Insecta is the largest class in the entire animal kingdom, with approximately 30 recognized orders and nearly 1 million described species. Scientists estimate there may be as many as 10 million insect species on Earth.
Take a look at a few that have caught my eye recently:
Click on the images for tags and identifications!
Hymenoptera (Bees, Wasps, & Ants)
Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Months )
Odonata (Dragonflies, Damselflies)
Orthoptera (Grasshopers, Crickets, and Katydids)
Phasmida (Stick Bugs, Timema’s)
Nyctoporis carinata (Flightless Darking Beetle)
CA: Sta Barbara Co
Sedgwick Reserve
20 May 2025
B. Ryan
Temnoscheila chlorodia (Pine Trogossitid Beetle)
CA: Sta Barbara Co
Sedgwick Reserve
29 May 2025
B. Ryan
Polyphylla decemlineata (Ten-lined June Beeetle)
CA: Sta Barbara Co
UCSB
17 September 2024
B. Ryan
Polyphylla decemlineata (Ten-lined June Beeetle)
CA: Sta Barbara Co
UCSB
17 September 2024
B. Ryan
Chrysochus cobaltinus (Cobalt Milkweed Beetle)
CA: Sta Barbara Co
Sedgwick Reserve
9 July 2025
B. Ryan
Trirhabda eriodictyonis (Yerba Santa Beetle)
CA: Sta Barbara Co
Gibraltar Rd
22 May 2025
B. Ryan
Lycorma delicatula (Spotted Laternfly)
PA: Allegheny Co
Three Rivers Heritage Trail
9 July 2024
B. Ryan
Homalodiscus vitripennis (Glassy-winged Sharpshooter)
CA: Sta Barbara Co
Goleta
17 July 2024
B. Ryan
Oncopeltus fasciatus (Large Mikweed Bug)
CA: Sta Barbara Co
Sedgwick Reserve
16 July 2025
B. Ryan
Genus Apis (Honey Bees)
CA: Sta Barbara Co
Foothill Rd. Carpinteria
30 January 2025
B. Ryan
Dasymutilla aureola (Pacific Velvet Ant)
CA: Monterey Co
Carmel Valley
20 April 2025
B. Ryan
Xylocopa sonorina (Valley Carpenter Bee)
CA: Sta Barbara Co
Garden St
1 June 2025
A. Aceves
Family Pompillidae (Tarantula Hawk Wasp)
CA: Sta Barbara Co
Sedgwick Reserve
17 July 2025
B. Ryan
Ochlodes syvanoides (Woodland Skipper)
CA: Sta Barbara
UCSB
29 July 2025
B. Ryan
Argynnis callippe ssp. comstocki (Comstock’s Fritillary)
CA: Sta Barbara Co
Sedgwick reserve
29 May 2025
B. Ryan
Family Nortontidae (Prominent Moths)
CA: Sta Barbara Co
Sedgwick Reserve
20 May 2025
B. Ryan
Coenonympha california (Common Ringlet)
CA: Sta Barbara Co
Sedgwick Reserve
9 July 2025
B. Ryan
Mantis religiosa (European Mantis)
CA: Sta Barbara Co
Sedgwick Reserve
12 August 2025
B. Ryan
Mantis religiosa (European Mantis)
CA: Sta Barbara Co
Sedgwick Reserve
12 August 2025
B. Ryan
Paltothemis lineatipes (Red Rock Skimmer)
CA: Sta Barbara Co
Los Padres National Forest
25 August, 2024
Beautifully photographed by the talented Annaly Aceves
Rhionaeschna multicolor (Blue-eyed darner)
CA: Sta Barbara Co
Goleta
27 May 2025
B. Ryan
hetaerina americana (American Rubyspot)
CA: Sta Barbara Co
Refugio Rd.
7 May 2025
B. Ryan
Trimerotropis fontana (Fontana Grasshoper)
CA: Tulare County
Kings Canyon
29 July 2025
B. Ryan
Family Tettigonidae (Katydid)
CA: Sta Barbara Co
Goleta
27 May 2025
B. Ryan
Family Tettigonidae (Katydid)
CA: Sta Barbara Co
Goleta
9 July 2025
B. Ryan
Family Acrididae (Grasshopper)
CA: Sta Barbara Co
Sedgwick reserve
20 May 2025
B. Ryan
Family Acrididae (Grasshopper)
CA: Sta Barbara Co
Sedgwick reserve
20 May 2025
B. Ryan
Timema cristinae (Christinas Timema)
CA: Sta Barbara Co
Gibraltar Rd
22 May 2025
B. Ryan
Timema cristinae (Christinas Timema)
CA: Sta Barbara Co
Gibraltar Rd
22 May 2025
B. Ryan
