Whether you're enjoying a picnic in a park in Mexico City, hiking in Costa Rica, or just relaxing in your rental in Colombia, you're bound to encounter some 'bichos' (bugs). Knowing how to name these little creatures is surprisingly useful, allowing you to ask for bug spray, point out a beautiful butterfly, or warn someone about a wasp. This vocabulary list focuses on the most common insects and bugs you'll hear about in everyday Latin American Spanish. We've chosen high-frequency words that are practical for travelers and learners at the A2 level. While many insect names are universal in the Spanish-speaking world, we'll focus on the terms most prevalent in Latin America and note interesting regional differences when they pop up. The general word 'bicho' is an incredibly useful catch-all for any small critter, but be aware that in some places like Puerto Rico, it can be a slang term for male genitalia. Context is key! For the most part, however, it's a safe and common word you'll hear and use often.
insect
Los biólogos estudian la vida de los insectos. — Biologists study the life of insects.
bug, critter
¡Ay, quita ese bicho de mi hombro! — Ah, get that bug off my shoulder!
fly
Hay una mosca en la cocina y no la puedo sacar. — There's a fly in the kitchen and I can't get it out.
mosquito
Anoche un mosquito no me dejó dormir. — Last night a mosquito wouldn't let me sleep.
bee
Las abejas son muy importantes para las flores. — Bees are very important for flowers.
wasp
Ten cuidado, las avispas pican muy fuerte. — Be careful, wasps sting very hard.
butterfly
Vimos muchas mariposas de colores en el jardín. — We saw many colorful butterflies in the garden.
moth
Una polilla entró por la ventana porque vio la luz. — A moth came in through the window because it saw the light.
dragonfly
Las libélulas siempre vuelan cerca del agua. — Dragonflies always fly near water.
ant
Dejé un dulce en la mesa y ahora está lleno de hormigas. — I left a candy on the table and now it's full of ants.
cockroach
Vi una cucaracha en el baño y grité. — I saw a cockroach in the bathroom and I screamed.
spider
Mi hermano le tiene mucho miedo a las arañas. — My brother is very afraid of spiders.
beetle
Encontré un escarabajo negro y brillante en el patio. — I found a black, shiny beetle in the yard.
cricket
Me gusta el sonido de los grillos por la noche. — I like the sound of crickets at night.
grasshopper
Un saltamontes verde estaba en una hoja. — A green grasshopper was on a leaf.
worm, grub
El pájaro se comió un gusano de la tierra. — The bird ate a worm from the ground.
ladybug
Dicen que si una mariquita se para en tu mano, es buena suerte. En México le dicen 'catarina'. — They say if a ladybug lands on your hand, it's good luck. In Mexico they call it a 'catarina'.
centipede
¡Qué miedo! Había un ciempiés en mi zapato. — How scary! There was a centipede in my shoe.
flea
El perro tiene pulgas, necesita un baño. — The dog has fleas, it needs a bath.
louse (plural: lice)
En la escuela de mi hija hay un problema de piojos. — At my daughter's school there is a lice problem.
tick
Después de caminar en el monte, revisa que no tengas garrapatas. — After walking in the woods, check that you don't have ticks.
to sting, to bite (insect)
¡Corre, esa avispa te va a picar! — Run, that wasp is going to sting you!
insect bite, sting (noun)
Tengo muchas picaduras de mosquito en las piernas. — I have a lot of mosquito bites on my legs.
repellent
Ponte repelente si no quieres que te piquen los mosquitos. — Put on repellent if you don't want mosquitoes to bite you.
spiderweb
Hay que limpiar las telarañas de las esquinas. — We have to clean the spiderwebs from the corners.