The Insect Spirit Animal and other creepy-crawlies are Nature's essential artisans. These small creatures exhibit tenacity, patience, and detachment. Seemingly unaware of their importance, they go about their tasks in nature.  These animals maintain the Earth.

Ant, (general) -- Greater strength than can be imagined, the patience and endurance needed to complete,a task, building your dreams slowly over time, community minded, mass consciousness, an affinity for magnetic fields. Being able to submerge yourself in a project and work without sleep. (Be careful not to misidentify a termite for an ant, which is a common mistake, especially with the flying varieties)

Bedbug -- Negative sleeping arrangements or sleep patterns

Bee (general) -- Symbol of fertility. Being defensive and hard working for the good of the group. Socially conscious and community oriented. Having an obsession for work that will lead to burn out. The bee's honeycomb is a hexagon that represents the heart. A message to examine your productivity and make time to savor the honey. If bitten by a bee it is a call to wake up and look at what you are doing with your life. Totem animal of the Minoan Goddess "Potnia Theron" the Queen of the Bees. In ancient Egypt the bee symbolized royalty. In ancient Greece they were the symbol of the "Eluesinian Mysteries". The Celts associated the bee with hidden wisdom.,Ancient Britons,saw the bee as a symbol of the Goddess and at celebrations they drank fermented honey (mead). Medieval Christian monks lived in beehive shaped huts, which represented a harmonious community.

Bumble Bee -- Power of service, smaller groups, adjusting body temperatures when in an altered state, yoga, hypnotherapy. (A Bumble Bees body is too big and its wings too small for it to be able to fly but it does!) Achieving the impossible.

Honey Bee,-- Messages from higher planes and consciousness, prophetic dreams and visions, industry, wealth, industriousness, diligence, cooperation, productive hard work, the creator of tears.

"If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years to live." - Albert Einstein

Beetle.-- Beetle is a being of peace, wishing nothing more than to live at one with nature and the world. Metamorphosis, resurrection, past lives, rebirth of the soul, innocence of purpose. Beetle signals a confirmation we are on the right track and we should pursue our goals. .Some beetles are good omens and some beetles are bad omens. You need to learn which ones mean what in your area by studying their behavior and what occurs after you see one. Some beetles are messengers of good and bad weather. In some cases, beetles have devastated acres of trees, but they symbolically warned everyone before the attack.

Dung Beetle (Scarab).-- Resurrection, regeneration, new life and vitality. Connection to spherical power, ability to move heavy objects

Bo Weevil,-- Coming up from over the border. An exclusive use of cotton products, (cotton fabric, cotton seed oil, etc.). Highly sensitive to scents (pheromones). An unwelcome visitor who bring sdevastation and despair to those he visits.)))

Well, I saw the bo weavil, Lord, a-circle in the air

Next time I seed him, Lord, he had his family there

Bo weavil told the farmer that "I 'tain't got ticket fare"

Sucks all the blossom and leave your hedges square

Bo weavil, bo weavil, where your native home?

"Most anywhere they raise cotton and corn"

Bo weavil, bo weavil, "Oughtta treat me fair"

The next time I did you had your family there.

~Charley Patton, "Mississippi Bo Weavil Blues"~

Box Elder Bug (Maple Bug) -- Operating on set cycles. Be watchful for those looking to "crash at your place" and then eat everything in sight. Get rid of them before their friends and family show up .

Butterfly,-- The coming of adulthood, transformation, the rebirth of the soul, too often a need to be noticed and stand out in a crowd. Symbol of Psyche,,the Greek Goddess of the Soul. Life is short, enjoy the journey. Fleeting moments. Transformation. Internal and external change

Monarch Butterfly -- Life is short, so enjoy the journey. Fleeting moments. And transformation. Herb and flower magic. Travel and migration, moving to new places.

arising from 

Caterpillar,-- Must evolve before assuming adulthood, shedding the old life to accept a new one. The spinner of the metamorphic thread. The Spirit Keeper of the Sacred Smoke and guardian of the tobacco plant.

What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, 

the rest of the world calls butterfly.  

The caterpillar develops into the butterfly through a process called metamorphosis. It comes from the Greek words, "meta", meaning beyond, and "morph", meaning form; to signify transformation or change in shape. Metamorphosis is a key element in Greek mythology. This ability to change shape or form is a major development in the stories of Arachne, Zeus, and Daphne. Almost all of the gods had the power of metamorphosis. Christians use the term born again to define the process .The spiritual symbolism of metamorphosis is quite obvious and easy to grasp. What is more difficult to grasp, in terms of the animal spirit meaning, is the emphasis on which stage you examine. The wonder of the end result as seen in the butterfly is the one most focused upon, but the true essence of the transformation lies within the cocoon of the transforming caterpillar. It is far too easy to be enchanted by the beauty of the butterfly and to ignore the lowly caterpillar. The true call to spiritual metamorphosis comes from the appearance of the caterpillar as spirit animal and the appearance of the butterfly as spirit animal is often a warning not to become seduced by the apparent beauty of the changes into forgetting the reason for undergoing the transformation. The attainment of the metamorphosis is not for the appearances of the physical world, but for the transubstantiation of the spiritual. If, after you have undergone a seeming transformation, the butterfly should appear as an animal messenger, it maybe that you missed the true meaning and purpose of the experience.

Centipede -- Balance, coordination, ability to survive stress, the beauty of coordinated movement

Chigger {Red Bug} -- (Chiggers are tiny, six-legged wingless larvae that grow,up to become a type of mite in tall grass and weeds.) "The myth of the vampire", (chiggers do not drink blood), and the myth hurts more than helps.

Cicadas,-- Notorious singer with its own distinctive style, living underground for long periods, long life cycles of dormancy then great awakening. A bite where it will hurt the most and scratching will cause more damage than the bite itself. Be wary not to do more harm to yourself than those who afflict you do. Activity, periodicity, emerging on mass. The "Nexus of Time". (Sometimes called 17-year locusts, but they are not locusts)

Cockroach,-- Cockroach teaches the art of adaptability and ultimate survival instincts under any conditions making this creature an emotional and spiritual shape shifter.It will teach perseverance and tenacity along with going with the flow of events. Cockroach applies determination and fortitude to survive in any event. The wisdom of Cockroach teaches how to keep in touch with the world around you, shows how to strengthen vitality and quickness of movement, ability to discern when and how to move, and make use of available resources. Virtually indestructible, it will be around long after everyone else is gone. (see also: "Roach")

Crane Fly -- Crane flies are creatures of both air and water. Air deals with thought, and water speaks about emotion. When these insects come into our awareness it suggests a juxtaposition between our analytical mind and our dreamy-type emotions.

Cricket,-- Developing balance with intuition, strengthen your emotional core and ground your physical body, "nature's musicians", finding your way in the darkness with sound. Ancient myth associates the cricket with the lunar energies of intuition and sensitivity. Only the male Cricket can sing. The females are silent, and move through the world at night, almost invisibly, supporting the idea that they are the messengers of the Goddess. Find away to jump over any difficult blocks in your life since we do not need to experience every set back. If Cricket chirps for several songs, and then becomes quiet, he is telling you that a big storm (problem) is coming to your life. Watch for a physical upheaval, or an emotional upset, or even a spiritual shake up. Cricket is associated with intuition. If you have been getting gut feelings and you have ignored them, Cricket is telling you to pay attention; you are being given guided.

Daddy Longlegs (Harvestmen),-- (Poisonous, but their fangs are not large enough to pierce human skin so they are not as dangerous as inmyth.,Most often,they defend themselves by releasing a noxious odor when threatened) Subject of vicious rumor, little understood but with an important,tale to tell, will suffer injury in order to be free

Dragonfly,-- Inhabits two realms: air and water and the influence of both these elements; emotional and passionate during their early years (the influence of water) and more balanced with greater mental clarity and control in mature years(the influence of air). The dragonfly will represent the essence of the winds of change and it calls you to change the habits which need changing, seeing through illusion and awakening to your true vision. Associated with magic and mysticism, life is never what it appears to be.

Earthworm,-- Varied and adaptable, renewing the Earth while going unnoticed and unsung

Night Crawler,-- Moving up and down within a well defined system of tunnels within your own home range, existing within the 2-Dimensional plane, an opportunity brought by rain. (The night crawler is not native to North America. It is a European species that was introduced to the new world with the advent of European settlement.)

Firefly,(Lightning Bug) --,The energy of epiphany, a sudden knowing or insight, ability to find light in the darkness, illuminating what is hidden, brings the light of understanding, the spark of divine insight

Flea,-- Ability to alter time within the life cycle, ability to trigger a birth process by the use of light, vibration, or the various components of air.

Fly,-- Survival, multifaceted vision, ability to change waste into valuable assets, transformation

Black Fly,-- Wanton biting, the curse of the cow and the woodsman

Horse Fly -- The child of a male herbalist and a female vampire

House Fly -- House-fly Spirit drives away those who threaten the river (Native American Legend); House-fly Spirit returns from the grave to comfort the grieving (Australian Aboriginal Legend)

Maggot -- Necessity of decay in the cycle of life, symbol of the death/decay/rebirth cycle

Fruit Fly -- Multifaceted vision, mutating as needed, colorful display

Gnat / Midge -- Free living amongst a swarm, forever going around in circles, not enough time to eat, avoid the sunlight

Grasshopper,-- The power of song and sound to alter consciousness, astral travel, the ability to leap through time and space. A symbol of good luck.

Locust,--,Forgetting the balance of nature and taking more than is needed. (Overcrowding and food shortages turn normally peaceful grasshoppers into the dreaded locusts, capable of stripping a forest or farm in the blink of an eye. They turn almost black, so that they can absorb more sunlight to have heat and energy to maintain swarming. The frenzy will continue until they reach a place with enough food or enough of them die)

Hornet/Yellow Jacket -- (see: 'Wasp')

Katydid -- Attunement to new vibrations, camouflage, trying not to stand out, shed old ideas to make room for new ones

Ladybug,-- Carries the "Golden Strand" that leads to the Center of the Universe, family ties, spiritual idealism, keen instinct. Lady bug is never the aggressor, but it will defend. Ladybug cautions not to try to hard or go to fast. Let things flow at their natural pace.

Leech,-- Ability to alter the flow of life force energy, simplicity of movement in cycles, latching on for dear life, can be a "blood-sucker"or a "blood-healer" (Fresh blood is the highest known source of pranic energy )

Locust -- (see: 'Grasshopper')

Louse (Lice) -- Being sucked dry by too many responsibilities or torn in too many directions by well-meaning people, the louse is a message to withdraw and resist being pulled into situations we do not wish for ourselves. Lice are parasitic creatures that require a host in order to exist and indicates that we are either asking too much from others or they are asking too much of us.

Maggot -- (see: 'Fly')

Mayfly -- Intensity, transformation while moving, transparency, emphasis on childhood issues, living in the moment

Mosquito -- Using water to transform, drawing energy inside of,ones self, controlling energy flow in one direction

Moth,-- The Moth is highly sensitive to touch and can feel, smell and taste with their feathery antennae. When the moth appears it is a reminder to pay attention to issues of sensitivity. (Be careful not toabsorb the negative energies of others and draw them into your own energy field.) Seekers of light and energy they are able to navigate by the Moon and by the Earth's geomagnetic field. (Capable of acute hearing with the hearing organs found on their legs giving them the ability to sense the vibrations emitted around them.) Pay attention to what is being said and what is not being said. Metamorphic and transformative the moth shows how to awaken and develop psychic abilities. Be aware that the appearance of the moth may indicate that there are those around you who are secretly eating away at your resources.

Potato Bug -- Childhood, innocence, the enjoyment of just playing

Praying Mantis,-- Benefit from prayer, meditation and the martial arts, the ability to blend with the environment becoming invisible. The Praying Mantis teaches how to still the outer mind and go within. The praying mantis teaches how to transcend linear time and move according to the rhythm of nature and inner instinct. The praying mantis can remain motionless and blend with the environment becoming invisible to enemies. They hold the secrets of materialization and dematerialization and teach perception through stillness. In dream symbols, a praying mantis is a telepathic symbol of Angels warning of hypnotic aggression from the "dark side". A praying mantis appearing may be a sign of Angelic protection. Becoming involved in situations where someone may lose their head, in one way or another.

The praying mantis has historically been a popular subject of mythology and folklore. In France people believed a praying mantis would point a lost child home.,Muslims believe that a praying mantis will point the way to Mecca. In Africa, the mantis was thought to bring good luck to whomever it landed on and even restore life to the dead. In China the praying mantis,is the symbol of the martial arts. European people believed they were worshipful of God since they always seemed to be praying. One legend tells that Saint Francis Xaviar called upon it to sing the praises of God and the mantis began to sing canticles. Of course, no discussion of the praying mantis would be complete without mentioning its most infamous "behavior". When relations between the male and female have reached their climax the female will often bite off the head of the male. Some males even require this decapitation in order to copulate. [Mantis Religiosa]

From whence arrived the praying mantis?

From outer space, or lost Atlantis?

I glimpse the grim, green metal mug

That masks this pseudo-saintly bug,

Orthopterous, also carnivorous,

And faintly whisper, Lord deliver us.

~Ogden Nash~

Roach -- Roaches are from the beetle family within the insect kingdom. All beetles carry metamorphosis energy making this creature an emotional and spiritual shape shifter and for these reason the roach showing up in your life can indicate change. Roaches can also be indicators of the desire to pull back from society and keep under the radar of others. (see also: "Cockroach")

Scarab -- (see: Beetle/Dung Beetle)

Scorpion,-- Chaos and passion, inspiration and transformation, death before rebirth,intense sexuality, "it is in its nature,to sting"

Silk Worm (Silk Moth) -- Having been taken care of for so long it cannot fend for itself, a need for protection in new endeavors, the pickiest of eaters, a symbol of,fashion and elegance (The silk worm cocoon is often used by Native American peoples,to make a prayer rattle used in healing ceremonies)

Slug,-- Living in both the male and female, stretching oneself to incredible lengths, following trails already traveled, rainy nights

Snail,-- Taking an irregular path, shutting oneself away when things get too hot, "Cupids archer"

Spider,-- Understand the web of illusion and take care not to weave a web of self-entanglement

Spider Woman was the Creator who spun the Web of Life and within the strands of her web all of life is interconnected. Spider Woman used the clay of the earth, red, yellow, white, and black, to create people and to each she attached a thread of her web which came from the doorway at the top of her head. This thread was the gift of creative wisdom. The spiders web is the Tapestry of Life and the symbol of the weaving of destiny. The past is interwoven with the present and the future and it reveals the eternal and infinite plan. The spider's message is that you are an infinite being who will continue to weave patterns of life and living throughout time. A teacher and story teller of the Creation Legends, spiders are the keepers of the Sacred Alphabet who can teach how to weave magic with the written word. To the ancient Greeks the spider was sacred in the story of Arachne, a young woman who was gifted in the art of weaving. Totem for the number "8".

(Grandmother,Spider is a wise old teacher,who is the weaver of the "dreamcather")

Funnelweb Spider -- Earth magic. Connection to the primal Goddess. Familiarity with darkness. Ground-weaving. Entrapment. Quick reflexes. Patience. Connection to Chthonic and underworld deities. The underworld.

Redback Spider -- Female charm and seduction. Surrender. Worshipping the female principle. Networking with humans. Exploiting suburbia. Human habitation. Theft. Stealing. Taking another's nourishment. The web of life. Surrendering to the Goddess. Offering. Giving yourself away.

Spitting Spider -- Danger of getting caught in a sticky situation. A person or situation with a big head and a small frame holding it up. A poisonous environment.

Trapdoor Spider -- Familiarity with Darkness. Waiting in the Dark. Ground-Weaving. An Insular Life. Agoraphobia. The Ancestor of Spiders. Earth Wisdom. Entrapment. Entanglement. Quick Reflexes. Patience. Timidity. Longevity. Connection to the Goddess. Connection to Underworld Deities. The Underworld. Secret Places. Escape Routes. Self-Protection. The Threshold and Doorways.

Squash Bug -- Another pest who comes by to visit, then moves in and wrecks your plans and efforts

Stick Bug -- Experts at camouflage and remaining motionless when in danger. Eating a nighttime meal and making plans for the next days activity.

Stink Bug -- The Stink Bug can show the connections between seemingly separate unrelated events with heightened intuition. Pay attention to your instincts about people and situations. Increased sensitivity to what is hidden and reading between the lines occurs with Stink Bug medicine and it teaches the balance of concealment and surfacing. The Stink Bug will guide in the proper use and balance of the positive and negative attributes of what is psychically sensed as well as what is physically sensed in your surroundings. Stink Bug medicine shows how to transform and shed what is no longer needed. There are five separate stages as insights are gained and growth is achieved. Stink Bug's lessons span a period of about a month when new ideals and thoughts are fully developed.

Asian Stink Bug -- Though most species of stink Bug are relatively harmless the Asian Stick Bug has a stinger that it sticks into the seed pod of a plant and sucks the life out of it.

Tarantula,-- Ability to shed the outer skin (masks) and transform, creativity, defense of territory, intimidation by size, use of environment to conceal oneself

Termite,-- Defense of personal space, single-mindedness, connection to tropical forests, co-operative living in a rigid caste system (Be careful not to misidentify an ant for a termite, which is a common mistake, especially with the flying varieties)

Tick -- Adaptive and resilient, free loading a meal and gorging oneself, transmission of bad concepts and conditions, waiting in the shadows

Wasp -- Sacred numbers and geometry, numerology, order and organization, going to great lengths to protect the established order, aggression, helping and hurting, constructing a solution, team-work, productivity. The wasp teaches how to use diversity to their advantage. Balancing all aspects of the various species is an art in itself and can take a lifetime to accomplish. Learn how to shape shift the outer image and become more connected to the inner knowing.

Hornet,-- Use of female warrior energy, sisterhood, understanding female societies, communal living

Yellow Jacket --,Living in abandoned and run down neighborhoods. Making use of others refuse. Highly territorial and violently protective of their turf.