White Bugs With Wings: 8 Types
These are the 8 most common white bugs with wings found in North America.
Quick list
How to narrow it down
Narrow it down with three quick checks. Count the legs: insects have six, spiders and ticks have eight, and centipedes and millipedes have many more. Check for wings, even folded ones. Then compare size against a coin: a US penny is 19 mm across. Our bug identifier tool does this filtering for you.
The 8 bugs
Bald-Faced Hornet
Bald-Faced HornetDolichovespula maculataA black wasp with ivory-white markings on its face and the tip of its abdomen. It builds large, gray, football-shaped paper nests in trees, shrubs and under eaves.
Tell-tale sign: Black body with a white face and white tail markings. Risk: Bald-faced hornets deliver painful stings and attack in numbers when their nest is disturbed.
Mosquito
MosquitoCulicidae (e.g. Aedes albopictus)A small, slender fly whose females bite to take blood for egg production. The Asian tiger mosquito is black with white stripes and bites aggressively during the day.
Tell-tale sign: Long, needle-like mouthpart (proboscis). Risk: Mosquito bites itch and, depending on the region, can transmit West Nile, dengue and other viruses.
Cabbage White
Cabbage WhitePieris rapaeA small white butterfly with gray-black wing tips and one or two dark spots on each forewing. Its velvety green caterpillars chew holes in cabbage, broccoli and kale.
Tell-tale sign: White wings with charcoal forewing tips. Risk: Cabbage whites are harmless to people; caterpillars can riddle brassica crops with holes.
Eastern Subterranean Termite
Eastern Subterranean TermiteReticulitermes flavipesThe most widespread termite in North America, living in underground colonies and reaching wood through mud tubes. Dark, winged swarmers emerge indoors on warm spring days.
Tell-tale sign: Creamy white, soft-bodied workers in soil and wood. Risk: Termites don't bite people but can cause costly structural damage over time.
Spongy Moth
Spongy MothLymantria disparFormerly called the gypsy moth, an invasive moth whose hairy caterpillars strip the leaves from oaks and other hardwoods. Caterpillars carry paired blue and red dots along the back.
Tell-tale sign: Hairy caterpillars with five pairs of blue dots and six pairs of red dots. Risk: Caterpillar hairs can cause itchy rashes, and heavy outbreaks strip trees of their leaves.
Varied Carpet Beetle
Varied Carpet BeetleAnthrenus verbasciA tiny, round beetle mottled with white, brown and yellow scales. The fuzzy, banded larvae chew holes in wool, silk, feathers, leather and stored animal products.
Tell-tale sign: Very small, round beetle with a mottled scale pattern. Risk: Carpet beetles don't bite, but larval hairs can cause itchy skin rashes in some people.
Eyed Click Beetle
Eyed Click BeetleAlaus oculatusA long, gray-and-black beetle with two large, eye-like spots on its thorax. When flipped over, it snaps a hinge on its body and launches itself into the air with an audible click.
Tell-tale sign: Two large black false eyespots ringed in white. Risk: Eyed click beetles are harmless; the eyespots are a bluff to scare predators.
Monarch Butterfly
Monarch ButterflyDanaus plexippusAn orange butterfly with black veins and white-spotted borders, famous for its multigenerational migration to Mexico. Its caterpillars feed only on milkweed.
Tell-tale sign: Bright orange wings with thick black veins. Risk: Monarchs are harmless to people but toxic to birds that eat them.
Which ones should you worry about?
2 of the 8 bugs in this guide can bite or sting. The ones to take seriously are bald-faced hornet and mosquito. The rest are harmless or simply a nuisance.
Comparison at a glance
| Bald-Faced Hornet | Mosquito | Cabbage White | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group | Bees & Wasps | Flies & Mosquitoes | Moths & Butterflies |
| Scientific name | Dolichovespula maculata | Culicidae (e.g. Aedes albopictus) | Pieris rapae |
| Size | 15–20 mm | 3–6 mm | 32–47 mm |
| Colors | Black and White | Black, White and Gray | White |
| Legs | 6 legs | 6 legs | 6 legs |
| Wings | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bites or stings | Stings | Bites | No |
| Risk | Health risk | Health risk | Nuisance |
| Key feature | Black body with a white face and white tail markings | Long, needle-like mouthpart (proboscis) | White wings with charcoal forewing tips |
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common one?
Among the bugs in this guide, the bald-faced hornet and mosquito are the ones people ask about most.
Which of these are dangerous?
Bald-Faced Hornet and Mosquito can be medically significant.
How can I identify a bug I found?
Use the free bug identifier tool: choose the number of legs, wings, main color, size and where you found it, and it will list the closest matches.