Insects and Bugs Dream Symbol Meaning

Did you dream you were covered in ants? Or that you were being attacked by bees? Perhaps you were admiring a beautiful colorful moth…

Dreaming about insects or bugs can mean many different things and it’s important to consider what was happening in your dream, what kind of insect it was, and how you felt about it to really get to the bottom of it’s meaning. In this post we’ll cover some of the many different things insects or bugs can symbolize in your dreams.

On planet earth, there are currently over 900 thousand kinds of known living insects. They come in many varieties, flying, swimming and walking.

Some common types of insects you may come across in your day to day life are ants, bees, butterflies, caterpillars, dragonflies, fireflies, house flies, mosquitos, termites and ticks.

Many people consider insects pests or something to fear. But some people consider them fascinating and unique creatures to be marveled at.

Insects behave in a many different ways, and all of this matters in the context of your dream. Consider how you feel about the insect you dreamt of… Did you fear them? Did you find them interesting or beautiful?

What it Means to Dream About insects

Negative Feelings, Dissatisfaction, Anxiety

Dreams of insects can sometimes represent emotions and feelings you are repressing, but that nonetheless “creep” through your unconscious.

Did you dream of creepy crawlies? This could represent an emotion or experience you are pushing away or repressing. Are you ‘pest”ered by some past trauma that you just don’t want to deal with?

Sit with these questions and consider if you are trying to “exterminate” some inner part of yourself.

Change and Transformation

Some insects go through massive changes over the course of their lives. Butterflies and moths begin their lives as caterpillars but eventually emerge fully changed.

Did you dream of a caterpillar? The caterpillar can represent the many phases of our lives. This could mean that you are on the brink of leveling up! Especially if within the dream the caterpillar transformed into a butterfly. Massive changes could be ahead.

The caterpillar could also mean that you feel something is missing in your life. You yearn to become the butterfly, but are not yet sure how to make that happen.

Abundance and Blessings

Bees can be a symbol of blessings and abundance. The honey it creates, the result of the hard work it puts forth, has long been associated with prosperity and wealth.

Ladybugs are associated with windfalls of good luck. Some people believe dreaming of a ladybug means your dreams and wishes will soon come true.

Butterflies among grasses and flowers are associated with prosperity, new ventures and good fortune.

Quote:
“We are all insects. Groping towards something terrible or divine.”

― Philip K. Dick, The Man in the High Castle

Common Types of Insects in Dreams

Now that we’ve covered some common themes in insect dreams, let’s take a look at the different types of insects you might encounter in a dream.

Ants in Dreams

Ants can represent dissatisfaction with your routine. Ants live a very structured life, going about working on the same thing day in and day out, with very little reward for their hard work. Is this how you feel about your routine? See our post on dream meaning of ants for more insight.

Bee Dream Meaning

Bees are tenacious, hard working and selfless creatures. Dreaming of one could mean that you also embody these traits, or that you should work harder to in the future.

The term “busy as a bee” is commonly know… does this remind you of yourself? Perhaps your dream is a reflection of you feeling overwhelmed by all the busyness in your life.

Bees are also known to be a symbol of wealth and good luck. According to feng shui, if bees move onto your property, building a hive in a nearby tree or even in the wall of your home, this is considered a great blessing of joy and good fortune.

Caterpillars, Butterflies and Dragonflies

Transformation or change may be on the horizon. Dreaming of caterpillars, butterflies or dragonflies are all opportunities to take a look at our lives and assess if there is anything we should leave behind. A relationship, a job, a new way of looking at something… transformation can come in many ways.

Fireflies

Fireflies, also known as lightning bugs, often light the night time sky of summer months. Seeing a firefly in your dream is a hopeful and positive sign of creative inspiration.

Flies in Dreams

Often associated with dirt, filth, and unsanitary places, flies in your dreams could be bringing your attention to buried negative emotions such as guilt or shame.

Flies in dreams can also represent distraction and annoyance. If you are irritated with the flies in the dream, that could indicate some nagging irritation in your daily life. Perhaps a recurring situation that you would rather not deal with.

However, if your experience with the flies in the dream are positive, it could represent new personal growth. Flies are persistent, and can remind us not to give up on our quest to meet our goals.

Termite

Dreaming of termites can mean you feel attacked or weakened in some way, just as the termite attacks and bores through wood and other building materials, weakening and destroying them.

Ticks & Mosquitos

Ticks and Mosquitos, both blood suckers by nature can indicate you are feeling drained. This could be about your job, a relationship, a health issue, etc. Where in your life do you need to recharge? Do you feel as if your energy is being sucked away from you?

These are just a few of the many insects that may be visiting your dreams. Now that we’ve covered some of those examples, let’s look into the dream interpretation for different dream scenarios you may experience.

Cockroaches in Dreams

The cockroach in our dreams can mean that we need to persevere in life to get what we want. It tells us to be adaptable and make changes.

You may be feeling like you can’t overcome an obstacle in your life. You may also be unsatisfied about what is currently happening. Learn more about the dream meaning of cockroaches.

Common Dreams About Insects and What They Mean

Catching Insects in a Dream:

If you dreamed you were trying to catch an insect, you may be feeling frustrated about chasing after something in your waking world.

This dream may be telling you that you are a pursuing a lost cause and you would be best to put your efforts elsewhere. Where are you wasting your energy?

Being chased by insects:

Dreams about being chased by insects could indicate that you feel overwhelmed by your daily obligations. You may want to get organized and make a plan of action.

Being chased could also mean you are quite literally running away from something. Is there something in your life you are avoiding?

Being Bitten by an Insect

Being bitten by and insect or insects in your dreams suggests you may feel attacked in some way. Perhaps someone hurt you, physically or emotionally, and you still feel that pain.

You may also see an attack coming on the horizon, perhaps a rival or coworker seeks to discredit you and harm your reputation. This may be an invitation to face your fears or protect yourself from further harm.

Killing insects

To see yourself killing insects while you sleep may be gross and unsettling but can actually be very positive symbol. This is likely a metaphor for overcoming challenges and obstacles in your life. You might very well be “killing it.” See killing in dreams for more interpretations.

To understand more about what your dream means, ask yourself these questions:

• How do you feel about insects in everyday life?
• What other symbols appeared in the dream?
• Have you been feeling overwhelmed, attacked or afraid of something?
• Is there anything in your life you would be happier letting go of?
• Are you ready to make some big changes?
• Are you repressing any negative emotions?

Did you have a dream about insects? Tell us about your dream and what it means for you in the comments section below!