Insects That Start With D – Insects Breeds Name List

Insects That Start With D

Welcome to our latest blog post, where we will be delving into the fascinating world of insects that start with the letter D. The insect kingdom is vast and diverse, with millions of species inhabiting our planet.

Today, we will be focusing on some of the most interesting and unique insects whose names begin with the letter D.

From the tiny and delicate damselfly to the formidable and mysterious dragonfly, these creatures are sure to captivate your attention.

So, join us as we embark on a journey to discover the incredible insects that start with D.

List of Insects With D – Breeds of Insects

1. Damselfly
2. Damsel Bug
3. Deer Bot Fly
4. Devil’s Coach Horse Beetle
5. Devil’s Flower Mantis
6. Diamondback Moth
7. Digger Bee
8. Digger Wasp
9. Dobsonfly
10. Dog Tick
11. Donkey Ear Soldier Beetle
12. Dragonfly
13. Drone Fly
14. Dung Beetle

Top 14 Most Popular & Common Insects

1. Damselfly:

• Description: Damselflies are slender, colorful insects related to dragonflies, with distinct wings held together when at rest.
• General Characteristics:
  • Capability: Agile fliers, often found near water bodies.
  • Shape: Slender body, long abdomen, and wings held parallel to the body.
  • Texture/Pattern: Vivid colors and intricate wing patterns.
  • Benefits: Feed on mosquitoes and other small insects.
  • Dangers: Harmless to humans.
• Habits:
  • Commonly found near freshwater habitats such as ponds and streams.
  • Mating involves elaborate aerial displays.
• Life Span:
  • Typically, the adult stage lasts a few weeks.
  • Larvae undergo a period of development in aquatic environments.
• Interesting Facts:
  • Damselflies have been around for over 250 million years, dating back to the Permian period.
  • Some species are known to migrate in swarms, similar to dragonflies.

2. Damsel Bug:

• Description: Damsel bugs are predatory insects known for their slender bodies and predatory feeding habits.
• General Characteristics:
  • Capability: Efficient hunters, feeding on small insects.
  • Shape: Slender body with long legs and antennae.
  • Texture/Pattern: Varied colors and often with a streamlined appearance.
  • Benefits: Natural pest control in agricultural settings.
  • Dangers: None; beneficial to crops.
• Habits:
  • Often found in vegetation, waiting to ambush prey.
  • Solitary or in small groups.
• Life Span:
  • Life cycle includes egg, nymph, and adult stages.
  • Adults may live for several weeks.
• Interesting Facts:
  • Damsel bugs use their specialized mouthparts to inject enzymes into prey, liquefying their insides for easier consumption.
  • They are known to emit defensive chemicals when threatened.

3. Deer Bot Fly:

• Description: The deer bot fly is a parasitic fly whose larvae develop in the nasal passages of deer.
• General Characteristics:
  • Capability: Parasitic, lays eggs on deer hosts.
  • Shape: Medium-sized fly with a robust body.
  • Texture/Pattern: Hairy and often with distinctive markings.
  • Benefits: None; considered a parasite.
  • Dangers: Parasitic infestation in deer.
• Habits:
  • Adult flies lay eggs on deer, and larvae burrow into nasal passages.
  • Larvae drop to the ground to pupate.
• Life Span:
  • Adult flies have a short lifespan.
  • Larvae spend several weeks in the host before pupating.
• Interesting Facts:
  • The larvae of the deer bot fly can cause “bots,” or cyst-like lumps, in the nasal passages of deer.
  • Females capture other insects mid-air and lay their eggs on the captured insect before releasing it.

4. Devil’s Coach Horse Beetle:

• Description: The devil’s coach horse beetle is a large, predatory beetle known for its aggressive behavior and elongated body.
• General Characteristics:
  • Capability: Nocturnal hunters, use strong jaws for defense.
  • Shape: Long and flattened body with prominent jaws.
  • Texture/Pattern: Shiny black exoskeleton.
  • Benefits: Feeds on various pests, providing natural pest control.
  • Dangers: Can emit foul-smelling fluid when threatened.
• Habits:
  • Nocturnal and actively hunts for prey during the night.
  • When threatened, raises its abdomen and opens jaws in a defensive posture.
• Life Span:
  • Adult beetles may live for several months.
  • Larval stage may last for a year or more.
• Interesting Facts:
  • Despite their aggressive appearance, devil’s coach horse beetles are not harmful to humans and are beneficial in gardens for pest control.
  • They are known to play dead when threatened, secreting a defensive fluid with a strong odor.

5. Devil’s Flower Mantis:

• Description: The devil’s flower mantis is a species of praying mantis known for its vibrant coloration and unique body shape.
• General Characteristics:
  • Capability: Ambush predators, adept at camouflaging.
  • Shape: Angular body with extended limbs and vibrant coloration.
  • Texture/Pattern: Mimics flowers with intricate patterns.
  • Benefits: Controls insect populations, including harmful pests.
  • Dangers: Carnivorous, preying on other insects.
• Habits:
  • Camouflages itself on flowers to ambush prey.
  • Female may consume the male after mating.
• Life Span:
  • Adult mantises may live for several months.
  • Eggs overwinter and hatch in the spring.
• Interesting Facts:
  • Devil’s flower mantises are known for their remarkable mimicry, resembling flowers to lure in prey.
  • They exhibit a “threat display” to deter predators, spreading their wings and raising their front legs.

6. Diamondback Moth:

• Description: The diamondback moth is a small moth with distinct diamond-shaped markings on its wings.
• General Characteristics:
  • Capability: Nocturnal fliers, attracted to cruciferous plants.
  • Shape: Small with a slender body and distinctive wing pattern.
  • Texture/Pattern: Delicate wings with diamond-shaped markings.
  • Benefits: None; considered a pest to crops.
  • Dangers: Larvae feed on cruciferous crops like cabbage and broccoli.
• Habits:
  • Females lay eggs on host plants, and larvae feed on leaves.
  • Can undergo multiple generations in a year.
• Life Span:
  • Adult moths typically live for a few weeks.
  • Complete life cycle may range from a few weeks to several months.
• Interesting Facts:
  • The diamondback moth is a notorious pest in agriculture, causing damage to crops like cabbage, broccoli, and other cruciferous plants.
  • It has developed resistance to various insecticides, making control challenging for farmers.

7. Digger Bee:

• Description: Digger bees are solitary bees known for their habit of nesting in the ground.
• General Characteristics:
  • Capability: Pollinators with a preference for flowers with deep tubular shapes.
  • Shape: Robust body with a fuzzy appearance.
  • Texture/Pattern: Various colors and often with a hairy thorax.
  • Benefits: Important pollinators for various plant species.
  • Dangers: Generally not aggressive unless provoked.
• Habits:
  • Excavate nests in the ground, often in sandy or loose soil.
  • Collect pollen and nectar for their offspring.
• Life Span:
  • Adult bees may live for a few weeks to a few months.
  • Nests contain cells with eggs, larvae, and stored provisions.
• Interesting Facts:
  • Digger bees are important pollinators for crops like tomatoes and blueberries.
  • They are gentle and solitary, focusing on individual nest construction rather than communal hive building.

8. Digger Wasp:

• Description: Digger wasps are solitary wasps known for their burrowing behavior and hunting of insects.
• General Characteristics:
  • Capability: Efficient hunters, paralyze prey and store them in nests.
  • Shape: Slender body with a well-defined waist and stinger.
  • Texture/Pattern: Smooth exoskeleton, often with yellow and black markings.
  • Benefits: Controls insect populations, especially caterpillars.
  • Dangers: Can sting if threatened but typically not aggressive.
• Habits:
  • Dig nests in the ground and provision them with paralyzed insects.
  • Lay eggs on the paralyzed prey, providing food for the developing larvae.
• Life Span:
  • Adult wasps may live for a few weeks to a few months.
  • Larvae overwinter in the nest.
• Interesting Facts:
  • Digger wasps play a crucial role in controlling caterpillar populations, making them beneficial for agriculture.
  • They are known for their efficient hunting methods, capturing prey larger than themselves.

9. Dobsonfly:

• Description: The dobsonfly is a large insect known for its distinctive mandibles and aquatic larval stage.
• General Characteristics:
  • Capability: Aquatic larvae, adults have large mandibles.
  • Shape: Large wingspan, long mandibles in males.
  • Texture/Pattern: Brownish wings, with intricate patterns in some species.
  • Benefits: Aquatic larvae contribute to nutrient cycling in water bodies.
  • Dangers: Males’ mandibles are intimidating but not harmful to humans.
• Habits:
  • Larvae are aquatic and live in clean, fast-flowing streams.
  • Adults are attracted to lights at night.
• Life Span:
  • Adult dobsonflies live for a few weeks.
  • Larval stage may last for several months in aquatic environments.
• Interesting Facts:
  • Dobsonfly larvae, called hellgrammites, are used as bait by anglers.
  • Males use their large mandibles in territorial disputes and courtship displays.

10. Dog Tick:

• Description: The dog tick is a parasitic arachnid that feeds on the blood of mammals, including dogs and humans.
• General Characteristics:
  • Capability: Parasitic, feeds on the blood of hosts.
  • Shape: Small, round body with eight legs.
  • Texture/Pattern: Varies in color, often reddish-brown.
  • Benefits: None; considered a parasite.
  • Dangers: Can transmit diseases like Lyme disease.
• Habits:
  • Questing behavior, waits on vegetation for hosts to pass by.
  • Engorges with blood during feeding.
• Life Span:
  • Several weeks to a few months, depending on life stage.
  • Complete life cycle includes egg, larva, nymph, and adult.
• Interesting Facts:
  • Ticks are known vectors for various diseases affecting both animals and humans.
  • They are sensitive to environmental conditions, requiring specific levels of humidity to thrive.

11. Donkey Ear Soldier Beetle:

• Description: The donkey ear soldier beetle is a beetle species known for its elongated shape and distinctive coloring.
• General Characteristics:
  • Capability: Nocturnal, attracted to flowers for feeding.
  • Shape: Elongated body, often with bright orange or red markings.
  • Texture/Pattern: Smooth exoskeleton with distinctive coloration.
  • Benefits: Pollinators, contribute to plant reproduction.
  • Dangers: Harmless to humans.
• Habits:
  • Nocturnal and attracted to lights, flowers, and vegetation.
  • Feed on nectar and pollen.
• Life Span:
  • Adult beetles may live for several weeks.
  • Larvae develop in decaying organic matter.
• Interesting Facts:
  • Soldier beetles are named for their habit of being found in groups, resembling soldiers on a march.
  • They are generalist feeders, consuming a variety of small insects, making them beneficial in gardens.

12. Dragonfly:

• Description: Dragonflies are large, predatory insects known for their impressive flight and vibrant colors.
• General Characteristics:
  • Capability: Agile fliers, efficient hunters.
  • Shape: Large, with four transparent wings and a long abdomen.
  • Texture/Pattern: Vivid colors and intricate wing patterns.
  • Benefits: Feed on mosquitoes and other flying insects.
  • Dangers: Harmless to humans.
• Habits:
  • Commonly found near water bodies, but can be seen in various habitats.
  • Hunt insects in flight, capturing them with their legs.
• Life Span:
  • Typically a few weeks to a few months in the adult stage.
  • Larvae live underwater and undergo multiple molts before emerging as adults.
• Interesting Facts:
  • Dragonflies are among the oldest insects, with fossil records dating back over 300 million years.
  • They are efficient predators, with an ability to catch prey in mid-air using their specialized legs.

13. Drone Fly:

• Description: The drone fly is a fly species that mimics the appearance of bees, including honey bees.
• General Characteristics:
  • Capability: Mimics the appearance of bees for protection.
  • Shape: Similar to honey bees, with two transparent wings.
  • Texture/Pattern: Striped abdomen, resembling bees.
  • Benefits: Pollinators, contribute to plant reproduction.
  • Dangers: Harmless to humans.
• Habits:
  • Feed on nectar and pollen, contributing to pollination.
  • Larvae are often found in aquatic environments.
• Life Span:
  • Adult flies may live for several weeks.
  • Larvae undergo aquatic development before pupating.
• Interesting Facts:
  • Drone flies are important pollinators, especially in urban environments where they may be more common than other pollinator species.
  • Their mimicry of bees helps protect them from predators that may avoid stinging insects.

14. Dung Beetle:

• Description: Dung beetles are insects known for their habit of feeding on and burying dung.
• General Characteristics:
  • Capability: Efficient at rolling dung balls and tunneling.
  • Shape: Compact body with strong legs for digging.
  • Texture/Pattern: Hard exoskeleton, often with a glossy appearance.
  • Benefits: Essential for nutrient cycling and pest control by removing dung.
  • Dangers: None; beneficial to ecosystems.
• Interesting Facts:
  • Some species navigate using the Milky Way for guidance.
  • Can bury dung balls many times their own weight.
• Habits:
  • Roll dung into balls, bury it, and use it for breeding.
  • Play a crucial role in recycling nutrients in ecosystems.
• Life Span:
  • Adult beetles may live for a few weeks to several months.
  • Complete life cycle from egg to adult varies among species but can take a few months.