Insects Word Search
This insect word search features real insects like the ladybug, dragonfly, monarch butterfly and praying mantis, plus body-part words like thorax, antenna and abdomen. It pairs well with a spring bug hunt, a butterfly-raising project or a life cycle lesson. Ask students to check each insect for six legs and three body parts before they circle it.
Insects Word Search
Find and circle every word in the list. Words go across, down and diagonally.
- ANT
- BEETLE
- BUMBLEBEE
- BUTTERFLY
- CATERPILLAR
- CICADA
- CRICKET
- DRAGONFLY
- FIREFLY
- GRASSHOPPER
- HONEYBEE
- HORNET
- HOUSEFLY
- LADYBUG
- MONARCH
- MOSQUITO
- MOTH
- PRAYING MANTIS
- TERMITE
- WASP
Insects Hidden Message Word Search
Find and circle every word in the list. Words go across, down and diagonally.
- BEETLE
- BUTTERFLY
- CATERPILLAR
- CICADA
- CRICKET
- DRAGONFLY
- FIREFLY
- GRASSHOPPER
- HOUSEFLY
- MONARCH
- MOSQUITO
- MOTH
- PRAYING MANTIS
- TERMITE
- WASP
Hidden message: the leftover letters, read left to right and top to bottom, spell a secret message._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Insects Word Search — Answer Key
Insects Hidden Message Word Search — Answer Key
Hidden message: Six legs three parts
About this insect word search
- Every adult insect has six legs and three main body parts: the head, the thorax and the abdomen.
- Spiders are not insects. They are arachnids, with eight legs and two main body parts.
- Butterflies go through complete metamorphosis: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis) and adult.
- Monarch butterflies migrate up to about 3,000 miles to spend the winter in the mountains of central Mexico.
Want a different version? Make your own word search with these words, a shaped grid, or bent words.
Words in these puzzles
ButterflyLadybugBumblebeeHoneybeeAntDragonflyGrasshopperCricketBeetleFireflyCaterpillarMothPraying MantisCicadaMonarchMosquitoHouseflyTermiteWaspHornet
Frequently asked questions
›Is this insect word search free to print?
Yes. Print it straight from your browser or download the PDF, which includes 2 puzzles and their answer keys. No sign-up needed.
›Where is the answer key?
The answer keys print on their own pages after the puzzles, and they are in the PDF too. Every word is highlighted, so checking is quick.
›Can I make my own insect word search?
Yes. Press "Customize this puzzle" to open it in the word search maker. There you can add or remove words, change the grid size, pick a shape or add a hidden message.