List of insects of Metropolitan France
Insects found in Metropolitan France include a wide variety of species across forests, fields, mountains and cities. France’s climates range from cool Atlantic to warm Mediterranean, which helps many insects live and multiply throughout the year.
Popular groups you’ll see:
- Butterflies and moths: colorful butterflies such as the painted lady and the orange tip; many moths at night.
- Bees, wasps and ants: honey bees, bumblebees, solitary bees; common wasps and ants.
- Beetles: ladybirds, stag beetles, ground beetles, weevils.
- Flies: hoverflies, houseflies, crane flies.
- True bugs: aphids, cicadas, shield bugs, leafhoppers.
- Dragonflies and damselflies: agile insects by rivers, ponds and wetlands.
- Grasshoppers, crickets and katydids: jumpers in meadows and grasslands.
Insects play key roles: pollinating crops, helping break down organic matter, and forming the food base for many animals. They adapt to regional differences, and you’ll see different species in the Alps, forests, wetlands, and coastal areas.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 12:35 (CET).