Did You Know That Maine Has an Official State Insect?

Not only does our Pine Tree State have an official state flag, seal, and song, but we also have an insect that we celebrate here in Maine!

Frankly, we celebrate some weird things up here in Maine—but that’s exactly what makes us so unique. I mean, who else has entire festivals dedicated to hot dogs, whoopie pies, or pirates?

So, with that in mind, how do we know what the official state insect is—or any of our state symbols, for that matter? What makes them official?

If you’ve ever wondered how we know what Maine’s official state symbols are, there’s actually a handy resource right on Maine.gov. In their ‘About Maine’ section, you’ll find an easy-to-follow list that includes everything—including the state insect, which was designated as the official insect for the State of Maine in 1975.

Alright, having covered that, what exactly is the official state insect of Maine? And do other states have official insects too?

According to Maine legislation, our official state insect is the Honeybee. We’re not alone in that—sixteen other states, including our neighbors New Hampshire and Massachusetts, also honor the Honeybee as their state insect, making it one of the most common insect symbols across the country.

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Forty-eight states recognize this specific state symbol; only Iowa and Michigan currently don’t have a designated state insect.

As noted on Maine.gov, Honeybees likely originated in Tropical Africa and eventually spread to Europe, Asia, and later the Americas, brought over by the first colonists. A small hive usually holds around 20,000 bees, made up of Queens, Drones, and Workers, and each bee has its own specialized role and tools for survival, from detecting scents to defending the hive.

And there you have it—Maine’s state insect is the honeybee, which has held that title since it was officially designated in 1975.

Did you know that Maine has an official state insect? Were you surprised to learn that it’s the honeybee? We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to join the conversation by messaging us on the app.

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