Bugs can be a little harder to collect compared to fish. With
fish you know they will be in the water, however bugs are found in a
number of different places throughout your town.
You will need a net in order to catch bugs. You can buy a net
at Tom Nooks for about 500bells or Tortimer will give you a free net
(if you don’t already have one) during one of the ‘bug-off’
tournaments.
Due to the fact that bugs are found in a number of different
places in your town it is important to keep a lookout. It is also
advisable to have your sound turned up as a lot of the bugs make noise,
which can help you locate them.
The bugs available to catch depend on several different factors
such as time of day, month, and even weather conditions. If you are
trying to get a particular bug first be sure you are hunting at the
right time of day.
This is a list of the different times of day you can catch bugs.
- Morning: 4:00am-9:00am
- Noon: 9:00am-4:00pm
- Evening: 4:00pm-8:00pm
- Night: 8:00pm-4:00a
Common places to find bugs:
- In trees.
Bees are the most common bugs to be found inside
tress. In order to get the bees you have to shake the tree and wait for
the beehive to fall out. When this happens you only have a few seconds
to catch one. If you fail to catch a bee you will be stung in the face.
The bee sting can be cured by taking medicine or by saving your game.
Once to return to the game the sting will be gone. Spiders are also
found by shaking trees, although this isn’t as regular as bees.
- On trees.
A lot of bugs are found sitting on the tree
trunks. Sometimes they can blend in and are hard to see so it’s a good
idea to walk around slowly if you want to catch them. Just like fish,
they bugs will fly (or run) away if you scare them. The best way to
catch bugs on trees is to slowly approach the tree from the front then
when your characters head is approximately half way up the trunk swing
the net. You should also have a few palm trees on your beach as a
number of beetles can only be found on this type of tree.
- By garbage.
Although it is a bad idea to leave garbage
lying around in your town this can be a good way to attract flies.
Flies are hard to stop but they have a loud buzzing noise. If you leave
out garbage or spoiled turnips flies will be attracted to them. Spoiled
turnips also attract ants.
- Underground
Bugs like the mole cricket spend their time
underground. It’s a good idea to keep your volume up, as this is the
only way to locate the stop they are at. You will have to dig a few
holes before the bug shows itself. Once the bug is above ground you can
catch it with your net.
- Near lights.
Just like real life Moths like to fly around
lights. In the evenings and at night you will find Moths flying around
the lighted windows and lights is your town.
- On the ground.
One of the most common places you will find
bugs is on the ground. You will find more bugs on the ground in spring
and summer than in winter. With some bugs you will find yourself
chasing them around before catching them. The best way is to slowly
walk toward them so you don’t scare them away.
- On neighbours.
Unfortunately some of the villagers in your
town may get fleas from time to time. This is an easy way to catch this
bug. Simply swing you net at the villager and you will catch a flea. Be
careful when hitting villagers with nets (and other tools). If you hit
them when they don’t have fleas you will make them angry.
- On flowers.
Snails, Honeybees, butterflies and other bugs
can be found on or around flowers so it makes sense to have a good
variety in your town.
- In the air.
A number of bugs can be found happily flying
around. Many butterflies and Dragonflies can be found this way. Just be
on the look out for these bugs!
What to do with bugs
Like the fish, there are a few different things you can do with them.
- Donate them to the museum.
The museum is empty until you
start donating things. Blathers will accept a newly caught bug from
you, as long as you haven’t already donated that specific breed (you
will quickly discover that Blathers has a fear of bugs!). When you
donate a bug to Blathers he’ll tell you a number of facts about it,
which usually includes the thing that disgusts him the most about it!
Once you’ve donated the bug you can check the Bug section of the museum
and see all the bugs you have donated.
- Sell them to Tom Nook.
Tom Nook will buy any and all bugs
you have. The price he pays differs depending on species. Some bugs
sell for 200 bells while other bugs (like the Hercules Beetle) can sell
for 12,000bells! This is handy to help pay off that mortgage!
- Give them to a villager
Every so often villagers in your
town will want certain items. Usually these items are clothes,
furniture, bugs or fish. If you are able to provide the villager with
the bug (or item) they requested you would usually receive a reward.
This can be money or another item.
- Display them in your house.
There are certain bugs that you
will be proud of catching. Scorpions make interesting talking points
when you have friends in your town via Wi-Fi. It is also handy to store
larger bugs in your house while you wait for the ‘Bug-off’ tournament.
Gold net
Bug catching requires patience; however once you catch all the bugs you will be rewarded with the Golden Net.