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The Sims 2: Seasons The Sims 2: FreeTime The Sims Castaway Stories The Sims 3 The Sims 3: Into the Future The Sims 4: Outdoor Retreat The Sims 4: Eco Lifestyle


Bug collecting
Snapshot releasebutterflies
A Sim releasing caught butterflies.

Bug collecting is an interaction first introduced in The Sims 2: Seasons, allowing Sims to catch butterflies and fireflies. The Sims 2: FreeTime allows Sims to catch bugs and add them to a collection. In The Sims Castaway Stories and the DS version, it is possible to gather bugs, which can be eaten, traded, or kept and collected. The Sims 3 also features collecting butterflies and beetles. The Sims 3: Into the Future features robotic bugs called nanites. In The Sims 4: Outdoor Retreat, bug collecting reappears once again in the vacation world of Granite Falls. In The Sims 4: Eco Lifestyle, bug collecting comes in a new form of composting and the consumption of home grown insects.

The Sims 2[]

Bug catching[]

This section describes features that are only available in The Sims 2: Seasons and The Sims Castaway Stories.

Butterflies may appear during the day and fireflies may appear in the evening. A Sim can try to catch butterflies or fireflies in a jar, though it may take several tries before they succeed. This is usually initiated by the player clicking on the tile where the butterflies or fireflies appear, though Sims may also do it autonomously. Once butterflies or fireflies are caught, Sims can view them inside the jar or release them. If they are left in the jar, they will eventually die, though this can be avoided by using a cheat.

Enter cheat mode:
type: ^ Ctrl+⇧ Shift+C
Turn the cheat on: bugJarTimeDecay on
Turn the cheat off: bugJarTimeDecay off
Notes: Enabling this cheat will make caught butterflies and fireflies live forever.

A Sim may have wants to catch butterflies or fireflies, but the want will not be fulfilled until the Sim actually catches one.

With FreeTime, trying to catch butterflies or fireflies will build nature enthusiasm, as will viewing captured ones. Also, Sims who catch butterflies might occasionally put them in their bug collection.

Toddlers can chase butterflies or fireflies, but cannot catch them. With Freetime, they gain nature enthusiasm from doing this.

Bug hunting[]

This section describes features that are only available in The Sims 2: FreeTime.

Snapshot releasingFireflies

A Sim releasing caught fireflies.

There are three types of bugs a Sim can catch: beetles, butterflies and spiders. To have a Sim catch bugs, the player has to click on outdoor terrain and select the "Hunt Bugs" interaction. Sims will continue this action indefinitely but will not always catch anything. Once a Sim catches a bug it will be placed in their collection box, which can be found in their inventory. Players can view the collection by placing it on the lot and selecting "View". When Sims go hiking, they might catch a bug. If they already have that bug in the collection, they'll release it. A Sim must have at least level 8 enthusiasm in the nature hobby to be able to collect all of the bugs.

A Sim with nature enthusiasm may have a want to hunt bugs, but the want will not be fulfilled until the Sim actually catches a bug.

If a Sim hunts bugs for very long, it will have a strong effect on their hygiene. If a PlantSim hunts bugs, it will affect their water motive. Occasionally, a Sim who is hunting bugs will be chased by bees.

Bug collections[]

Image Beetle Image Butterfly Image Spider
Dapper Pinstripe Beetle Dapper Pinstripe Beetle Jelly Butterfly Jelly Butterfly Striped Spindler Spider
Polka Beetle Polka Beetle Peanut Butterfly Peanut Butterfly Grey Widow Spider
Couch Potato Beetle Couch Potato Beetle Empress Butterfly Empress Butterfly Paratrooper Spider
Gentleman Beetle Gentleman Beetle Blue Featherwing Butterfly Blue Featherwing Butterfly Mock Spider
Jack Beetle Jack Beetle Margarina Butterfly Margarina Butterfly Itsius Bitsius Spider
Prancer Beetle Prancer Beetle Mademe Butterfly Madame Butterfly Hot Dog Spider
Tri-Horn Greeves Beetle Tri-Horn Greaves Beetle Vampire Butterfly Vampire Butterfly Queen Charlotte Spider
Ringo Beetle Ringo Beetle Pygmalion Butterfly Pygmalion Butterfly Huntsperson Spider
Mock Ladybug Beetle Mock Ladybug Beetle Copper Pot Butterfly Copper Pot Butterfly Single-Fanged Betsy Spider
Green Bottle Beetle Green Bottle Beetle Socialus Butterfly Socialus Butterfly[1] Teddy Bear Spider
Notes

The Sims 3[]

Butterflies, beetles, and nanites appear as collectibles in The Sims 3, both in the wild and through Buydebug spawners.

This section is in need of additional information. You can help The Sims Wiki by expanding this section.

Butterflies[]

Image Butterfly Rarity Value (§) Catch Chance EP Where?
Moth Moth Common 5 90% &BG
TS3 Icon
Base Neighborhood
Monarch Butterfly Monarch Butterfly Common 10 80% &BG
TS3 Icon
Base Neighborhood
Zephyr Metalmark Butterfly Zephyr Metalmark Butterfly Common 25 80% &BG
TS3 Icon
Base Neighborhood
Red Admiral Butterfly Red Admiral Butterfly Common 35 80% &BG
TS3 Icon
Base Neighborhood
Mission Blue Butterfly Mission Blue Butterfly Uncommon 50 80% &BG
TS3 Icon
Base Neighborhood
Green Swallowtail Butterfly Green Swallowtail Butterfly Uncommon 90 80% &BG
TS3 Icon
Base Neighborhood
Royal Purple Butterfly Royal Purple Butterfly Uncommon 150 80% &BG
TS3 Icon
Base Neighborhood
Silver-Spotted Skipper Butterfly Silver-Spotted Skipper Butterfly Rare 325 70% &BG
TS3 Icon
Base Neighborhood
Zebra Butterfly Zebra Butterfly Rare 650 85% &BG
TS3 Icon
Base Neighborhood
Rainbow Butterfly Rainbow Butterfly Extraordinarily Unusual 1,080 90% &BG
TS3 Icon
Base Neighborhood
Bamboo Straight Swift Butterfly Bamboo Straight Swift Butterfly Common 20 90% &EP01
TS3WA Icon
China
Crypt Moth Crypt Moth Uncommon 65 90% &EP01
TS3WA Icon
Egypt
Two-Tailed Pasha Butterfly Two-Tailed Pasha Butterfly Uncommon 110 90% &EP01
TS3WA Icon
France
Yellow Band Dart Butterfly Yellow Band Dart Butterfly Rare 430 90% &EP01
TS3WA Icon
China
Cleopatra Butterfly Cleopatra Butterfly Extraordinarily Unusual 1,200 90% &EP01
TS3WA Icon
Egypt
Glowy Fly Glowy Fly Extraordinarily Unusual 1,500 90% &EP01
TS3WA Icon
France
Green Wisp Green Will-O'-The-Wisp Uncommon 80 90% &EP03
TS3LN Icon
Base Neighborhood
Blue Wisp Blue Will-O'-The-Wisp Rare 250 90% &EP03
TS3LN Icon
Base Neighborhood
Pink Wisp Pink Will-O'-The-Wisp Extraordinarily Unusual 820 90% &EP03
TS3LN Icon
Base Neighborhood
Firefly albus Firefly albus Common 10 90% &EP06
TS3ST Icon
Base Neighborhood
Firefly fulvus Firefly fulvus Common 10 90% &EP06
TS3ST Icon
Base Neighborhood
Firefly pratinus Firefly pratinus Common 15 90% &EP06
TS3ST Icon
Base Neighborhood
Firefly luteus Firefly luteus Common 20 90% &EP06
TS3ST Icon
Base Neighborhood
Firefly caeruleus Firefly caeruleus Uncommon 80 90% &EP06
TS3ST Icon
Base Neighborhood
Firefly ruber Firefly ruber Uncommon 120 90% &EP06
TS3ST Icon
Base Neighborhood
Firefly roseus Firefly roseus Rare 300 90% &EP06
TS3ST Icon
Base Neighborhood
Firefly purpureus Firefly purpureus Rare 450 90% &EP06
TS3ST Icon
Base Neighborhood
Notes
  • Since Patch 31, butterflies will no longer spawn at night, and they will be replaced with fireflies.
  • There is a glitch with the firefly collector challenge, in which the challenge could not be completed even if a Sim has caught all 8 types of fireflies. This is due to the fact that the firefly collector challenge is a duplicate of the butterfly collector challenge, which requires 10 types of butterflies to complete.
  • It seems that the glitch of the fireflies can be fixed if the Sims move to a place like the University. Opening the list of trapped insects may show fireflies that have already been trapped as unregistered. Capture them again while you are inside the university compound and voila. (Bringing the collections assistant will help to locate the fireflies more easily)

Beetles[]

Image Beetle Rarity Value (§) Catch Chance EP Where?
Cockroach Cockroach Common 1 70% &BG
TS3 Icon
Base Neighborhood
Ladybug Ladybug Common 10 80% &BG
TS3 Icon
Base Neighborhood
Japanese Beetle Japanese Beetle Common 15 90% &BG
TS3 Icon
Base Neighborhood
Water Beetle Water Beetle Common 30 80% &BG
TS3 Icon
Base Neighborhood
Light Beetle Light Beetle Uncommon 40 95% &BG
TS3 Icon
Base Neighborhood
Rhinoceros Beetle Rhinoceros Beetle Uncommon 90 70% &BG
TS3 Icon
Base Neighborhood
Stag Beetle Stag Beetle Uncommon 175 75% &BG
TS3 Icon
Base Neighborhood
Spotted Beetle Spotted Beetle Rare 400 80% &BG
TS3 Icon
Base Neighborhood
Trilobite Beetle Trilobite Beetle Rare 750 90% &BG
TS3 Icon
Base Neighborhood
Rainbow Beetle Rainbow Beetle Extraordinarily Unusual 1,400 70% &BG
TS3 Icon
Base Neighborhood
Cerambyx Beetle Cerambyx Common 70 90% &EP01
TS3WA Icon
France
Scarab Beetle Scarab Uncommon 180 50% &EP01
TS3WA Icon
Egypt
Red Assassin Bug Red Assassin Bug Rare 800 65% &EP01
TS3WA Icon
China
Termite Termite Common 5 80% &EP03
TS3LN Icon
Base Neighborhood
Spider Spider Common 15 70% &EP03
TS3LN Icon
Base Neighborhood
Plasma Bug Plasma Bug Extraordinarily Unusual 3,400 70% &EP09
TS3UL Icon
Science research station (radiation experiment)
Pill Bug Pill Bug Common 5 80% &EP11
TS3ITF Icon
Dystopian Oasis Landing
Honeypot Ant Honeypot Ant Uncommon 50 70% &EP11
TS3ITF Icon
Dystopian Oasis Landing
Notes
  • Plasma Bugs are a reference to the giant, plasma-shooting alien insects of the Starship Troopers movie.
  • In real life, Cockroaches and Termites are not beetles but insects in the order Blattodea.[1]
  • Assassin Bugs are in the order Hemiptera, or 'True Bugs', and are also not beetles.[2]
  • Spiders are also not beetles, and are not insects at all, but rather Arachnids, a group that includes scorpions and mites.[3]
  • Pill Bugs are a type of Woodlouse, and are land dwelling crustaceans, not insects.[4]
  • Honeypot Ants are, you guessed it, not beetles, but insects in the Formicidae family.
  • After visiting the Dystopian version of Oasis Landing,[TS3:ITF] Sims become able to eat collectible butterflies and beetles, which can give either Rare Delicacy, Satisfying and Slimy, Bad Aftertaste, or Nauseous moodlets. Different specimen of the same insect species can give different results.

Nanites[]

Nanites are robotic bugs featured in The Sims 3: Into the Future and they can be found in Oasis Landing. Nanites are essential components of some, but not all, trait chips, and some advanced chips require specific nanites

Unlike butterflies and beetles, Sims can design and create nanites; doing this requires Reventlov's Bot Workshop. Designing and creating a nanite increases the bot building skill. Nanites can also be reverse engineered. Reverse engineering a nanite lets a Sim learn how to design it, and may yield empty processors.

Image Nanite Rarity Cost (§) Value (§) Catch Chance EP Where?
Neutron Nanite Neutron Nanite Common 18 20 90% &EP11
TS3ITF Icon
Bot Workshop, Oasis Landing
Caustic Nanite Caustic Nanite Common 18 25 90% &EP11
TS3ITF Icon
Bot Workshop, Oasis Landing
Quantum Nanite Quantum Nanite Common 22 30 90% &EP11
TS3ITF Icon
Bot Workshop, Oasis Landing
Scalar Nanite Scalar Nanite Common 22 30 90% &EP11
TS3ITF Icon
Bot workshop, Oasis Landing
Lite Nanite Lite Nanite Common 26 35 90% &EP11
TS3ITF Icon
Bot workshop, Oasis Landing
Lepton Nanite Lepton Nanite Common 30 40 90% &EP11
TS3ITF Icon
Bot Workshop, Oasis Landing
Tribble Nanite Tribble Nanite Common 37 50 90% &EP11
TS3ITF Icon
Bot workshop, Oasis Landing
Heisenberg Nanite Heisenberg Nanite Common 41 55 90% &EP11
TS3ITF Icon
Bot Workshop, Oasis Landing
Tunnelling Nanite Tunnelling Nanite Uncommon 75 100 80% &EP11
TS3ITF Icon
Bot Workshop, Oasis Landing
Torque Nanite Torque Nanite Uncommon 78 105 80% &EP11
TS3ITF Icon
Bot workshop, Oasis Landing
Induction Nanite Induction Nanite Uncommon 86 115 80% &EP11
TS3ITF Icon
Bot workshop, Oasis Landing
Polar Nanite Polar Nanite Uncommon 86 115 80% &EP11
TS3ITF Icon
Bot Workshop, Oasis Landing
Thermo Nanite Thermo Nanite Uncommon 93 125 80% &EP11
TS3ITF Icon
Bot workshop, Oasis Landing
Consensor Nanite Condsensor Nanite Uncommon 67 90 80% &EP11
TS3ITF Icon
Bot Workshop, Oasis Landing
Entropic Nanite Entropic Rare 206 275 75% &EP11
TS3ITF Icon
Bot workshop,[2] Oasis Landing
Dispersion Nanite Dispersion Rare 187 250 75% &EP11
TS3ITF Icon
Bot workshop,[2] Oasis Landing
Prismatic Nanite Prismatic Rare 262 350 75% &EP11
TS3ITF Icon
Bot workshop,[2] Oasis Landing
Damping Nanite Damping Rare 236 315 75% &EP11
TS3ITF Icon
Bot workshop,[2] Oasis Landing
Optic Nanite Optic Rare 232 310 75% &EP11
TS3ITF Icon
Bot workshop,[2] Oasis Landing
Uber Nanite Uber Rare 412 550 75% &EP11
TS3ITF Icon
Bot workshop,[2] Oasis Landing

The Sims 4[]

The Sims 4: Outdoor Retreat[]

TS4OR Collecting Insects

A Sim collecting insects from the ground.

Insect collecting returns in The Sims 4: Outdoor Retreat and works similarly to The Sims 3. Sims can collect different types of insects and then have them as decorative items (giving +3 environment score), or sell them to gain more Simoleons. Sims can also roast insects over a campfire, or prepare shish kebabs or gumbo with them on a grill. Another way to consume insects would be combining them with plants to form herbal remedies through the use of the herbalism skill. Insects can be only found in Granite Falls, though some are exclusively spawned in the deep forest areas of the world such as Hermit's House or the Granite Falls Forest. Insects can also appear at different times of the day or night and some are exclusive to either of those time periods. The collection can be quite difficult to complete due to the high number of common insects and the time-of-day mechanic.

Insects can be spotted on the ground or in mid-air. A lot of them may be quite hard to track down at first as they can blend in with the environment, but catching them should be easy. A good way to spot a group of insects would be to keep the camera near the ground level on normal time speed. Pausing the game may not be beneficial, as the insects may be even harder to see when standing still. Fireflies will glow during the night, making them more easily recognizable. When a Sim tries to catch an insect, there is a chance that the insect will bite, giving the Sim an uncomfortable moodlet.

List of insects[]

Image Name Rarity Value Collecting time Location
TS4OR Insect Bee Common §4 Morning, Noon, Evening Campground, Forest, Hermit's House
TS4OR Insect Blue Morpho Butterfly Common §4 Morning, Noon, Evening Campground, Forest, Hermit's House
TS4OR Insect Fire Ant Common §3 Morning, Noon, Evening Campground, Forest, Hermit's House
TS4OR Insect Firefly Common §4 Night Campground, Forest, Hermit's House
TS4OR Insect Jezebel Butterfly Common §3 Morning, Noon, Evening Campground, Forest, Hermit's House
TS4OR Insect Katydid Common §4 Morning, Noon, Evening Campground, Forest, Hermit's House
TS4OR Insect Ladybug Common §4 Morning, Noon, Night Campground, Forest, Hermit's House
TS4OR Insect Luna Moth Common §4 Morning, Noon, Evening Campground, Forest, Hermit's House
TS4OR Insect Mosquito Common §4 Morning, Evening, Night Campground, Forest, Hermit's House
TS4OR Insect Stink Bug Common §4 Morning, Noon Campground, Forest
TS4OR Insect Termite Common §3 Noon, Evening Campground, Forest, Hermit's House
TS4OR Insect Dragonfly Uncommon §15 Noon Campground, Forest, Hermit's House
TS4OR Insect Jewel Beetle Uncommon §15 Morning Campground, Forest, Hermit's House
TS4OR Insect Locust Uncommon §15 Morning, Noon, Evening Campground, Forest
TS4OR Insect Mantis Uncommon §15 Morning, Noon, Evening Campground, Forest, Hermit's House
TS4OR Insect Monarch Butterfly Uncommon §15 Morning, Noon, Evening Forest, Hermit's House
TS4OR Insect Walking Stick Uncommon §12 Noon Hermit's House
TS4OR Insect Dragon Dragonfly Rare §600 Noon Hermit's House
TS4OR Insect Dust Spirit Rare §200 Evening, Night Forest, Hermit's House
TS4OR Insect Rainbow Firefly Rare §75 Night Forest, Hermit's House
TS4OR Insect Will-o-the-Wisp Rare §150 Night Forest, Hermit's House

Reward[]

After collecting all the insects the player receives the "Entomologist Delight" award, which is a plaque that can be hung on a wall. Collecting all 21 insects alongside the five fish added in Outdoor Retreat in Granite Falls will also unlock the "Critter Catcher" achievement.

Image Description Value
EntomologistDelightAward To bee or not to bee! We recognize your dedication and hard work by presenting you with this award.

The Sims 4: Eco Lifestyle[]

Mitey Mitey Home - Insect Farm
Mitey Mitey Home - Insect Farm
The Perfect place for your Curious endeavor to prosper! This unit is built from perfectly suited insect family materials that will make your little critters abuzz from joy that will have you busy beezing.
Game The Sims 4: Eco Lifestyle
Buyability Build mode
Price in game §165
Size 2x2

In The Sims 4: Eco Lifestyle, Sims can farm their own insects. Insects will need to be fed and nurtured. Sims can collect Bio Fuel and insects for food every 24 hours. Occasionally, insects will produce Super Fertilizer.

All meals produced from insects are unsuitable for vegetarians.

List of insects[]

  • Beetles (§15) 
    • Produces Beetle Nuggets (Main ingredient in Beetle Juice, which requires level 10 mixology skill)
  • Bombardier Beetles (§35) - Requires level 5 cooking or level 9 mischief skill
    • Produces Bombardier Beetle Nuggets (Main ingredient in Bombardier Beetle Stir Fry)
  • Crickets (§15)
    • Produces Cricket flour (Main ingredient in Popcorn Crickets and Cricket Meal)
  • Grubs (§15) 
    • Produces Grub Meal (Main ingredient in Grub Dogs)
This section is in need of additional information. You can help The Sims Wiki by expanding this section.

Notes[]

  1. This butterfly can only be caught in a patched game.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 This can be created if the Sim using the bot workshop has reverse engineered one.
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