Michigan Is One of Two States To Not Have An Official Insect

Michigan has plenty of official state [blanks]. The American Robin is the state bird. The Brook Trout is the state fish. The state flower is the Apple Blossom. The list goes on and on, including a state gem, state fossil, state soil (??), but shockingly, there is one pretty big oversight that Michigan does not have: an official state insect.

Yes, we have a state soil before a state insect.

However, a fifth-grade class in Grand Rapids is looking to change this with their own proposal.

Aberdeen Academy's Request

Aberdeen Academy, an elementary school in the Grand Rapids Public Schools, has made its case for why the Stonefly should be named Michigan's official state insect. All 18 fifth graders wrote five-paragraph essays and mailed them to State Rep. Rachel Hood, who was so impressed that she introduced bill HB5563 to officially make the stonefly the state insect.

READ MORE: What Is The Official Dog of Michigan?

Why The Stonefly?

Stoneflies are pretty unproblematic insects since they do not feed on people, animals, plants, or trees, and tend to stay in the rivers where they were born. The bugs are unique and live only in clean water, making them a natural indicator of freshwater. However, Stoneflies' best claim to fame is their tie to another of Michigan's official animals: the brook trout. The stonefly is one of the Brook Trout's main nutrient sources.

The outlook is looking pretty good for this insect to get the recognition it deserves, thanks to one committed fifth-grade class.