Animal Crossing: New Horizons Bugs — All bugs you can catch in September 2020

Animal Crossing New Horizons Monthly Bugs Hero
Animal Crossing New Horizons Monthly Bugs Hero (Image credit: iMore)

All you would-be entomologists and bug lovers rejoice! You get to waste away the hours in Animal Crossing: New Horizons looking for rare and valuable creepy crawlies. Since the kind of insects that appear in the game change with the passage of time, you're going to want to check back in frequently so you can catch everything you can before some creatures disappear for a few months.

To help you out, we've made a list of all of the Animal Crossing: New Horizons bugs you can catch this month along with lists showing which bugs will be coming and going from the game next month. Happy bug hunting! We also have a list of which fish you can catch this month.

Northern Hemisphere

Southern Hemisphere

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Bugs Northern Hemisphere

For anyone who has their Animal Crossing: New Horizons game playing in the Northern Hemisphere, here are the bugs you'll be able to encounter this month.

September bugs Northern Hemisphere

Animal Crossing Tarantula Island

Animal Crossing Tarantula Island (Image credit: iMore)
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NameBell PriceLocationSeasonalityActive Hours
Agrias Butterfly3,000 BellsFlying in the airApr-Sep8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Ant80 BellsOn rotten foodAll YearAll Day
Atlas Moth3,000 BellsOn tree trunksApr-Sep7 p.m. - 4 a.m.
Bagworm600 BellsFalls from shaken treesAll YearAll Day
Banded Dragonfly4,500 BellsFlying in the airMay-Oct8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Bell Cricket430 BellsOn the groundSep-Oct5 p.m. - 8 a.m.
Centipede300 BellsFound after hitting rocksSep-June4 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Citrus Long-Horned Beetle350 BellsOn tree stumpsAll YearAll Day
Cricket130 BellsOn the groundSep-Nov5 p.m. - 8 a.m.
Darner Dragonfly230 BellsFlying in the airApr-Oct8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Diving Beetle800 BellsPonds/RiversMay-Sep8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Earth-Boring Dung Beetle300 BellsOn the groundJul-SepAll Day
Emperor Butterfly4,000 BellsFlying in the airJune-Sep, Dec-Mar5 p.m. - 8 a.m.
Flea70 BellsOn villagersApr-NovAll Day
Fly80 BellsOn garbageAll YearAll Day
Giant Water Bug2,000 BellsPond/RiverApr-Sep7 p.m. - 8 a.m.
Goliath Beetle8,000 BellsOn tree trunksJune-SepAll Day
Grasshopper160 BellsOn the groundJuly-Sep8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Hermit Crab1,000 BellsAlong the beachAll Year7 p.m. - 8 a.m.
Long Locust200 BellsOn the groundApr-Nov8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Madagascan Sunset Moth2,500 BellsFlying in the airApr-Sep8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Man-Faced Stink Bug1,000 BellsOn flowersMar-Nov7 p.m. - 8 a.m.
Mantis430 BellsOn flowersMar-Nov8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Migratory Locust600 BellsOn groundAug-Nov8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Monarch Butterfly140 BellsFlying in the airSep-Nov4 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Mosquito130 BellsFlying in the airJune-Sep5 p.m. - 4 a.m.
Moth130 BellsFlying near lightAll Year7 p.m. - 4 a.m.
Orchid Mantis2,400 BellsOn white flowersMar-Nov8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Paper Kite Butterfly1,000 BellsFlying in the airAll Year8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Pill Bug250 BellsFound after hitting rocksSep-June11 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Pondskater130 BellsPondsMay-Sep8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Queen Alexandra's Birdwing4,000 BellsFlying in the airMay-Sep8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Rainbow Stag6,000 BellsOn tree trunksJune-Sep7 p.m. - 8 a.m.
Raja Brooke's Birdwing2,500 BellsFlying in the airApr-Sep, Dec- Feb8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Red Dragonfly180 BellsFlying in the airSep-Oct8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Rice Grasshopper160 BellsOn the groundAug-Nov8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Rosalia Batesi Beetle3,000 BellsOn tree stumpsMay-SepAll Day
Scorpion8,000 BellsOn the groundMay-Oct7 p.m. - 4 a.m.
Snail250 BellsOn rocks when rainingAll YearAll Day
Spider480 BellsDangle from shaken treesAll Year7 p.m. - 8 a.m.
Stinkbug120 BellsOn flowersMar-NovAll Day
Tiger Beetle1,500 BellsOn the groundFeb-NovAll Day
Tiger Butterfly240 BellsFlying in the airMar-Sep4 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Violin Beetle450 BellsOn tree stumpsMay-June, Sep-NovAll Day
Walker Cicada400 BellsOn tree trunksAug-Sep8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Walker Leaf600 BellsBelow trees disguised as leaf itemsJuly-AugAll Day
Walker Stick600 BellsFalls from shaken treesJuly-Nov4 a.m. - 8 a.m., 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Wasp2,500 BellsFalls from shaken treesAll YearAll Day
Warf Roach200 BellsOn rocks at the beachAll YearAll Day
Yellow Butterfly160 BellsFlying in the airMar-June, Sep-Oct4 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Bugs leaving at the end of September Northern Hemisphere

Swipe to scroll horizontally
NameBell PriceLocationSeasonalityActive Hours
Agrias Butterfly3,000 BellsFlying in the airApr-Sep8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Atlas Moth3,000 BellsOn tree trunksApr-Sep7 p.m. - 4 a.m.
Diving Beetle800 BellsPonds/RiversMay-Sep8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Earth-Boring Dung Beetle300 BellsOn the groundJul-SepAll Day
Emperor Butterfly4,000 BellsFlying in the airJune-Sep, Dec-Mar5 p.m. - 8 a.m.
Giant Water Bug2,000 BellsPond/RiverApr-Sep7 p.m. - 8 a.m.
Goliath Beetle8,000 BellsOn tree trunksJune-SepAll Day
Grasshopper160 BellsOn the groundJuly-Sep8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Madagascan Sunset Moth2,500 BellsFlying in the airApr-Sep8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Mosquito130 BellsFlying in the airJune-Sep5 p.m. - 4 a.m.
Pondskater130 BellsPondsMay-Sep8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Queen Alexandra's Birdwing4,000 BellsFlying in the airMay-Sep8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Rainbow Stag6,000 BellsOn tree trunksJune-Sep7 p.m. - 8 a.m.
Raja Brooke's Birdwing2,500 BellsFlying in the airApr-Sep, Dec- Feb8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Rosalia Batesi Beetle3,000 BellsOn tree stumpsMay-SepAll Day
Tiger Butterfly240 BellsFlying in the airMar-Sep4 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Walker Cicada400 BellsOn tree trunksAug-Sep8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Bugs coming next month in October Northern Hemisphere

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NameBell PriceLocationSeasonalityActive Hours
Ladybug200 BellsOn flowersMar-June, Oct8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Bugs Southern Hemisphere

For anyone who has their Animal Crossing: New Horizons game playing in the Southern Hemisphere, here are the bugs you'll be able to encounter this month.

September bugs Southern Hemisphere

Animal Crossing New Horizons Butterfly

Animal Crossing New Horizons Butterfly (Image credit: iMore)
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NameBell PriceLocationSeasonalityActive Hours
Ant80 BellsOn rotten foodAll YearAll Day
Bagworm600 BellsFalls from shaken treesAll YearAll Day
Centipede300 BellsFound after hitting rocksMar-Dec4 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Citrus Long-Horned Beetle350 BellsOn tree stumpsAll YearAll Day
Common Butterfly160 BellsFlying in the airMar-Dec4 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Emperor Butterfly4,000 BellsFlying in the airDec-Mar, June-Sep5 p.m. - 8 a.m.
Fly80 BellsOn garbageAll YearAll Day
Giant Water Bug2,000 BellsPond/RiverOct-Mar7 p.m. - 8 a.m.
Hermit Crab1,000 BellsAlong the beachAll Year7 p.m. - 8 a.m.
Ladybug200 BellsOn flowersSep-Dec, Apr8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Man-Faced Stink Bug1,000 BellsOn flowersSep-May7 p.m. - 8 a.m.
Mantis430 BellsOn flowersSep-May8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Moth130 BellsFlying near lightAll Year7 p.m. - 4 a.m.
Orchid Mantis2,400 BellsOn white flowersSep-May8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Paper Kite Butterfly1,000 BellsFlying in the airAll Year8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Peacock Butterfly2,500 BellsFlying in the airSep-Dec4 a.m.-7 p.m.
Pill Bug250 BellsFound after hitting rocksMar-Dec11 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Snail250 BellsOn rocks when rainingAll YearAll Day
Spider480 BellsDangle from shaken treesAll Year7 p.m. - 8 a.m.
Stinkbug120 BellsOn flowersSep-MayAll Day
Tiger Beetle1,500 BellsOn the groundAug-MayAll Day
Tiger Butterfly240 BellsFlying in the airSep-Mar4 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Wasp2,500 BellsFalls from shaken treesAll YearAll Day
Warf Roach200 BellsOn rocks at the beachAll YearAll Day
Yellow Butterfly160 BellsFlying in the airMar-Apr, Sep-Dec4 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Bugs leaving at the end of September Southern Hemisphere

Swipe to scroll horizontally
NameBell PriceLocationSeasonalityActive Hours
Emperor Butterfly4,000 BellsFlying in the airDec-Mar, June-Sep5 p.m. - 8 a.m.

Bugs coming next month in October Southern Hemisphere

Swipe to scroll horizontally
NameBell PriceLocationSeasonalityActive Hours
Atlas Moth3,000 BellsOn tree trunksOct-Mar7 p.m. - 4 a.m.
Darner Dragonfly230 BellsFlying in the airOct-Apr8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Flea70 BellsOn villagersOct-MayAll Day
Giant Water Bug2,000 BellsPond/RiverOct-Mar7 p.m. - 8 a.m.
Jewel Beetle2,400 BellsOn treesOct-FebAll Day
Madagascan Sunset Moth2,500 BellsFlying in the airOct-Mar8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Swing that net

Now that you know which bugs are going to be here this month, along with which ones will be coming and going next month, you can really start focusing in on the ones you want to catch. We'll be updating this list to make sure it's helpful for the coming months. Good luck on your bug hunt! I hope you're able to catch all of the rarest and most valuable bugs out there.

Rebecca Spear
Gaming Editor

Gaming aficionado Rebecca Spear is iMore's dedicated gaming editor with a focus on Nintendo Switch and iOS gaming. You’ll never catch her without her Switch or her iPad Air handy. If you’ve got a question about Pokémon, The Legend of Zelda, or just about any other Nintendo series check out her guides to help you out. Rebecca has written thousands of articles in the last six years including hundreds of extensive gaming guides, previews, and reviews for both Switch and Apple Arcade. She also loves checking out new gaming accessories like iPhone controllers and has her ear to the ground when it comes to covering the next big trend.