Insect Catching Guide
Insect Catching is Heartopia's bubble-based bug-hunting hobby — approach carefully, trap what you find, and work your way up through star quality and hobby levels. This guide covers the core catching mechanic, how to unlock the hobby, and the achievements built around it.
How Catching Works
Once you've got a bubble net equipped, catching an insect comes down to how you approach it: move in slowly so you don't spook it, then either tap for a quick bubble or hold to charge a more precise one. SeeNaniwa's shop for the net itself and other catching gear.
Bubble Technique
Casts a bubble straight ahead right away — good for an insect that's already sitting still and close by.
Walks you slowly toward the target while charging a more precise bubble — better for skittish or flying insects that startle easily.
Some insects fly off the moment you get close. A careful, charged approach beats rushing in every time.
Unlocking the Hobby
Insect Catching tends to open up earlier than some of Heartopia's other hobbies — around D.G. Member level 6. Once you're there, you'll want to check in with the game's hobby mentors and then return toNaniwa to confirm the hobby with a Hobby Expansion Ticket. He'll hand you your first bubble net once it's unlocked.
Naniwa is The Entomologist, found at Deer Tower — his shop stocks the terrariums, attractors, and other gear the hobby runs on.
Star Quality & Value
Like fish and birds, every catchable insect comes in five quality tiers — the higher the star rating, the more it's worth. Cabbage White is a good example of the spread:
Cabbage White
3024536041205240See the Cabbage White page for its full details, or browse the insect database for every other species, including which weather and time of day each one shows up in.
Swarms & Events
A special spawn trigger that can show up during an Insect Catching Event — setting one off tends to bring out insects you wouldn't otherwise see nearby.
Some Insect Catching Events have an extra hidden phase on top of the normal one, tracked by its own achievement below. Exactly what triggers it isn't fully pinned down.
A recurring event themed around baiting out insects that don't normally show up during the base hobby loop.
Gear From Naniwa
Naniwa's shop stocks a couple of items built specifically for insect catching, on top of the bubble net itself.
Set it up to lure insects toward you instead of hunting them down one by one -- shareable with other D.G. Members, which is also what the achievement below tracks.
2,000
Said to help you pick up on nearby insects before they're visible, cutting down on time spent wandering a location empty-handed.
3,000💡 Sharing the Inflatable Insect Attractor with other D.G. Members also counts toward the Insect Catching Party achievement below.
Insect Catching Achievements
A few real achievements built around the hobby, if you like chasing those alongside your collection.
Tips
- Approach slowly and use a charged (held) bubble on anything that looks likely to fly off
- Check an insect's weather and time-of-day conditions before hunting for it specifically
- Sell what you don't want to keep to Albert Jr., or display favorites in a Vivarium at home
- Share an Inflatable Insect Attractor with other D.G. Members if you're chasing that achievement
Quick Reference
| Mechanic | Quick Rule |
|---|---|
| Core Tool | Bubble net, from Naniwa the Entomologist |
| Catch Method | Quick tap for a fast bubble, hold to charge a precise one |
| Quality | 1–5★ tiers per insect, same as fish and birds |
| Swarms | Event spawn triggers that can surface rarer insects |
| Selling | Albert Jr. buys insects you don't want to keep |
| Display | Vivariums let you keep favorites at home instead |