39 Types of Blue Bugs You May See (With Pictures)

Blue is an eye-catching color in nature. When it comes to bugs, blue can take many forms – from the bright blue wings of a butterfly to the metallic sheen of a beetle. Blue bugs display an amazing diversity, so let’s take a look at 39 types you may encounter, some of which can even fly!

1. Blue Dasher Dragonfly

The male Blue Dasher dragonfly has vivid blue colors on its body, paired with black and white accents. Females are mostly yellow and black instead. Both sexes have transparent wings with black veins. These dragonflies live around ponds and streams where they hunt and reproduce.

2. Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly

The Ebony Jewelwing gets its name from its glossy metallic blue body. Unlike dragonflies they lack black wing borders and have a uniform blue appearance. They are drawn to water but can also thrive away from it while feeding on mosquitoes and other small insects.

3. Familiar Bluet Damselfly

Males have bright blue bodies with black segment edges and blue or dark blue eyes. Females are mainly brown. Familiar Bluets form heart shapes when mating, sometimes even continuing to fly paired. They are seen near calm waters.

4. Blue-Fronted Dancer Damselfly

Another blue damselfly species, male Blue-Fronted Dancers display vivid blue hues bordered by black. Females can also exhibit temporary blue coloration. They hover and fly low searching for food and mates by ponds and streams in summer.

5. Blue-Green Sharpshooter

Sharpshooters demonstrate color variations based on location. The blue morph has bright blue tones, white head dots, and yellow accents. They live in Southern California riparian zones but all have signature black wing veins.

6. Broad-Headed Sharpshooter

Also called the blue-green sharpshooter, this species has metallic bright blue and bold black patterning. Their yellow heads and harmful bacteria make them risky grapevine pests in Eastern states. Monitoring populations is key.

7. Blue-Green Bottle Fly

These flies have a blue-green sheen on their backs contrasted by transparent wings. They behave similarly to blowflies, laying eggs on carcasses for larvae and occasionally feeding on flower nectar. Control measures can limit populations.

8. Blue Blowfly

Blue Blowflies are used in forensics thanks to their egg-laying habits on corpses. Their dark blue bodies and brown eyes make them stand out. They can spread bacteria but also assist with pollination through feeding on pollen.

9. Blue-Green June Beetle

This scarab beetle has vibrant light blue wing covers. Their larvae feed on plant roots while adults eat fruits and foliage at night. High populations of Blue-Green June Beetles can damage turfgrass and landscape plants significantly.

10. Green June Beetle

Despite its name, the Green June Beetle can display blue, green, or even tan hues. Like its relative, thick C-shaped grubs in the soil prey on roots before developing into noisy, clumsy beetles that swarm lawns and trees.

11. Figeater Beetle

Male Figeater Beetles exhibit shiny metallic green wings while females appear in stunning gold. Larvae munch on compost and roots below ground. Adults often congregate on trees, feeding on fruit juices. Monitor for heavy infestations.

12. Japanese Beetle

Japanese Beetles are invasive pests known for attacking over 400 plant species. They have metallic blue-green wing covers and white dots along their sides. Controlling grub populations and using traps for adults is recommended to reduce damage.

13. Emerald Ash Borer

This exotic beetle has caused widespread ash tree deaths since its accidental introduction. Their larvae bore inside trees while adults feed on leaves and bark. Look for their metallic green wings and long, narrow bodies around weakened ash trees.

14. Grapevine Beetle

The Grapevine Beetle is a well-camouflaged species that blends into vine bark with its mottled brown, grey, and blue colors. Their grubs feed heavily on grape roots, significantly damaging yields. Monitor young vineyards for signs of infestation.

15. Twelve-Spotted Skimmer Dragonfly

Males display vivid blue abdomens decorated with black spots while females adopt yellow and brown hues instead. They are strong fliers active during the day, frequently seen patrolling for insect prey near water.

16. Blue Corporal Dragonfly

These small dragonflies are aptly named for their blue coloration. Males have blue abdomens and thoraxes marked by black stripes while females are tan and brown. Look for them patrolling ponds and wetlands, darting after mosquitoes and flies.

17. Blue-Eyed Darner Dragonfly

The striking blue eyes of the aptly named Blue-Eyed Darner give it a distinct appearance. Males have sky blue abdomens while females are yellowish. They migrate long distances, following waterways on their journey.

18. Common Green Darner Dragonfly

Common Green Darners are large, strong fliers with green-blue hues. Females are duller with brown accents. They hunt on the wing, migrating south in late summer and fall. These dragonflies even fly all the way to Panama for winter!

19. Wandering Glider Dragonfly

Males display powder blue and black coloration on their abdomens. Females have yellow markings instead. One of the migratory dragonfly species, they travel south in swarms from late summer through fall.

20. Blue-Spotted Salamander

These small woodland salamanders have bluish-black skin with light blue speckles. Look carefully under logs and leaf litter near vernal pools and woodland swamps to spot these shy creatures. They breed in temporary wetlands.

21. Eastern Newt

During its red eft juvenile stage, the Eastern Newt sports bright orange skin. But as an adult, it develops an olive green back with an underside dotted in blue, black, and silver speckles. This widespread species favors humid forests.

22. Blue Ghost Firefly

While most fireflies glow yellow-green, the Blue Ghost Firefly is aptly named for its uniquely blue flash. Look for these rare nighttime sparks in the Appalachian Mountains, where they inhabit forests alongside streams.

23. Blue Morpho Butterfly

Native to Central and South America, the Blue Morpho Butterfly has brilliant blue wings that reflect light, allowing it to flash as it flies. Despite the bright blue topsides, their undersides are a dull brown that provides camouflage at rest.

24. Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly

The luminous blue-green wings of the male Pipevine Swallowtail contrast with the black wings of females. Caterpillars feed exclusively on pipevine plants, concentrating toxins from the host plant to deter predators.

25. Cattleheart Butterfly

This striking tropical species displays vivid electric blue wings when open. The Cattleheart Butterfly feeds on rotting fruit and even carrion. Both larvae and adults are toxic, providing defense from predators.

26. Glorious Forest Blue Butterfly

One of many blue butterflies found in Asia, the male Glorious Forest Blue has deep electric blue wings, while females are more brown. Their caterpillars feed on vines before metamorphosing into these jeweled creatures.

27. Silver-Studded Blue Butterfly

Males live up to their name with bright blue wings flecked with black spots along the margins. Meanwhile, females have brown wings with an orange, spotty pattern. Look for them in fields and grasslands where host plants grow.

28. Eastern Tailed Blue Butterfly

The Eastern Tailed Blue exhibits sexual dimorphism with the male’s vivid blue upperside wings contrasted by the female’s brown wings with blue at the bases. The gray undersides provide camouflage when roosting in vegetation.

29. Karner Blue Butterfly

The Karner Blue is listed federally endangered due to habitat loss. Males have silvery blue wings while females are dark gray-brown above. They rely exclusively on wild lupines which must be abundant in order to rebound.

30. Green Darner Dragonfly

This common, migrating dragonfly has a green head and thorax paired with a blue abdomen. Females are similar with duller brown hues on their abdomens. They hunt on the wing,consume mosquitoes, flies, and other insects.

31. Blue-ringed Octopus

Despite its small size, the vivid blue rings and yellowish skin of this octopus warn of its extremely venomous bite. This nocturnal species spends days tucked away in Pacific Ocean coral crevices.

32. Blue Tang Surgeonfish

The bright royal blue body of the regal tang provides camouflage against the blue shades of the ocean. Juveniles have a bold yellow tail and pectoral fins. Blue tangs school in coral reefs around the Indo-Pacific.

33. Blue Goby

Reaching just 2 inches long, the vivid sapphire and blue striped Blue Goby darts along rocky and weedy seafloors of the Mediterranean Sea. They feed on small crustaceans and worms. T

34. Blue-ringed Angelfish

Juvenile Blue-ringed Angelfish display electric neon blue rings on their otherwise yellow bodies. As adults, they develop into gracefully swimming fish with yellow and blue stripes. They inhabit tropical reefs in the Atlantic.

35. Neon Blue Goby

At just one inch long, the Neon Blue Goby lives up to its name with an electric blue front half that abruptly transitions to a black rear. They clean parasites from sluggish sharks and rays on coral reefs.

36. Blue Catfish

The Blue Catfish is named for its blue-gray colors along its back and sides. Some reach enormous sizes over 100 pounds! They populate large freshwater rivers and streams across central North America.

37. Blue Iguana

With gray to turquoise skin, juveniles start green before becoming blue. Native to the Caribbean island of Grand Cayman, these endangered lizards were nearly extinct before intensive conservation efforts.

38. Blue Racer Snake

Blue Racer Snakes exhibit grayish blue skin with black blotches along their backs. They move quickly when disturbed, stopping occasionally to check for predators. These harmless snakes consume insects, spiders and mice.

39. Blue-Spotted Tree Monitor

A green tree monitor with electric blue spots scattered along its back, this monitor inhabits tropical forests in New Guinea. Adept climbers, they forage in trees and bushes but will descend to drink and regulate temperature.