31 Insects with Wings (A to Z List with Pictures)

Examples of insects with wings include antlion, aphids, bees, beetles, and butterflies.

People always think of butterflies and dragonflies when they think of insects with wings, but there are others too. There are more than a million different species of insects with wings, and they can be found all over the continent.

Many of them are beneficial to humans, like bees and other pollinators. Others, like mosquitoes, can carry diseases. This blog post will take a look at some of the different types of insects that have wings.

Examples of Insects with Wings

1. Antlion

The antlion is a type of winged insect that is actually related to the lacewing. They are most commonly found in sandy areas, and they get their name from their habit of preying on ants. Antlions dig pits in the sand and wait at the bottom for an ant to fall in. They then grab the ant with their large jaws and eat it.

Related Article: 20 Insects with Long Tails

2. Aphids

Aphids are small, pear-shaped insects that can be found in a variety of colors, including green, black, and brown. They have two sets of wings, and they use their long proboscis to suck the sap out of plants.

Related Article: 25 Insects with Long Legs

3. Bees

Bees are flying insects that are closely related to wasps and ants. There are more than 20,000 different species of bees, and they can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Bees play an important role in the pollination of plants, and they produce honey.

4. Beetles

Beetles are a type of insect that have wings, but they don’t fly very well. In fact, many beetles can’t fly at all. There are more than 350,000 different species of beetles, and they can be found in almost every habitat on Earth.

5. Butterflies

Butterflies are probably the most well-known insects with wings. They are part of the order Lepidoptera, which includes moths as well. There are about 180,000 species of butterflies, and they can be found on every continent except Antarctica.

They range in size from the tiny Pygmy Blue (Icarus pygmaeus), which has a wingspan of only 8 mm (0.3 in), to the giant Goliath Birdwing (Ornithoptera goliathus), with a wingspan of up to 28 cm (11 in).

6. Caddisflies

Caddisflies are a type of moth that is often mistaken for a fly. They have four wings that are covered in small hairs. Caddisflies are found near water and their larvae live in freshwater streams.

7. Cockroach

One of the most common insects with wings is the cockroach. Cockroaches are found in homes and businesses all over the world. They are attracted to food and moisture and can be a real nuisance.

8. Crickets

Crickets are a type of insect that is related to the grasshopper. They are usually brown or black in color and have long antennae. Crickets are known for their chirping sound, which they make by rubbing their wings together.

9. Cicadas

Cicadas are a type of insect that is related to leafhoppers and Fulgoroidea. They have large eyes, and their wings are clear with dark veining. Adult cicadas can grow to be about 2 inches long, and they live for about two or three years.

Cicadas spend most of their lives underground as nymphs, and they only come to the surface to mate. When they emerge, they do so in large numbers and make a loud buzzing noise.

10. Damselflies

Damselflies are a type of flying insect that is closely related to dragonflies. They are typically smaller than dragonflies and have thinner bodies. Damselflies also have shorter wingspans and their wings are attached at the base of their thorax, whereas dragonflies have wings that attach to the middle of their thorax.

11. Dragonflies

Dragonflies are one of the most recognizable types of insects with wings. They are predators and can eat other insects, even while they are flying. Dragonflies are found all over the world and come in a variety of colors.

12. Earwigs

These insects are easily recognizable by their pincers, or forceps, at the end of their abdomen. They are dark brown or black in color and about ½ an inch long. They are found in damp places like gardens and under rocks.

13. Fireflies

Fireflies are a type of beetle, and they are known for their ability to produce light. They are found in temperate and tropical climates all over the world. Fireflies use their light to attract mates and to communicate with each other.

14. Flies

Flies are some of the most common insects with wings. They can be found all over the world and come in a variety of sizes and colors. Flies typically have two pairs of wings, but some species only have one pair.

15. Flying Ants

Flying ants are a type of ant that has wings. They are often seen in the summertime, and they can be a nuisance because they tend to get into homes and other buildings. Some flying ant species can bite or sting, but most of them are not harmful to humans.

16. Fungus Gnat

The fungus gnat is a small, delicate fly that is often found near damp areas. The adults are black and have long legs and wings. The larvae of the fungus gnat are white and look like worms. These insects are not harmful to humans, but the larvae can damage plants by eating the roots.

17. Grasshoppers

Grasshoppers are one of the most common types of insects with wings. They have two pairs of wings, and they use them to jump long distances. They are usually green or brown, and they eat plants.

18. Hornets

Hornets are a type of wasp, and they are one of the largest wasps in the world. They can be up to two inches long, and they are usually black and white. Hornets build nests out of chewed-up wood, and they can have up to 700 hornets in a nest.

They are aggressive and will sting if they feel threatened. Their stings are very painful and can even be deadly to humans if someone is allergic.

19. Horntails

Horntails are wasp-like insects that have long, stinger-like tails. They are found in wooded areas and can be up to 2 inches long. They are not harmful to humans, but they can damage trees by burrowing into them and laying their eggs.

20. Hoverflies

Hoverflies, also called syrphid flies, are a type of fly that gets their name from their hoverfly-like appearance. They are found all over the world and there are more than 6,000 different species.

Hoverflies are important pollinators and many of them mimic the appearance of bees or wasps to trick predators.

21. Ladybugs

Ladybugs are a type of beetle that is often red or orange with black spots. They are found all over the world and are helpful to farmers because they eat pests that damage crops.

22. Locust

These insects are actually a type of grasshopper. They have wings, but they don’t use them to fly. Instead, they use them to glide from one place to another. Locusts can be a major problem for farmers because they can destroy crops.

23. Mayflies

Mayflies are one of the oldest groups of insects with wings, dating back to the Carboniferous period. They are delicate creatures with two pairs of wings. The front pair is larger than the back pair and they have long, thin legs. Mayflies only live for a few days as adults and their sole purpose is to mate.

24. Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are one of the most well-known insects with wings. They are also one of the most dangerous, as they can carry diseases like malaria, yellow fever, and Zika virus. Mosquitoes are small, typically about 3 mm long. They have a long, thin proboscis (mouthpiece) that they use to pierce the skin and suck blood.

25. Moths

Moths are a type of butterfly, and they are very similar in appearance. The main difference is that moths are nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night. Moths also tend to be drabber in color than butterflies.

26. Salmon Fly

The Salmon Fly is a large insect that hatches in rivers in the springtime. The adults are big and black, with orange wings. They are an important food source for fish, and their larvae are also used as bait by fishermen.

27. Scorpion Flies

Scorpion flies are found in temperate regions throughout the world. They get their name from their long, slender abdomen which resembles a scorpion’s tail. The adults are predatory, but the larvae are parasitic.

28. Stink Bug

The stink bug gets its name from the fact that it can release a foul-smelling odor when it feels threatened. It is a type of true bug, which means that it has sucking mouthparts. These bugs are plant eaters and they can be found all over North America.

29. Thrips

These tiny insects are only about a millimeter long, and they are mostly black or brown. They have wings, but they can’t fly very well. Instead, they use them to glide from one place to another. Thrips feed on plants, and they can sometimes be a nuisance to farmers.

30. Wasp

Wasp is a word used to describe a variety of different insects, most of which are in the family Vespidae. Wasps are characterized by their narrow waists and their ability to sting. Some wasps, like the paper wasp, are considered beneficial because they help control other pests. Other wasps, like the yellow jacket, can be aggressive and dangerous to humans.

31. Weevil

The weevil is one of the more common types of insects that have wings. They are found all over the world and come in many different shapes and sizes. Some of them are beneficial to humans, like the pollinating weevils. Others, like the wheat weevil, can cause damage to crops.

Conclusion

Insects with wings can be found all over the world. They play a vital role in the ecosystem by pollinating plants and helping to cycle nutrients. Some of the most common winged insects include bees, butterflies, and beetles.

Garreth

Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.