Every Catch Bugs zone changes the bug pool, the lure that's most useful and the next net you should be buying. This Catch Bugs locations guide walks the world in unlock order — from the starter Grasslands to the endgame Secret Tomb under Dune Burrow, the April-2026 Desert expansion, and the May-2026 Prehistoric update locations Bonefern and Scorchden — with verified spawns where available and source status where the new patch text only confirms a location name.
The Catch Bugs unlock order is roughly Grasslands → Crawlwood → Moon Hollow → Deeproot Caves → Dune Burrow → Jewel Jungle → Desert (April 2026), with the Secret Tomb hidden under Dune Burrow. The 2026-05-23 Prehistoric update adds Bonefern and Scorchden as newly verified location names; route and spawn specifics remain intentionally marked until the game UI or developer posts confirm them.
| Search intent | Best target page | Fast answer |
|---|---|---|
| all locations | Locations | Use the unlock order below, then jump to the zone card for key bugs, NPCs and source status. |
| Bonefern / Scorchden | Bonefern · Scorchden | Both names are official Discord-confirmed in the Prehistoric update; exact spawns are not published yet. |
| Secret Tomb route | Secret Tomb | Carry Crescent Wing Butterfly, Wasp Moth and Spiny Harvestman, then enter Dune Burrow's hidden tunnel. |
| best bug route | Bug List | Prioritize Cave Mother, Colossal Sandworm, Solar Locust, Undead Scorpion and Thousand Scorpion by rarity and zone. |
| best net or lure | Nets | Bone Net for luck, Scorpion Net for heavy Desert targets, Crystal Lure for mutations. |
verified starter zone
Open green fields where every Catch Bugs run begins. Common butterflies, beetles and ants for early money. The vivarium tutorial happens here.
Default starting area for every new player.
Sources: YouTube — The BEST Progression in Roblox Catch Bugs
needs_check early zone
Wooded area with stronger common and rare bugs, used as the bridge between the Grasslands tutorial and Moon Hollow / Deeproot Caves.
Unlocks shortly after Grasslands as part of the early progression.
Sources: YouTube — The BEST Progression in Roblox Catch Bugs
verified mid zone
Moon-lit hollow where night-active bugs spawn. Home of the Crescent Wing Butterfly, one of the three keys to the Secret Tomb.
Mid-game zone unlocked via progression — see in-game progression tab.
Required to unlock the Secret Tomb. Also a high-value vivarium bug at unlock time.
Condition: Spawns only after in-game 6:30 PM (night cycle)
Sources: ProGameGuides — How to Unlock the Secret Tomb, NoLEEP — Unlock the Secret Tomb (3 Bug Locations)
verified mid zone
Branching cave system with quest pickups and statue collectibles. Wasp Moth (the second Secret Tomb key) and Cave Mother (Celestial rarity) both spawn here.
Unlocks after Moon Hollow / mid-game progression.
Required to unlock the Secret Tomb.
Endgame vivarium target; one of the highest-rarity confirmed cave spawns.
Sources: ProGameGuides — How to Unlock the Secret Tomb, YouTube — Deeproot Caves Quests Locations, YouTube — Cave Mother (Celestial)
verified late zone
Sun-baked dunes and underground burrows. Spiny Harvestman (the third Secret Tomb key) spawns here, and the Secret Tomb entrance is hidden between the Potion Traders rocks and the waterfall.
Late-game desert area — host of the Secret Tomb entrance.
Required to unlock the Secret Tomb.
Sources: ProGameGuides — How to Unlock the Secret Tomb, NoLEEP — Unlock the Secret Tomb (3 Bug Locations)
verified endgame zone
Hidden endgame area beneath Dune Burrow. Houses the Anpu NPC who sells the Bone Net, plus exotic Undead Scorpion, Thousand Scorpion and Secret Tomb Swarm spawns.
Carry Crescent Wing Butterfly + Wasp Moth + Spiny Harvestman simultaneously, then enter the hidden tunnel in Dune Burrow.
Secret Tomb spawn. Strong vivarium income and quest tie-in with Anpu NPC.
Condition: Only inside the Secret Tomb after unlock
Secret Tomb spawn — pairs with Bone Net for endgame grinding.
Condition: Only inside the Secret Tomb after unlock
Bulk swarm event in the Secret Tomb — gather quickly with Bone Net for fast cash.
Condition: Group spawn inside the Secret Tomb
Sources: ProGameGuides — How to Unlock the Secret Tomb, YouTube — How to Unlock Secret Tomb, YouTube — How To Get To The New Secret Tomb
verified mid-late zone
Lush jungle with hidden statues you must locate for quest progression. New zone shown in player tutorials.
Unlocks via mid-late progression. Contains statue collection objectives.
Sources: YouTube — Jewel Jungle Location Guide, YouTube — All Statue Locations in Jewel Jungle
verified endgame zone
One of two new locations named in the official Discord Prehistoric update announcement. The update also added 52 new bugs, quests, research stations, NPCs, puzzles and net/lure reworks, but the verified public text does not list Bonefern's exact bug table yet.
Added in the 2026-05-23 Prehistoric update. Exact in-game unlock requirement still needs a direct gameplay check.
verified endgame zone
The second new location named in the official Discord Prehistoric update announcement. The name suggests a late-game fire or volcanic area, but this site only treats the location name and update inclusion as verified until in-game route data is available.
Added in the 2026-05-23 Prehistoric update. Exact in-game unlock requirement still needs a direct gameplay check.
needs_check endgame zone
Wide desert zone added in April 2026, with new lures (Sandstorm, Solar, Area 51), new mythical-tier bugs such as Colossal Sandworm and the Rune multiplier system.
Released in the April 2026 update. Tied to the Rune system and high-tier nets.
Headline mythical spawn from the April 2026 Desert update. Best caught with a Scorpion Net (250M, high strength + weight) and Sandstorm Lure during sandstorm weather. Top vivarium income bug for endgame players.
Condition: Desert zone (April 2026 update). Use a Sandstorm Lure during sandstorm weather for the best spawn rate.
Sources: RoUniverse — April 2026 Desert / Net Upgrade Review
needs_check needs_check zone
Possibly an additional jungle biome referenced in update commentary; could overlap with Jewel Jungle.
Mentioned in patch coverage; confirm distinction from Jewel Jungle.
Sources: RoUniverse — April 2026 Desert / Net Upgrade Review
Bonefern and Scorchden are now first-class location intents on this site because the official
Discord #updates message names both locations in the Prehistoric update. What we
do not have yet is a source-backed table of every new bug, NPC reward, puzzle route
or research-station outcome inside those zones. That distinction is important: players need a
landing page for the new location names, but publishing invented spawn lists would make the
guide worse than no guide at all.
The Prehistoric update shipped on 2026-05-23 and officially names two new locations: Bonefern and Scorchden. The same source confirms 52 new bugs, quests, net skins, crates, research stations, NPCs, puzzles, titles, an enclosure skin, and some net / bug / lure reworks.
Exact unlock cost, route order, bug names, rarity distribution, NPC rewards, research station recipes and puzzle solutions are not visible in the fetched Discord text. Those details need in-game screenshots, a developer follow-up or a reliable gameplay video before they appear as facts.
If you are returning after the patch, join a fresh server, check Bonefern and Scorchden before selling any unusual bugs, and re-test inventory-heavy farming routes. The team explicitly mentioned large-inventory performance work and later mobile drag fixes.
| Search query | Target section | Current answer | Next proof needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| catch bugs bonefern | Bonefern | Officially named as a new Prehistoric update location. | Route screenshot, unlock condition, bug table. |
| catch bugs scorchden | Scorchden | Officially named as a new Prehistoric update location. | Route screenshot, unlock condition, bug table. |
| catch bugs 52 new bugs | Bug List | The count is confirmed, but individual names are not published here yet. | Developer list, Bugdex capture or source-backed gameplay run. |
| catch bugs ants puzzle | Update Log | Ants puzzle was removed and will be repurposed later. | Future update note showing the replacement puzzle. |
This pass also checked third-party wiki and guide sources. They are useful leads for the next Bonefern and Scorchden update, but they stay below official Discord and Roblox API evidence. Single third-party claims are not published here as final route, spawn or reward facts until they are confirmed by gameplay capture, developer text or another reliable source.
| Source | What it helps check | Publish decision |
|---|---|---|
| Fandom Scorchden page | Community-wiki route, NPC, environment and bug-list leads for Scorchden. | Use as needs_check; do not treat as official patch text. |
| Fandom Dr. Vela page | Community-wiki questline lead for Bonefern and volcano access. | Use as single_source until in-game or developer evidence confirms it. |
| CatchBugs.wiki | Independent wiki competitor and mechanic gap review. | Useful for SERP gap work; current stats there are stale versus Roblox API. |
| Gamezebo mutations guide | Mutation/weather/lure mechanic leads for a future mutation-page refresh. | Keep as third-party guide evidence, not update or code evidence. |
Every Catch Bugs zone has NPCs that sell nets, lures, potions, or offer quests. Knowing which zone to visit for your next purchase prevents wasted travel time and ensures you are spending cash on upgrades in the right order. Below is the verified NPC shop directory, cross-referenced from multiple public guides.
| Zone | NPC | Sells | Cost | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grasslands | Starter Net NPC | Starter Net (free) | Free | verified |
| Crawlwood | Axel NPC | Nature Net, Frosty Net (1.1M), Lightning Net (1.52M), Hellfire Net (2.4M), Radioactive Lure (150K), Electrified Lure (500K), Fire Lure (1.2M) | 150K–2.4M | needs_check |
| Moon Hollow | Druid NPC | Mutated Nectar Potion quest (daily reset): collect 8 Mutated Nightshade Flowers from Grasslands, Crawlwood and Moon Hollow. Reward: 2.5× Mutation Chance potion, $2,500, 400 EXP, Druid Staff Net Skin. | Quest (free) | needs_check |
| Moon Hollow | Luna NPC | Lunar Net (5M), Toadstool Net | 5M+ | needs_check |
| Deeproot Caves | Zack NPC / Zak NPC | Demon Net, Black Hole Net (12M), Dark Matter Net (35M) | 12M–35M | needs_check |
| Deeproot Caves | Madxcer NPC | Crystal Lure quest ('The Lord\'s Green Crystal'): bring 2 Jewel Caterpillars (Exotic, Moon Hollow) + 2 Giant Emerald Pill Millipedes (Elusive, Jewel Jungle). Reward: Crystal Lure + Crystal Lord title. | Quest (free) | community_wiki |
| Dune Burrow | Billy NPC | Cactus Net (75M), Steampunk Net (140M), Sandstorm Lure (25M), Area 51 Lure (60M) | 25M–140M | needs_check |
| Secret Tomb | Anpu NPC | Bone Net (200,000,000 cash) — highest luck net in the game, roughly +1,877 luck vs Scorpion Net | 200M | verified |
| Jewel Jungle | Josh NPC | Dreamcatcher Net (23.5M) | 23.5M | needs_check |
| Jewel Jungle | Temple (Ancient Relic location) | Ancient Relic Net (~800M) — reported highest-luck net at over 20,000% Luck, 50 Strength, 2,500 KG max weight | ~800M | needs_check |
| Blossomwing | Hikaru NPC | Bamboo Net (220M, 14,000%+ Luck, 44 Strength, 1,450 KG, +30% mutation during daytime), Blossom Net (50% luck boost during morning) | 220M+ | needs_check |
| Blossomwing | Oni NPC | Dark Shuriken Lure quest (Blossomwing quest): boosts Evil mutation odds 10× | Quest (free) | needs_check |
NPC shop data cross-referenced from The Games Edge Catch Bugs nets tier list (thegamesedge.com), Gamezebo community guides, and ProGameGuides Secret Tomb walkthrough. All third-party-sourced costs marked needs_check — only Bone Net (200M, Anpu NPC, verified across 4+ sources) and Scorpion Net (250M, verified across 3+ sources) are multi-source confirmed. NPC names and zone assignments are single-source and require in-game verification.
Every Catch Bugs zone has a gating cost — either a direct net purchase, a specific bug collection requirement, or an event timing condition. Below is the cumulative cash you need at each zone boundary, assuming you follow the optimal net upgrade order and sell duplicates efficiently. These are community-derived estimates, not official developer numbers.
| Zone Transition | Gate | Cumulative Cash | Time Estimate | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grasslands → Crawlwood | Fast Net (8,000 cash) | 8,000 | 10–15 minutes of Grasslands grinding | verified |
| Crawlwood → Moon Hollow | Royal Net (76,000 cash) | 84,000 | 45–90 minutes of Crawlwood grinding with Fast Net | verified |
| Moon Hollow → Deeproot Caves | Royal Net or stronger. No additional cost beyond net. | 84,000 | Immediate — zone is open once you have Royal Net | needs_check |
| Deeproot Caves → Dune Burrow | Demon Net or stronger recommended. Cost not published in any verified guide. | 84,000+ (mid-net costs unknown) | Dependent on mid-game net costs — not yet published | needs_check |
| Dune Burrow → Secret Tomb | Carry Crescent Wing Butterfly + Wasp Moth + Spiny Harvestman simultaneously. Bone Net (200M) from Anpu inside. | 200,084,000+ | Vivarium-dependent. With 6 Exotic+ slots: ~2–4 weeks of passive income. | verified |
| Secret Tomb → Desert (April 2026) | Scorpion Net (250M) or Bone Net (200M). No additional unlock cost beyond net. | 250,084,000+ | Once Bone Net or Scorpion Net is purchased, Desert is accessible. | needs_check |
Cumulative cash totals assume optimal net upgrade path with no wasted purchases. Time estimates assume active grinding with duplicate selling. Mid-game net costs (Demon, Hellfire, Black Hole) are needs_check — no public source has published confirmed prices. Vivarium-driven passive income significantly reduces real-world time to reach endgame nets. All estimates from community progression guides, not official developer documentation.
Catch Bugs zones are spread across a contiguous map. The order you visit zones in a single session directly impacts your catches-per-hour, because travel time between zones is dead time — zero catches, zero income. Below is the optimal zone rotation based on geographic proximity and spawn condition windows.
Zone travel efficiency strategies derived from community gameplay walkthroughs and RoUniverse April 2026 coverage. Zone adjacency and weather event timing cross-referenced from ProGameGuides and YouTube progression guides.
Not every zone is equally valuable for vivarium income. Some zones have a higher rarity ceiling, and targeting the wrong zone for your current vivarium needs wastes session time. Below is each zone ranked by its best vivarium-eligible bug, so you know exactly where to grind when a specific slot needs an upgrade.
| Rank | Zone | Best Bug | Vivarium Value | Catch Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Deeproot Caves | Cave Mother (Celestial) | Highest confirmed passive income in the verified database. One Celestial slot outperforms 2–3 Exotic slots. | Demon Net or stronger recommended for Celestial catch rate. |
| #2 | Desert (April 2026) | Colossal Sandworm (Mythical) | Second-highest vivarium earner. Requires Sandstorm event + Sandstorm Lure + Scorpion Net. | Scorpion Net (250M) + Sandstorm Lure (25M) + Sandstorm weather event. |
| #3 | Secret Tomb | Undead Scorpion, Thousand Scorpion (both Exotic) | Most reliable Exotic-tier income. Two guaranteed Exotic slots from one zone. | Unlock Secret Tomb first (3 key bugs) + Bone Net or Scorpion Net. |
| #4 | Moon Hollow | Crescent Wing Butterfly (Elusive) | Strong Elusive-tier income, plus it doubles as a Secret Tomb key. Catch a second copy after the first unlock. | Royal Net (76K) + in-game night cycle (after 6:30 PM). |
| #5 | Dune Burrow | Spiny Harvestman (Elusive) | Elusive-tier income, also a Secret Tomb key. Zone also sells Sandstorm Lure (25M) and Area 51 Lure (60M). | Demon Net or stronger recommended. |
| #6 | Jewel Jungle | Giant Emerald Pill Millipede (Elusive) | Elusive-tier income, also a Madxcer quest item for Crystal Lure. Catch duplicates after quest completion. | ~80 unique species indexed to unlock + Bone Net or Scorpion Net. |
| #7 | Crawlwood | First Exotic bug (species varies) | Your first Exotic-tier vivarium income. Replace Grasslands Rare slot immediately. | Fast Net (8K). |
| #8 | Grasslands | Centipede Spider (Rare) | First vivarium income source. Replace with Exotic as soon as possible. | Starter Net (free). |
Ranking based on confirmed rarity tiers in the verified bug database cross-referenced with community progression guides. Bonefern and Scorchden not yet ranked — exact spawn tables still needs_check. Rankings may shift once Prehistoric update bug data is verified. See the vivarium guide for slot management strategy, and the bug list for complete species data.
Every Catch Bugs zone has a matching net tier and a matching set of vivarium bugs. The Grasslands and Crawlwood are happy with the Fast Net. Moon Hollow and Deeproot Caves ask for at least a Royal Net. Dune Burrow and the Secret Tomb push you toward the Scorpion Net (250M) or the Bone Net (200M). The April 2026 Desert is the playground for the new Nuclear, Black Hole and Dark Matter nets, while the May 2026 Prehistoric update adds Bonefern and Scorchden without a fully public bug table yet.
Quick links: net upgrade table, Secret Tomb guide, bug list, beginner guide.
