Agitha is weird. Let's just get that out of the way. She lives in a massive castle in Hyrule Castle Town, calls herself a princess, and has an obsession with golden insects that borders on the pathological. But if you want that Giant Wallet—and eventually the Colossal Wallet in the HD version—you have to play along. Tracking down every Twilight Princess HD bug locations entry isn't just a completionist's whim; it's a fundamental part of the economy in a game where everything costs way too many Rupees.
Most people remember the bug hunt as a slog. It can be. But Nintendo actually smoothed things out a bit for the Wii U remaster. They didn't move the bugs, but the map integration makes tracking them slightly less of a headache than it was on the GameCube or the flipped Wii version.
The thing about these bugs is that they glow. That sounds helpful, right? Well, it is, until you’re squinting at a sun-drenched TV screen trying to find a gold glimmer on a tan rock. Pro tip: do your hunting at night. It’s significantly easier to spot the golden particles when the sun goes down.
Faron Woods and the Early Game Scavenge
You start off easy. The game basically hands you the first few to make sure you know Agitha exists. In Faron Woods, you’re looking for Beetles.
The Male Beetle is hanging out on a tree. You’ll find it in the area just before you head into the mist-filled swamp section. Look up. He’s usually just chilling on a trunk, waiting for a Gale Boomerang or a well-placed clawshot (though you won't have the clawshot yet). The Female Beetle is nearby, but she’s higher up. Go to the ledge on the west side of the same area. Use the boomerang. It’s the easiest way to snag her without doing a bunch of platforming gymnastics.
Wait, I should mention the Gale Boomerang. It is your best friend. While you can technically grab some bugs by just walking up to them and swinging your sword or pressing A, the boomerang locks on. It’s foolproof.
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Kakariko Village and Death Mountain
Once you clear the darkness from Eldin Province, the bugs come out to play. This is where the Twilight Princess HD bug locations start getting a bit more spread out.
The Ants are probably the most annoying ones in this region. The Male Ant is at the back of the village, tucked away in the graveyard. He’s usually crawling around one of the trees on the right side. The Female Ant? She’s inside one of the houses. Specifically, the house on the west side of the village. You have to go inside and look on the floor. It feels a bit like pest control, honestly.
Moving up toward Death Mountain, you’ll find the Pill Bugs.
- Male Pill Bug: Check the ground near the entrance to the mountain path, right where the Kakariko music fades out.
- Female Pill Bug: This one is tricky. It’s in a little alcove further up the path, hidden by some grass. Use your senses if you’re playing as Wolf Link, or just look for the golden sparkles.
The Vastness of Hyrule Field
Hyrule Field is where most players give up on the bug hunt. It’s too big. There’s too much grass. But the bugs are almost always near specific landmarks.
Let’s talk about the snails. They like the southern part of the field, near the entrance to Lake Hylia. The Male Snail is inside the small alcove/tunnel area. The Female Snail is much more annoying—she’s on the ceiling of a rocky overhang near the steps leading down toward the lake. You absolutely need the Gale Boomerang for her.
Then there are the Grasshoppers.
They jump.
Obviously.
The Male Grasshopper is in the northern part of the field, near the bridge that leads toward the Great Bridge of Eldin. The Female is on the opposite side, usually hopping around the yellowish grass patches.
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The Butterflies are actually quite pleasant. You'll find them near the eastern exit of Castle Town. The Male is just fluttering in a patch of flowers. The Female is a bit higher up on a ledge that you usually need the clawshot to reach comfortably, but you can sometimes snag her with the boomerang if your aim is true.
Lake Hylia and the Zora's Domain Trek
Lanayru Province is huge, but the bugs are clustered in some pretty memorable spots. The Dragonflies are the stars here.
The Male Dragonfly is at Zora's Domain, near the waterfall. Look for the little strip of land near the bottom. He’s usually zipping around there. The Female Dragonfly is at Lake Hylia, specifically over by the Doctor's house/fishing area. You'll see her hovering over the water or the nearby grass.
Wait, don’t forget the Water Skaters.
- The Male is on the bridge over Lake Hylia.
- The Female is at the southern end of the lake, near the Spirit Spring.
Actually, a lot of people miss the Stag Beetles. These are near the northern path leading out of the field toward the Zora's River. The Male is on a tree near the rocky wall. The Female is further up the path, hidden on a rock face above a small cave entrance.
The Desert and the Peaks
Once you hit the Gerudo Desert, things get sandy. The Dayfly pair is out here. They are relatively easy to find because the desert is so flat. The Male is flying around the southern central area. The Female is in one of the trenches near the enemy camp.
Then you have the Mantis pair.
The Male Mantis is at the Great Bridge of Hylia. He’s usually on the northern end, clinging to the stonework. The Female is also near the bridge, but look down. She’s often under the archway or on the cliff face just south of the bridge.
Why the HD Version Changes the Math
In the original Wii and GameCube versions, the bug hunt was purely for the wallet upgrades. In the HD version on Wii U, they added the "Ghost Lantern" and made the HUD a bit more informative. While the lantern is for Poes, the general quality-of-life improvements mean your map actually tracks where you've collected bugs more effectively.
If you’re looking for a specific bug and can’t find it, check your map. A small chest icon usually denotes a bug you haven't grabbed yet in some versions, but for the golden insects, it’s mostly about checking your inventory and cross-referencing Agitha’s list.
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Agitha gives you rewards in tiers:
- First bug: Big Wallet (holds 1,000 Rupees).
- Every pair: 100 Rupees.
- All 24 bugs: Giant Wallet (holds 2,000 Rupees).
- In the HD version, completing the quest can lead to the Colossal Wallet (holds 9,999 Rupees).
That 9,999 wallet is basically essential if you want to use the Magic Armor for more than five minutes without going broke. The armor drains Rupees instead of health, and let's be real, the final cave challenges are a lot easier when you're literally wearing money as a shield.
Common Mistakes People Make
Most players forget that bugs can be knocked down. If a bug is on a high wall and your boomerang isn't reaching, try hitting the wall with a bomb arrow or rolling into the structure. Sometimes they get stuck in the geometry. If a bug isn't where it's supposed to be, leave the area and come back at night.
Also, don't forget the Ladybugs. They are near the south gate of Hyrule Castle Town. The Male is on a pillar. The Female is near the trees where the kids hang out. They are tiny. Seriously, they are the smallest bugs in the game. Use your ears; they make a very specific shimmering sound when you’re close.
Actionable Steps for Your Completionist Run
If you want to wrap this up quickly, follow this workflow:
- Wait for Night: It is significantly easier to see the glow of the bugs against the dark environment. If it's daytime, go play a mini-game or fish until the sun sets.
- Clear the Temple of Time First: Having the Dominion Rod isn't necessary for the bugs, but having the Double Clawshots (from the City in the Sky) makes reaching some of the vertical locations way less frustrating.
- Check Agitha’s Journal: If you talk to her, she’ll mention which ones she’s missing in a roundabout, "bug princess" kind of way.
- Use the Gale Boomerang Exclusively: Don't try to catch them by hand. It’s a waste of time and you’ll likely fall off a ledge. Lock on, throw, and the bug comes to you.
- Mark Your Map: As soon as you see a glimmer you can't reach yet, put a stamp on your map so you don't forget to come back once you have the right gear.
The bug hunt is a slow burn. Don't try to do all 24 at once or you'll burn out on the game before you even hit the Twilight Realm. Pick a province, clear the bugs there, and go turn them in. Agitha’s reactions are weird enough to make the trip back to Castle Town worth it every time.