Animal Crossing: New Horizons Guide | Bug Off Event Dates, Prizes & Points

Everything you need to know about the bug event in animal crossing new horizons

Game Guide by Sabi on Dec 18, 2024

Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH) features a reoccurring event known as The Bug-Off, which takes place four times a year throughout the summertime. Find out when the Bug-Off will take place, investigate all of the prize items that are themed around bugs, and find out how to get the most challenge points by reading our guide.

Bug-Off Event Dates and Times

There is a Bug-Off event that takes place in Animal Crossing: New Horizons throughout each of the four months that make up the summer season! When the Bug-Off occurs, it will take place on the fourth Saturday of the month if your island is located in the Northern Hemisphere. The Southern Hemisphere occurs on the third Saturday of every month.

Northern Hemisphere Bug-Off 2024 Dates

June 22nd, 2024
July 27th, 2024
August 24th, 2024
September 28th, 2024

Southern Hemisphere Bug-Off 2024 Dates

January 20th, 2024
February 17th, 2024
November 16th, 2024

When you are playing the game on one of these dates when the Bug-Off event is taking place, you will find the Flick special character set up with a tent outside of the Resident Services plaza beginning at five in the morning, when the day begins.

In spite of the fact that Flick can be located at Resident Services as early as five in the morning, the Bug-Off event won't officially start until nine in the morning. In addition, the event will be terminated at precisely six o'clock in the evening, which means that you will no longer be able to take part in it and accumulate points. On the days of the event, you are required to play the Bug-Off between the hours of nine in the morning and six in the evening.

Last but not least, the Bug-Off event will not take place on your island if you have not yet accomplished the necessary level of progression in the game to unlock the town hall building for Resident Services and you still have a tent. On the other hand, you might try to participate by going to the island of another friend.

How To Play The Bug-Off Event

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Guide, How To Play The Bug-Off Event

If you want to start playing the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Bug-Off event, you will need to speak with the special character Flick outside of the Resident Services plaza and ask him to initiate a challenge.

You are able to take part in an endless number of time trial bug challenges offered by Flick. The initial challenge will be free of charge, but after that, you will be required to pay a cost of 500 Bells in order to resume playing additional challenges.

Following the beginning of the challenge, you will have a period of three minutes to attempt to capture as many bugs as you possibly can across your island. In order to keep track of your progress, a timer and a bug-caught counter will be displayed at the very top of the screen by default.

In order to find out how many points you have won via bug capturing, you will need to speak with Flick outside of Resident Services once the countdown has expired. Every bug that you find earns you one point, and if you manage to find at least three bugs during the challenge, you will receive an additional two points! It will be possible to trade these points in for special Bug-Off products at a later time.

Bug-Off Event Rules Summary

To summarize, the following is a list of the most significant rules that you need to be aware of about the Bug-Off event:

During the three-minute challenges, you should make an effort to find as many bugs as you can.
You will receive one point for each bug that you catch, and you will receive an additional two points if you catch at least three bugs.
You can enter challenges for free once, but after that, you will have to pay 500 Bells instead. When playing with other people, it is free.
Exchange ten points for each exclusive Bug-Off item, and get trophies based on the overall number of points you have earned.
Keep scrolling down until you reach the conclusion of this guide to find further useful suggestions on how to get the most points possible during the Bug-Off!

Selling Or Removing Bugs From The Bug Cage

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Guide, Selling Or Removing Bugs From The Bug Cage

The bugs that you capture while participating in the Bug-Off challenges will not be added to your regular pocket inventory; rather, they will be transferred to the Bug Cage, which is located near Flick and outside of the Resident Services building.

This will save you the trouble of dealing with inventory space, but if you manage to catch a new bug that hasn't yet been given to your Museum, you will need to make sure that you physically retrieve it from the Bug Cage before it is sold.

Following the completion of the challenge, you will have the opportunity to swiftly sell Flick the entirety of the contents contained within the Bug Cage. You can sell bugs that you have caught outside of the challenges to him as well, and he will pay you at a premium rate that is 150% of the standard sell price for bugs. (after completing your first challenge, select "Something else," and then ask yourself, "Can I sell you bugs?")

It is important to keep in mind that the Bug Cage must be cleaned before a new task can begin. Therefore, you must have at least two conversations with Flick after each challenge in order to both gain points and sell the bugs that you have been holding in the cage.

How To Exchange Points For Bug-Off Prize Items

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Guide, How To Exchange Points For Bug-Off Item

As a reward for taking part in the Bug-Off event in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, players will receive a whole new and unique collection of things that are only available to them. Once you have completed one of the Bug-Off tasks and accumulated a certain number of points, you will be able to trade those points in for prize and reward opportunities.

Enter into a conversation with Flick and click the "Redeem points" option in order to trade your points for prize goods that are themed around bugs. He is going to inform you of the number of points that you now possess and will give you the opportunity to trade ten points for a Bug-Off item that is unique to you!

According to our observations, before Flick begins to offer you duplicates, you will always receive one of each item that makes up a complete set from him. Due to the fact that there are thirteen distinct items to get, you will need to accumulate and trade a minimum of one hundred thirty points in order to acquire the whole Bug-Off prize items set!

Items in the All Bug-Off Prizes List (including Clothing and Furniture)

It is possible to trade in your points for thirteen different Bug-Off exclusive products themed around insects, including different varieties of the Spider Doorplate! Below, you will find a comprehensive table that details all thirteen things, along with their respective sell prices. This table includes furniture, bags, apparel, accessories, and more.