols, however nine states (out of 50) have no official state insect as of 2008 .

in·sect (in′sekt′)
noun

1. any of a large class (Insecta) of small arthropod animals characterized, in the adult state, by division of the body into head, thorax, and abdomen, three pairs of legs on the thorax, and, usually, two pairs of membranous wings, including beetles, bees, flies, wasps, and mosquitoes
2. popularly any small arthropod, usually wingless, including spiders, centipedes, pill bugs, and mites

but·ter·fly (-flī′)
noun pl. -·flies′

1. any of various families of lepidopteran insects active in the daytime, having a sucking mouthpart, slender body, ropelike, knobbed antennae, and four broad, usually brightly colored, membranous wings