Insects in Spanish: 70+ Words to Buzz up Your Vocabulary
Do you know that the first insects lived over 400 million years ago? That’s 400 millones de años (400 million years) in Spanish! That’s amazing, isn’t it—in either language!
Considering they’ve been around a whole lot longer than we have, it’s safe to say that los insectos (insects) are a fact of life!
They’re so interesting that a Spanish-language chat about nature and bugs could go on for hours. That is, if you have the correct bug terminology!
You’ll need to know insect names, a few specific habitats and even what some of them do.
And believe it or not, being able to chat about whether something crawls or flies or lives in a cocoon or hive can prove beneficial.
Studying insects can be a very rewarding experience. Learning some colorful and interesting Spanish bug vocabulary might not be enough to cover every kind of crawling, creeping and flying insect imaginable—but it’ll give you a head start on learning more and discussing a lot about this intriguing topic.
By the end of this post, you’ll be able to chat confidently about insects. And maybe you’ll even be able to recommend one or two for dinner in certain Latin American countries.
They may be on the menu in beautiful Mexico, too!
Let’s check out the need-to-know bug words so you’ll be prepared to chat like a Spanish local!
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Tips for Learning About Insects in Spanish
Go Outdoors!
Bugs live outdoors.
So plan an interesting adventure, put your hiking boots on and head out into their habitat. Take a camera, drawing supplies or vocabulary list so you can identify, draw or grab a selfie with what you see.
Picture Insect is a cool app that allows users to take a photo of an interesting insect to get all of its details, plus detailed descriptions and classifications! A version is also available for Android users, so everyone can get in on the fun!
Use your interesting vocabulary to chat about insects—even if you’re hiking on your own.
Practice speaking the names of the insects you encounter. Talk about their homes and what they’re doing.
All this extra speaking practice can only help your overall Spanish language fluency, so chat it up whenever and wherever you can!
Find Others Who Share a Love of Nature
Check out insect-related programs at clubs, universities and libraries in your area. If you’re interested in insects, there’s a good chance that others are, too.
After all, there’s a ton of information to share regarding a species that’s millions of years old!
Learning about insects is so much fun that many places offer programs about insects or courses about their habitats and traits.
In my local library, there was a series last year that showcased local insect life. Even during the seasons when insects aren’t prevalent outdoors, some local centers may hold learning activities in preparation for warmer months—a.k.a the bigger insect season!
Check the message boards in recreation centers and even your local grocery store.
And if you don’t find a group to join to discuss nature in Spanish, maybe consider posting your own notice.
Meet in a public place, introduce yourself in Spanish and chat about bees, crickets and all kinds of insects! For example, in some areas, it’s typical to hold seminars about bees during the winter so everyone’s prepared to welcome them in the spring.
Insects in Spanish: 70+ Words to Buzz up Your Vocabulary
Types of Flying Insects in Spanish
Un mosquito (Mosquito)
Una efímera (Mayfly)
Una polilla (Moth)
Una libélula (Dragonfly)
Una mariposa (Butterfly)
Una mariquita (Ladybug)
Un tábano (Horsefly)
Una luciérnaga (Firefly)
Una mosca (Fly)
Una mosca de la fruta (Fruitfly)
Una crisopa (Lacewing)
Un jején (Gnat)
Species of Creepy Crawlers in Spanish
Una langosta (Locust)
Una garrapata (Tick)
Una chinche (Bedbug)
Un escarabajo (Beetle)
Un escarabajo japonés (Japanese beetle)
Piojos (Lice)
Un escarabajo pelotero (Dung beetle)
Una termita (Termite)
Una cucaracha (Cockroach)
Una tijereta (Earwig)
Un saltamontes (Grasshopper)
Un ácaro (Mite)
Una larva (Grub)
Una mantis religiosa (Praying mantis)
Una hormiga (Ant)
Una hormiga de fuego (Fireant)
Un grillo (Cricket)
Un ciempiés (Centipede)
Una cigarra (Cicada)
Un pulgón (Aphid)
Una pulga (Flea)
Un gusano (Worm)
Una lombriz de tierra (Earthworm)
Una gusano de seda (Silkworm)
Una babosa (Slug)
Un caracol (Snail)
Una oruga (Caterpillar)
Una avispa (Wasp)
Una abeja (Bee)
Un avispón (Hornet)
Insect-related Words in Spanish
El capullo (Cocoon)
Picadura (Sting)
Mordedura (Bite)
Gatear (Crawl)
Volar (Fly)
Un nido (Nest)
Una crisálida (Chrysalis)
Un hormiguero (Anthill)
Un enjambre (Swarm)
Una colonia (Colony)
Una horda (Horde)
Huevo (Egg)
Larvas (Larvae)
Una pupa (Pupa)
Metamorfosis (Metamorphosis)
Ciclo vital (Life cycle)
Una colmena (Hive)
Polen (Pollen)
Polinizar (Pollinate)
Néctar (Nectar)
Mandíbula (Mandible)
Tórax (Thorax)
Aguijón (Stinger)
Tenazas (Pinchers)
Alas (Wings)
Antenas (Antennae)
Useful Phrases About Insects in Spanish
Estoy asustado(a). (I am afraid.)
¿Dónde vive? (Where does it live?)
¿Qué come? (What does it eat?)
¿Te pica? (Does it sting?)
¿Puedo sostenerlo? (May I hold it?)
¡Es hermoso! (It is beautiful!)
¡Es feo! (It is ugly!)
Tiene muchos pies. (It has many feet.)
¡Me hace cosquillas en la mano! (It’s tickling my hand!)
¿El insecto se frota las alas? (Does the insect rub its wings together?)
¿El insecto emite algún sonido? (Does the insect make any sound?)
¡Amo a los insectos! (I love insects!)
¿Qué tipo de insecto es ese? (What type of insect is that?)
No me gusta tocar insectos. (I don’t like to touch insects.)
¿Es peligroso? (Is it dangerous?)
¿Es amistoso? (Is it friendly?)
Tengo una picadura de mosquito. (I have a mosquito bite.)
Soy alérgica a las picaduras de abeja. (I am allergic to bee stings.)
Insects are part of the global community, and many of us get really jazzed about speaking about bugs in Spanish!
Knowing about them and studying insects and their habits is a great way to gain foundational vocabulary skills.
Also, a solid grasp of nature’s terminology is essential for reading, writing and speaking with anyone who wants to chat about all things bug-related in Spanish.
And think about it: A conversation that begins about butterflies might end in dinner—especially if you’re in a spot where insects are considered an appetizer.
So get the basic Spanish insect vocabulary into your conversational skillset, and be ready to chat with anyone about the wonders of the insect world!
Remember, bugs aren’t creepy—they’re amazing creatures that have been on the earth far longer than we have! Learn about them, learn to love them and talk about them and you might end up being the star of any insect-themed party.
