ACNH Bug-Off Guide: Flick Points, Summer Bugs, Prize Priority and Prep for the Next Northern Event
The July 2026 Bug-Off has ended, but Flick’s point shop remains available. Northern Hemisphere players will have more chances on August 22 and September 26 to earn rewards. This ACNH guide covers Bug-Off scoring, valuable catches, prize priorities, and preparation tips.
Bug-Off Recap and Schedule
Northern hemisphere Bug-Off dates in 2026:
- June 27
- July 25
- August 22
- September 26
Each event runs 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time. Flick sets up near Resident Services from 5:00 a.m., but timed rounds only count during the nine-hour window.
July sits between two peak insect months. Dozens of summer bugs spawn only in June–August, so this Bug-Off was one of the best chances to fill Critterpedia gaps while farming points.
How Bug-Off Scoring Works
Each round lasts three minutes. Every bug you catch earns one point. Catch three or more different bugs in the same round and you receive a two-point bonus on top of your total for that session.
Talk to Flick after the timer ends to bank points. You can enter:
- One free solo round per Bug-Off day
- Unlimited extra solo rounds for 500 Bells each
- Free rounds when visiting friends' islands during their event
Multiplayer on the same island stacks everyone's catches toward shared point totals, which is the fastest way to clear high-tier rewards if you coordinate early in the morning.
Best Summer Bugs for Points and Bells
High-spawn summer insects keep your three-minute totals stable:
- Giant stag and horned dynastid on trees (evening)
- Rajah brooke's birdwing and other butterflies on flowers (daytime)
- Mole cricket — dig audio cues; lower sell value but fast catches
- Scarab beetle on trees (night, high value if you need Bells after the event)
Bring at least two flimsy nets upgraded to nets, and craft extra before 9:00 a.m. so you never lose a round to broken tools.
If your island flowers are sparse, plant hybrid beds a week ahead of August's Bug-Off — butterflies reward consistent color patches more than random weeds.
Bug-Off Prizes: What to Buy First
Points exchange for limited Flick items that rotate stock during the event. Trophy tiers unlock across the whole summer series based on lifetime Bug-Off points:
- Under 100 total points: bronze trophy path
- 200–300 range: silver
- Roughly 400+ across the season: gold variants
Priority order for most islands:
- Bug-themed furniture you cannot catalog elsewhere (termite mound, bug cage lamp)
- Flick's shirt and umbrella if you collect NPC sets
- Repeat buys of sellable items only if you need quick Bells and have points to spare
Do not chase every cosmetic if August and September are your real trophy push — spread 500-Bell rematches across days instead of one marathon session.
Starter, Mid, and Late-Summer Plans
Starter (first Bug-Off ever): play the free round, learn spawn locations, and buy one or two catalog pieces you like. Skip paid rematches until you know your island's three-minute average.
Mid (Critterpedia at 70%+): run two or three paid rounds on July/August events, focus on tree bugs at dusk, and visit a mystery island with bamboo if your home spawns are thin.
Late / trophy hunters: coordinate multiplayer mornings, stack July + August points toward gold, and keep August 22 open for a full session rather than spending July points on duplicate furniture.
Bell and Nook Miles Efficiency
Bug-Off days compete with routine Bell tasks — hot items, turnips, and diving. Set a Bell budget before you spam 500-Bell entries; three rematches cost 1,500 Bells for roughly one extra furniture unlock if your catch rate is average.
Nook Miles Tickets matter when your home island lacks rare spawns. Saving tickets for August mystery tours with friends often beats solo rematches, because shared catches multiply points.
If you are short on tools or flowers and would rather skip the grind, many players stock customization kits and nets through trading visits — focus your play time on timed rounds, not all-day crafting.
Common Mistakes
- Starting rounds with a flimsy net about to break
- Ignoring the three-bug bonus by chasing only one rare spawn
- Forgetting the 6:00 p.m. hard stop — no points after closing
- Buying every Flick item when trophy points should carry to August
- Chasing southern-hemisphere dates (January/February) while on a northern island
Prep for the Next Bug-Off
Isabelle announces the next Bug-Off on bulletin boards the week before. Plant flowers, clear inventory space for bugs Flick stores automatically, and check Critterpedia for summer species leaving after August.
Fireworks Sundays in August are separate — no Bug-Off points, but good weeks to gather custom designs and Bells between insect events.
July Bug-Off rewards carry forward. Treat August as your correction round if July felt rushed, and you will hit silver or gold without burning out on a single Saturday.
