Insects are small creatures with six legs and usually wings. They live all around us — in gardens, fields, houses, and even forests. Learning insect names in English is very helpful, especially for students, nature lovers, and kids. In this article, you will learn the names of common insects in English, see their pictures, and you can also download a PDF for easy learning.
What are Insects?
Insects are a type of animal known as arthropods. They usually have:
- Six legs
- Two antennae
- A hard outer covering
- Many have wings
Insects are everywhere. They help pollinate plants, break down waste, and are food for many animals.
30 Important Insect Names You should learn about
Here are 30 important insect names with short and useful information:
- Ant – hardworking insects living in big colonies
- Bee – makes honey and helps flowers grow
- Butterfly – colorful wings, loves flowers
- Dragonfly – fast flier, eats mosquitoes
- Mosquito – bites people and animals, spreads diseases
- Housefly – found near food and waste, spreads germs
- Ladybug – red with black spots, good for gardens
- Grasshopper – jumps high, lives in grass fields
- Cockroach – strong insect, common in homes
- Termite – eats wood, damages houses
- Wasp – can sting, builds paper-like nests
- Moth – looks like a butterfly, flies at night
- Cricket – makes chirping sounds at night
- Cicada – makes loud buzzing in summer
- Beetle – has a hard shell, many types worldwide
- Firefly – glows at night, also called lightning bug
- Flea – bites pets, sucks blood
- Lice – tiny insects found in human hair
- Bedbug – hides in beds, bites at night
- Silverfish – likes damp places, damages paper and clothes
- Weevil – eats stored grains and crops
- Hornet – a big wasp with a painful sting
- Praying Mantis – looks like praying hands, eats other insects
- Earwig – has pinchers, hides under leaves
- Aphid – tiny insect that attacks garden plants
- Tick – sticks to animals, sucks blood
- Carpenter Bee – makes tunnels in wood
- Fire Ant – aggressive ant with a painful sting
- Leafhopper – jumps on plants, sucks sap
- Mayfly – lives near water, short life cycle
List of Insects Names in English with Pictures
Here’s a complete list of insects names in English with pictures:
Ant
Social insects living in colonies. They work together to build nests, collect food, and protect their group.
Aphid
Small, soft-bodied insects that suck sap from plants. They weaken crops and spread plant diseases.
Beetle
Insects with hard wing covers. They live worldwide and come in thousands of species, some useful, some harmful.
Butterfly
Colorful flying insects with large wings. They come from caterpillars and help pollinate flowers.
Bee
Important pollinators that make honey and wax. They live in hives and are vital for crops.
Bedbug
Small, flat insects that hide in beds and bite humans at night. They feed on blood.
Cricket
Insects known for their chirping sound. They jump with strong back legs and feed on plants.
Caterpillar
The larval stage of butterflies and moths. They eat leaves and later change into winged adults.
Cockroach
Fast-moving insects often found in houses. They are pests that can spread germs and survive tough conditions.
Dragonfly
Large-winged insects that fly quickly. They eat mosquitoes and live near water.
Dung beetle
Beetles that roll and bury animal dung. They recycle nutrients and clean the environment.
Earwig
Insects with pincer-like tails. They hide in dark places and feed on plants and insects.
Firefly
Beetles that produce light in their abdomen. They glow at night to attract mates.
Flea
Tiny, wingless insects that jump and suck blood from animals and humans. Known as pests.
Fruit fly
Small flies often found near ripe fruits. They reproduce quickly and are used in science research.
Grasshopper
Insects with strong legs for jumping. They feed on plants and can damage crops in large numbers.
Greenfly
A type of aphid that attacks plants. They suck sap and weaken plant growth.
Hornet
Large wasps with strong stings. They live in nests and can be aggressive when disturbed.
Housefly
Common insects found near humans. They spread diseases by sitting on food and garbage.
Ladybug
Small beetles with red and black spots. They eat plant pests like aphids and are considered helpful insects.
Insects Names with Pictures
Insects Name in English with Pictures
-
Lacewing
Delicate green insects with lace-like wings. Their larvae eat aphids and other pests, making them helpful for gardens. -
Leafhopper
Small jumping insects that feed on plant sap. They can damage crops and spread plant diseases. -
Locust
Grasshopper-like insects that form swarms. In large groups, they destroy crops and cause food shortages. -
Louse
Tiny, wingless insects that live on animals or humans. They suck blood and cause itching. -
Mayfly
Fragile insects that live near water. Adults live only a short time, often just one day. -
Mosquito
Small flying insects that bite humans and animals for blood. They spread diseases like malaria and dengue. -
Moth
Winged insects related to butterflies. Most are nocturnal, and some species damage clothes and stored food. -
Mud dauber
Wasps that build mud nests. They hunt spiders to feed their larvae. -
Nymph
The young stage of insects like grasshoppers and dragonflies. They look like small adults but without wings. -
Praying mantis
Large predatory insects with folded front legs. They hunt and eat other insects. -
Sandfly
Small biting flies that live in sandy areas. Some spread diseases like leishmaniasis. -
Scorpionfly
Insects with long faces and scorpion-like tails (harmless). They feed on dead insects and plants. -
Silkworm
Caterpillars of the silk moth. They produce silk threads used in making fabrics. -
Silverfish
Small, wingless insects with silver scales. They damage paper, clothes, and stored food. -
Spider mite
Tiny arachnids that suck plant juices. They cause yellowing and damage to leaves. -
Springtail
Very small insects that jump using a spring-like tail. They live in soil and help break down organic matter. -
Stick insect
Insects that look like sticks or leaves for camouflage. They eat plants and hide from predators. -
Stonefly
Insects that live near clean streams. Their larvae are indicators of good water quality. -
Termite
Social insects that eat wood. They live in colonies and can damage houses and furniture. -
Thrips
Very small insects that feed on plants. They cause discoloration and transmit plant diseases.
Names of Insects in English
Names of Insects in English with Pictures
Tiger beetle
A fast-running beetle with sharp jaws. It hunts other insects and is known for its speed and strong bite.
Tsetse fly
An African fly that bites animals and humans. It spreads sleeping sickness disease through its bite.
Walking stick
An insect shaped like a stick. It uses camouflage to hide from predators on trees and plants.
Wasps
Flying insects with narrow bodies and stingers. They can sting repeatedly and help control pests by eating other insects.
Water bug
Large aquatic insect that lives in water. It bites strongly and feeds on small fish and insects.
Weevil
A small beetle with a long snout. Many species damage stored grains and crops.
Whitefly
Tiny, white-winged insects found on plants. They suck plant sap and can damage crops.
Woolly bear
A fuzzy caterpillar that later turns into a moth. Its hairy body helps protect it from predators.
Yellowjacket
A type of wasp with yellow and black stripes. Known for painful stings and aggressive behavior.
Cicada
An insect famous for its loud buzzing sound. It lives underground for years before coming out to breed.
Fire ant
Small, reddish ants that sting painfully. They build large mounds and live in colonies.
Crane fly
A mosquito-like insect with long legs. It does not bite humans and feeds on plants.
Caddisfly
A small insect found near water. Its larvae build protective cases from sand, stones, or plant parts.
Gnat
Tiny flying insects that often swarm in groups. Some bite humans, while others are harmless.
Leafcutter ant
Ants that cut leaves and carry them to their nests. They use leaves to grow fungus for food.
Mole cricket
A burrowing insect with spade-like front legs. It lives underground and damages plant roots.
Carpet beetle
A small beetle whose larvae feed on carpets, clothes, and stored items. Considered a household pest.
Whirligig beetle
A water beetle that swims in circles on the surface. It has divided eyes to see above and below water.
Stink bug
A shield-shaped insect that releases a bad smell when threatened. Some types damage crops.
Sawfly
An insect related to wasps. Its larvae look like caterpillars and feed on plant leaves.
Insects in English
Get a Free PDF book of insects names in English with pictures:
Insects Names with Pictures.pdf
FAQs
What are common insects’ names in English?
Common insects are ant, bee, butterfly, mosquito, cockroach, fly, grasshopper, and beetle.
How many insect species are there in the world?
There are more than one million known species of insects, making them the largest group of animals on Earth.
Why should we learn insect names in English?
Learning insect names improves vocabulary, helps in education, daily conversation, and understanding science or nature topics.
Which insects are useful for humans?
Bees, butterflies, silkworms, and ladybugs are useful. They help in pollination, silk production, and controlling pests.
Which insects are harmful to humans?
Mosquitoes, bedbugs, lice, termites, and cockroaches are harmful as they spread diseases or damage food, clothes, and wood.
Read More
