Animal Crossing New Horizons Bug Off Buddy
Image: Nintendo Life

You may have already met Flick while he was visiting your island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The bug-crazy red chameleon appears on random days challenging you to catch certain bugs and paying top dollar for your specimens.

However, Flick also appears on certain Saturdays throughout the summer to host the Bug-Off Tournament. In this Bug-Off guide we've got all the details on the buggiest event on the ACNH calendar.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Bug-Off Event

When is the Bug-Off?

Bug-Off tournaments happen on the fourth Saturday of every month during the Summer in the Northern Hemisphere (June, July, August, and September).

In the Southern Hemisphere Bug-Offs take place on the third Saturday every month in the Summer months (November, December, January and February).

Therefore, the next Bug-Offs in 2022 are scheduled for the following dates in the Northern Hemisphere:

  • 25th June 2022
  • 23rd July 2022
  • 27th August 2022
  • 24th September 2022

And the Bug-Offs in 2021/22 are scheduled for the following dates in the Southern Hemisphere:

  • 20th November 2021
  • 18th December 2021
  • 15th January 2022
  • 19th February 2022

What is the Bug-Off?

Between 9am and 6pm Flick will be on the main plaza of your island. For 500 Bells (or for free if it's your first ever Bug-Off) you can compete to catch as many bugs as possible in 3 minutes.

You can enter the competition as many times as you like throughout the day. The whole set-up for the Bug-Off is very similar to C.J.'s Fishing Tourneys.

Each bug you catch is worth 1 point, with every third bug netting you 2 bonus points. These points can then be redeemed from Flick for rewards that cost 10 points each.

What rewards can I get during the Bug-Off?

Entering the Bug-Off tournament multiple times during the day (note: the same day - points don't seem to carry over) will eventually unlock trophies depending on the number of points you accumulate:

Number of points obtained Reward
100 Bronze Trophy
200 Silver Trophy
300 Gold Trophy

You can also redeem points for bug-themed rewards from Flick. Each one will cost you 10 points and they'll be doled out at random:

  • Artisanal Bug Cage
  • Butterfly Backpack
  • Bug Aloha Shirt
  • Bug Cage
  • Bug Wand
  • Butterfly Wall
  • Ladybug Rug
  • Ladybug Umbrella
  • Spider Doorplate
  • Termite Mound
  • Toy Centipede
  • Toy Cockroach
Animal Crossing New Horizons Bug Off Nook Miles
Image: Nintendo Life

By participating in the Bug-Off, you'll also earn Nook Miles and get a stamp for the first four events you take part in.

Hang on, where's K.K. Slider?

KK Group Shot
Don't worry! If there's a tournament event on a Saturday K.K. will play the next day. — Image: Nintendo Life

On Saturdays when the Bug-Off and Fishing Tourneys are taking place on the plaza, K.K. Slider won't be there. Instead, K.K. will visit on the Sunday after the tournament, so you can still get your weekly concert from your favourite musical dog.

Before the July 2020 update, K.K.'s visit would occur on the Friday before the tournament but this is no longer the case, so look out for him on the Sunday instead.

This article is part of our Animal Crossing: New Horizons walkthrough, which includes a Complete Fish List, Complete Bug List and Complete Sea Creatures List. If you're looking for specific fish or bug, we can tell you how to catch the elusive Coelacanth, Mahi-Mahi, Giant Trevally, Stringfish, Golden Trout and all the Sharks and Beetles, along with a full list of Critters leaving at the end of the month. We've also compiled a Complete Villager List and a Complete List of K.K. Slider Songs, as well as the Best Custom Design Codes and Islands we've found so far, and the best islands to visit using Dream Address Codes.

We can also help with How to Spot Redd's Fake Paintings and Statues, How to Make Bells Fast, How to Breed Flowers, How to Get more DIY Recipes, How to Upgrade Nook's Cranny, where and when to find special characters like Gulliver, Sable, Label, Wisp, Celeste, Pirate Gulliver and Jack, plus tips on using the Star Wand, Tool Ring, Rock Trick, Cutting Down and Moving Trees, using amiibo on Harv's Island, How to Back Up Your Island Data, How to Time Travel, How to Get a 5-Star Island Rating and a whole lot more.

And finally Where to Buy Animal Crossing: New Horizons on Nintendo Switch if for some reason you haven't yet picked up the game.