List of Desert Insects

Insects are well suited for being in the rough conditions of the desert. They have adapted to the many harsh conditions. Some blend into the sand so they cannot be seen. They make their homes in the sand, rocks and plant life that are available to them. The insects in the desert do not breath continuously like human beings; they wait until the carbon dioxide level is high in their body and then exhale once. This minimizes water loss.

  1. Walking Sticks

    • There are many varieties of walking stick insects found in the deserts throughout the world. They are almost invisible to predators and are very slow moving. They range in length from 1/2 inch to 14 inches. Only one in 1,000 walking stick insects is male. They are nocturnal insects, only moving at night.

    Harvester Ants

    • These ants spend the day searching for vegetation and carrying it to their nest, which is a a large pile of sand known as an anthill. Harvester ants grow to around 1/2 inch in length and bite when they feel threatened.

    Blister Beetles

    • There are more than 2,500 species of blister beetles found in deserts across the world. There name comes from the fact they are able to excrete a liquid from their joints which can cause blisters on the skin and which can poison animals.

    The Desert Locust

    • The desert locust lives in a swarm which may have up to 40 billion locusts in it. The swarm can eat 40,000 tons of plants a day and are often killed with insecticides by people living in the desert. They can quickly escape from predators by jumping nearly ten times their body height.

    The Scarab Beetle

    • This beetle is also known as the dung beetle, as they feed on the feces of grazing animals. They are usually black or brown colored and range in size from 1/2 inch to 8 inches. Scarab beetles have an amazing sense of smell and use this to find their favorite food. The females lay their eggs in a dung ball, where it grows whilst feeding off the ball.

    Assassin Bug

    • The assassin bug measures 1/2 inch in length and is dark brown in color. Its forelegs are thick and snap together quickly to catch its prey. They have a venom that squirts from their mouth into their attacker's face, which causes irritation and can cause temporary blindness in humans.

    The Rustic Sphinx Moth

    • This moth has a wingspan of four inches and can be recognized by the set of three yellow spots found on its abdomen. The wings are a deep brown with white lines that zigzag across them. Their diet consists of any vegetation that can be found in the desert.