Insect collecting in The Sims 4 Outdoor Retreat can be fun, but it can also be genuinely tricky. You need a sharp eye and quick reactions. Head to the ranger station in Granite Falls to see some of the species you can find. Once you have collected a few insects, there is much more you can do with them.
Tip 1: Display insects at home
Insects work well as decorations. When they are collected, they are automatically placed in terrariums, so you can watch them crawl around as part of your Sim's home collection.
Tip 2: Cook with insects
Insects are also food. Outdoor Retreat added recipes that let Sims roast a crunchy beetle over a campfire, or prepare shish kebab and gumbo with insects at the grill. A good insect dish can fill Sims up and keep them happier for several hours.
Tip 3: Use insects in herbalism
Have you tried the Herbalism skill yet? Sims can make herbal remedies with insects and plants. One of the easier remedies is the sadness-soothing salve, which uses two elderberries and one firefly. You can use it to cheer up melancholy Sims. The original article also called out fireleaf extract made with fire ants, which makes Sims itch all over.
Tip 4: Watch the negative moodlets
Sims should be careful around some insects. They can get negative moodlets such as bad smells or insect bites. If your Sim has the Squeamish trait, collecting insects becomes even harder because dirty surroundings and creepy-crawlies can make them uncomfortable or nauseous.
Granite Falls is split into three areas, and each one has unique insects. Sims begin at the campground and can travel from there into the Granite Falls forest. The third area is hidden away in the mountains and takes some exploring to find. Whatever insects you collect, remember that they can also be sold for simoleons.
Tip 5: Search by day and by night
It takes a sharp eye to spot the smallest creatures. Most insects can be found during the day, but fireflies and mysterious will-o'-the-wisps only appear at night. When you explore, turn the camera all the way around and scan the area from several angles.
Tip 6: Look in the air and on the ground
When you enter the forest, you can see insects flying in the air, such as monarch butterflies, and creatures crawling along the ground, such as ladybugs. Some are much harder to see than others. The walking stick is especially difficult because its thin body blends in with pine needles on the ground.
Tip 7: Catch clusters when you find them
Sometimes insects stay close together. Catching one can make more nearby insects easier to notice, so it is worth pausing and checking the area before moving on.
Collections and achievements
Outdoor Retreat added a new insect collection and a related achievement. Under Household Collections, the insect tab shows what you have found and how many remain. There are 21 insects to find in Outdoor Retreat.
Tip 8: Finish the Granite Falls goals
If you collect all 21 insects and the five fish added with Granite Falls, you can unlock the Critter Catcher achievement. Whether you find insects creepy, gross, strange, or fascinating, the guide's point is simple: take your time in Granite Falls and enjoy the hunt.