Within the insect kingdom, different types of blue bugs display an amazing variety of colors and adaptations. The iridescent blues of butterflies and the sparkling metallic blues of orchard bees attract us with their amazing colors and varied habitats.
Let’s investigate the fascinating world of blue insects through the article below.
Different Types of Blue Bugs
Emerald Cockroach Wasp
The emerald-blue and blue-dominated look of the Emerald Cockroach Wasp (Ampulex compressa) is remarkable. In contrast, their legs have red parts that accentuate the shiny colors. All over their bodies are short white hairs.
These wasps are native to Asia and live only a few months. They get their name from the fact that they eat cockroaches, which they paralyze and sting for their larvae. Though smaller, they overwhelm larger roaches, chewing off their antennae to immobilize them before returning them to their nests to feed the larvae.
Currant Orchard Bee
The Current Orchard Bee (Osmia ribifloris) has an emerald-like blue-green color. It pollinates gardens and crops with diligence and is common in Western US states. Notably, it is favorable to plants such as cranberries, blueberries, and manzanitas.
It favors shorter plants and shrubs because of its low flying path. It’s highly sought after and sold in specialty stores because of its aptitude for blueberry pollination.
Blue Orchard Bee
The blue colors of the Blue Orchard Bee (Osmia lignaria) range from metallic blue to blue-purple and even blue-to-green. Their shiny colors are best seen in full sunlight.
These bees create mud nests for their young, with metallic green tips and purple-tinted abdomens. Feminine constructors are skilled at building nests and would rather make new ones than use old ones again. They are commercially available and well-known for their ability to pollinate.
Condylostylus Mundus
The uncommon bee Condylostylus Mundus has mostly blue colors. Its abdomen and thorax are colored in shades of bright and dark blue, with the thorax having brighter tones. The thorax has a bright metallic blue color, and the abdomen also has a metallic sheen. Their eyes are even a deep blue color.
Rather than having blue tones like males do, females are glossy green in color. This species, which is mostly found in the Southern US states, is more common in Central America than it is in North America.
Shiny Blue Bottle Fly
In North America, the Shiny Blue Bottle Fly (Cynomya cadaverina) is common in the spring and fall, hiding during the latter season. Their wings are transparent, and they have a black body with a prominent blue-green tint.
They are usually found in or around dung and carrion, but they can also be found in woodlands, orchards, and gardens. Although they reach Texas, they are more common in the northern US states and Canada.
Blue Blowfly
The unique dark blue hue of the Blue Blowfly (Calliphora vicina) is complemented with black undersides. They lay their eggs on decomposing carcasses, which helps forensic scientists determine the time of death. They are frequently seen close to carrion and corpses.
These brown-eyed insects help with pollination by feeding on pollen. Even if they don’t really lay eggs on plants, they can nevertheless spread bacteria to both humans and other plants.
Blue-Green Bottle Fly
The dorsal skin of the Blue-Green Bottle Fly (Lucilia coeruleiviridis) shimmers and blends glittering blue and green colors. They are smaller than blue blowflies, but they have comparable carrion-egg-laying and eating habits.
Up to adulthood, their larvae consume corpses as food. In the absence of carrion, adults may also eat pollen and nectar from scented plants. They may mate on a variety of surfaces, including plants, but they lay their eggs on carrion.
Blue Dasher
Like many other dragonflies, the blue dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) has pronounced sexual dimorphism. While females are mostly yellow and black with huge brown eyes, males are predominantly blue with accents of black and white. Transparent wings with black veins are shared by both sexes.
These dragonflies are drawn to areas with bodies of water, such as ponds and streams, in order to reproduce and hunt.
Ebony Jewelwing
The body color of Ebony Jewelwings (Calopteryx maculata), which are similar to dragonflies, is a consistent metallic blue. They have a uniform appearance since they do not have black segment edges like dragonflies do. The color of men and females may differ slightly, with females occasionally having a deeper shade of brown or blue.
They are found close to water supplies and feed on mosquitoes and other small insects, although they can also live without water.
Familiar Bluet
The vivid blue color and black segment margins of male Familiar Bluets (Enallagma civile) are their distinguishing features. They have similar patterns of black and blue on their head and thorax. Blue eyes can be either brilliant or dark in men. Conversely, deeper tones, primarily dominated by brown hues, are seen in females.
They make a heart-shaped formation in the air while mating, and occasionally pairs will continue to fly during the process.
Blue-Fronted Dancer
Black segment edges define the striking blue color that male Blue-Fronted Dancers (Argia apicalis) have on their bodies. Though it’s less noticeable than in men, girls can have blue coloration at specific periods. They have mostly gray, brown, or black bodies, with a blue thorax that changes to a different hue.
Usually seen in the later part of summer, these damselflies hover slightly above the water in search of food and potential partners. They roam widely, from Canada to the southern US (not including California), where they live in small groups in a variety of environments.
Polka-Dot Wasp Moths
Dot-Pink Spotted wasp moths (Syntomeida epilais) are common in tropical and subtropical areas and can be easily identified. Their coloring is primarily dark, with black and navy blue tones that are emphasized by white spots and an orange-red tip on the abdomen.
They are mostly found in the Americas, which includes Florida. Depending on the life stage and location, their wings can be lustrous dark blue or black.
Nine-Spotted Moths
Mature Nine-Spotted Moths (Amata phegea) are darkly spotted, a dramatic change from their fuzzy gray and black larval state. They are named for the characteristic white dots on them; the colors are either black and blue or black and green.
They are primarily found in Europe and Asia, and they may have black outer wings and vivid or dark blue inner wings. They can also have vivid or dark blue coloring on their bodies, with extra black portions that are emphasized by a band of yellow on their abdomens.
They are frequently seen, emerging in August and drawn to common plant hosts like plantains.
Western Grapeleaf Skeletonizer Moth
The body and wings of the Western Grapeleaf Skeletonizer Moth (Harrisina metallica) are colored a dark blue color that gives it a black look. Their adults directly target grapes, while their larvae harm grapevines, making them pests.
They are especially common in Southern and Southwestern US states, such as Texas and California, and their effects must be carefully managed to be lessened.
Red-Spotted Admiral
Both the dorsal and ventral wings of Red-Spotted Admirals (Limenitis arthemis) are strikingly blue in color. Their ventral wings are bright blue in color, while their dorsal wings are dark blue or black with bright blue hindwings.
Known for the mottled patches on the edges of their wings, they have unusual mating habits, with the males actively looking for places with many of females to increase the chances of a successful mating pair.
Holly Blue
One of the first springtime butterflies, the Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus), has vivid blue wings on both the dorsal and ventral surfaces. The dorsal wings are bright blue with black borders, and the ventral wings are mostly white with some gray and blue undertones and black dots for contrast.
They are salmon-pink while they are caterpillars and become bright blue-winged when they are adults.
Long-Tailed Skipper
The Long-Tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus), found in both tropical and temperate climates, demonstrates remarkable adaptability. Sporting an iridescent blue body, central wings, and a long blue tail, it stands out in its habitat.
Despite its captivating appearance, it’s considered a pest as its caterpillars feed on beans and leaves.
Blue-Green Sharpshooter
Graphocephala atropunctata, also known as the Blue-green Sharpshooter, is a stunning insect found in the United States that varies in color from blue to yellow depending on its habitat.
Mostly found in Southern California’s riparian areas, the blue morph has vivid blue tones with white markings on its head and yellow accents behind. Both the blue and green variants have the same black wing veins.
Broad-Headed Sharpshooter
The Eastern United States is home to the Broad-headed Sharpshooter (Oncometopia orbona), which is infamous for its effects on grapevines. It mostly affects wild grapevines, but because of bacterial spread, it is dangerous.
Sharpshooters come in a variety of colors, but the blue morph stands out due to its vivid colors and striking black veins. Their characteristic yellow heads are decorated with patterns ranging from dark blue to black, partially brown and yellow eyes, and bright yellow ventral pigmentation.
Florida Predatory Stink Bug
Particularly in its nymphal stages, the Florida Predatory Stink Bug (Euthyrhynchus floridanus) displays a variety of blue hues, including metallic undertones. Only found in Florida, these insects improve ecosystems by feeding on tiny insects that damage vegetation.
Alfalfa weevils and walnut caterpillars are among their food sources. Despite having a restricted area and population, their predatory behavior helps reduce pests.
Blue Shield Bug
The metallic blue color and shield-like shape of the Blue Shield Bug (Zicrona caerulea) give them their name. Adults have vivid blue tones, whereas nymphs are black and red.
They are up to 0.3 inches long and help reduce pests by feeding on insects that eat on leaves, such as caterpillars. Usually found in grassland, wooded settings with sparse vegetation.
Red-Bordered Stink Bug
The body and legs of the Red-Bordered Stink Bug (Edessa rufomarginata) are characterized by their reddish-brown borders, which stand out against the blue wings and head. Its wings are particularly striking, with a shimmering turquoise color and black points that draw the eye in.
This species, native to Central America, can grow up to 0.5 inches in length and has cream-to-white underbellies. It is occasionally sighted in the Southern US. It is dangerous for crops, especially potatoes and tobacco.
Metallic Blue Ladybug
Curinus coeruleus, sometimes known as the Metallic Blue Ladybug, is identified by its round form and dark blue metallic color. With three pairs of legs, they can move quickly both on land and in the air.
Preying on dangerous insects like psyllids that are present on crops and tree leaves, they are active almost all year round and are essential to the management of pests. On host plants, they deposit yellow eggs without causing any damage.
Blue Fungus Beetle
Cypherotylus californicus, sometimes known as the Blue Fungus Beetle, is distinguished by its primarily blue wings and black head that is speckled with more black dots. They grow to a maximum size of around 1 inch, feeding on plant nectar and cork fungus.
They can be found around houses, in gardens, and in old forests. They are drawn to decaying wood because it provides a rich environment for fungi to grow.
Cobalt Milkweed Beetle
The remarkable cobalt blue coloring of the Cobalt Milkweed Beetle (Chrysochus cobaltinus) gives it its name. It doesn’t really threaten anything because it mostly feeds on different varieties of milkweed, which includes leaves and blossoms. On occasion, though, it may eat other plants and establish there during epidemics.
It is found all throughout North and Central America, but it is most abundant west of the Rocky Mountains, in Western Canada and some areas of the United States.
Desert Ironclad Beetle
The legs, cephalothorax, and abdomen of the Desert Ironclad Beetle (Asbolus verrucosus) are all the same shade of vivid blue or blue-gray. Its body is decorated with large markings on the cephalothorax and fine stripes and dots on the abdomen, both of which are dark blue or black.
0.8 inches in length, it is coveted in captivity for its unusual qualities, which include the ability to act dead. It is found in the Western and Southwestern US.
Willow Leaf Beetle
The coloring of Willow Leaf Beetles (Plagiodera versicolora) ranges from dark blue to black and has a subtle metallic sheen. The uniform look of these beetles is well-known, and their primary food source is the leaves of willow and trees.
They are usually found in riparian environments, where they spend the winter hiding beneath tree bark and come out in the spring and summer to feast on young leaves. Unchecked populations can be dangerous to foliage even though birds eat them.
Flower Lebia Beetle
Flower Lebia Beetles (Lebia viridis) have a glossy look and a unique blue-green color with dark undertones. Their dorsum sides shine lustrous blue, while their core body sections have mild green tones. The elytra and cephalothorax are blue-green in color, whilst the legs and antennae are black.
They graze on flowers, especially those in the sunflower family, and have silvery-gray eyes. These are common diurnal insects that feed on flowers in gardens.
Thomas’s Two-Striped Grasshopper
The Central American native Thomas’s Two-Striped Grasshopper (Melanoplus thomasi) is emerald-blue in color. They are multicolored and can reach many inches in length.
Their bodies, heads, and front legs are blue, and their hind legs are orange-red. Their wings are gray-brown and somewhat translucent. Females may have bright gray, white, or blue-marked hind legs, and huge black eyes.
Blue Ant
Diamma bicolor, or blue ants, resemble real ants with their dark blue-green color and scarlet legs. In actuality, they’re wasps using mimicry to avoid predators, despite their moniker. Without wings, they mimic the behaviors and living arrangements of earth ants.
Known for their excruciating sting, blue ants’ venom can have serious side effects that occasionally necessitate hospitalization.
Nearctic Blue Mud-Dauber Wasp
The Nearctic Blue Mud-Dauber Wasp (Chalybion californicum) is a strong predator with a unique dark blue coloration throughout its abdomen and thorax. They have lengthy black wings and are skilled walkers as well as pilots. They are infamous for catching Black Widow spiders as prey in order to feed their young.
These crafty wasps are also renowned for breaking into other wasps’ nests, taking the eggs that are already there and substituting them with their own, and feeding their hatchling larvae paralyzed spiders. They stand out among other insects due to their vivid blue coloring.
Steel-Blue Cricket-Hunter Wasp
The shiny blue color of Steel-Blue Cricket-Hunter Wasps (Chlorion aerarium), one of the several blue wasp species found in North and Central America, sets them apart from the others.
They have a uniform coloring and are skilled at immobilizing prey, such as spiders, in order to feed their young. These wasps live alongside cicada killers, frequently using each other’s nests to lay their eggs.
They are also expert cricket hunters, usually congregating in regions where their prey is found. They are predators, although they don’t really threaten people; their main food source is plant nectar.
Metallic Bluish-Green Cuckoo Wasp
The metallic blue-green hue of the Metallic Bluish-Green Cuckoo Wasp (Chrysis angolensis) sets it apart. These wasps, which are primarily seen in females, have distinctive protective habits, like curling up when threatened, and they have consistent coloring and conspicuous black compound eyes.
They were unintentionally brought to other areas, such as North America, where they have a negative effect by using other species’ nests.
