These national parks have some beautiful bugs—see for yourself

National Geographic Logo - HomeSKIP TO CONTENT

olatunbosun
SUBSCRIBE

TRAVEL
These national parks have some beautiful bugs—see for yourself
From smiley spiders in Hawaiʻi to water-repelling flies in Utah, these incredible insects are worth the trip.

Eastern firefly flying
An eastern firefly zooms through the air. There are over 177 species of the glowing insects in the United States. National parks in the southern part of the country, includi...Read More
PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN ABBOTT/NATURE PICTURE LIBRARY
ByJason Bittel
January 22, 2024




When people plan trips to national parks and protected areas across the United States, they hope to see the wolves of Yellowstone or the alligators of the Everglades. But talk to any bug scientist, and they'll tell you that the best things come in small packages.


Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is famous for its diverse selection of brilliantly colored birds, says Kylle Roy, an entomologist working for the U.S. Forest Service. "But we also have a lot of really cool arthropods!"


In Hawai'i and other destinations around the U.S., little things rule. Here's where to go to see these captivating critters. You can also tune in to National Geographic's new series, A Real Bug's Life, which begins streaming January 24 on Disney+