Flick pays 150% of a bug’s ordinary market value, so saving valuable catches for his visits can earn more Bells. You can also trade three bugs of the same species for a model, or enter the timed Bug-Off for points and themed prizes. Flick’s visits are random, and bug availability depends on your island’s hemisphere, the month, the time, and the bug’s spawn location.
When does Flick show up?
Flick’s ordinary visits are random; there is no reliable weekly cycle or player-controlled way to summon him. GameSpot reports that he stays on the island from 5 AM until 5 AM the following day. Check your island rather than planning around a predicted visit: GameSpot’s Flick visit guide.
How much does Flick pay for bugs?
During ordinary visits and Bug-Offs, Flick pays 150% of a bug’s ordinary market value, according to GameSpot; iMore reports the same rate. For example, GameSpot gives a tarantula’s ordinary value as 8,000 Bells and its Flick price as 12,000 Bells. This is a premium over the ordinary sale price, not a bonus on top of the price paid by Flick.
For the best return, hold bugs you are willing to keep in storage until Flick arrives. Valuable species earn the largest number of Bells, but which bugs you can catch changes by hemisphere, month, time, and spawn location. Check the entry for your island and current in-game date in Nintendo Life’s bug list, which gives availability conditions and Nook’s Cranny prices for the 80 species it lists.
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Nintendo describes Flick as “the bug-lover” and says that some visitors buy extra fish or bugs at a higher price than usual in its Beginner Basics guide.
How do Flick’s model commissions work?
To request a model, bring three bugs of the same species and choose Flick’s art or commission dialogue instead of selling those specimens. GameSpot reports that the finished model arrives by mail the following day and can be displayed as furniture or sold. Gamer Guides says Flick accepts only one model commission per visit.
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For a rare species, save matching specimens before Flick arrives. Catching three during a single visit may be difficult, as Gamer Guides’ model guide notes. Decide whether the model is worth giving up the Bells those three bugs could earn; the commission uses the specimens rather than paying you for them.
How to find the right bugs to save
Animal Crossing: New Horizons makes bug-catching part of island life, and new creature discoveries are recorded in the Critterpedia, according to Nintendo’s official game page. Use the Critterpedia and a detailed species reference to identify what you can catch now, rather than relying on a universal “best bugs” list.
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- Check your hemisphere and current in-game month. A species may not be available on your island at the same time of year as it is in the other hemisphere.
- Check the time window and spawn location. Availability can depend on both; go to the listed location during the stated hours.
- Compare Nook’s Cranny value with your goal. Save high-value catches for Flick if Bells are the priority, or keep three of one species if you want its model.
- Consult the species entry before setting out. Nintendo Life’s complete bug reference organizes species by hemisphere, month, time, location, and price.
How does the Bug-Off work?
The Bug-Off is a timed catching contest with point-based rewards. Nintendo Life’s 2026 guide says Flick is in the plaza from 9 AM to 6 PM on event days. The first entry is free; subsequent rounds cost 500 Bells, and each round lasts three minutes. Each bug caught earns one point, with two bonus points added for every third catch. Ten points can be exchanged for a randomly selected bug-themed item. The guide lists trophy thresholds of 100 points for bronze, 200 for silver, and 300 for gold. See Nintendo Life’s Bug-Off guide for its event details.
During the event, catches can contribute to your score as well as qualify for Flick’s premium buying price. The choice is whether you want points and prizes, Bells, or specimens for a model; spending a catch on one goal can mean not keeping it for another.
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Check the in-game announcement for the date
Published guides disagree about the Bug-Off Saturday schedule. GameSpot and iMore describe events on the third Saturday, while Nintendo Life’s 2026 guide says the fourth Saturday in the Northern Hemisphere and the third in the Southern Hemisphere. Because the Northern Hemisphere date is contested, use your island’s in-game announcement for the event date rather than treating either schedule as definitive.
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