OK, Newbie to Mac question. Do I need to keep files after download/update

Sorry for such a boring newbie question.
(My last Mac was many years ago - the original Macintosh 528k with 2x 3.5" disks. The OS has changed 'a little', and doesn't have to be loaded in every startup!! Wow !!)
I had to go PC for business reasons, but now, I have <control> over my computing needs again. (Photographic business.)
OK. I searched Mac 101 but didn't find an answer.
Apart from Application Icons and/or Folders I have created, I have acquired a bunch of other files on the desktop. Do I need to keep them?
When I download updates, for example, I end up with a .dmg icons showing the HD in the center, with a title such as i1Match3-2.6Pantone.dmg (after updating my calibrator). I know the update is installed (and the app. is in the dock). Same with downloads or updates with Lightzone,, Firefox, etc.
First Question. Can I trash those .dmg icons?
Similarly, I have icons with what looks like an external HD, which I guess is the actual download. For example, RapidWeaver 3.5.1 (no extension), but there is also a .dmg icon. These "HD" icons cannot be dragged into a General Folder on the Desktop.
Second Question. If I can trash the .dmg icond, can I trash the "external HD" look icons once the program is installed. If I can't, where should they be kept ... I don't want them all over the Desktop ??
Third Question. I have some Folders which just materialized over a few days of use.
"Apples Caches" Folder (with arrow=shortcut?) with 10 file icons and 1 folder icon. Another ... "com.apple.kernelcaches" Folder with one 'kernelcache" file icon.
And three empty Folders "Edits", Measurement Data", and "Scan Tiffs". Have no idea why they popped up.
What to do?
Thank you for reading my questions. I look forward to your proposed solutions.
iMac 2.33 Intel Core Duo 2GB 667Mhz DDR2 SDRAM 24" LCD Mac OS X (10.4.8) G Drive 250GB Back Up; Epson V750M Scanner; Epson R2400 Printer; PS CS2 9.0.2; Aperture 1.5.2

Al:
Thanks for the quick reply ! The .dmg's and the "HD" icons are now GONE. I am curious why they are needed after installions, but I will read up on that to satisfy my curiousity.
Now, the remaining question ...
The two 'Apple caches' folders appeared on my desktop, just below the Macintosh HD icon, probably about a week or so after I got my Mac. I can't recall doing anything 'bad' or having any 'crash' or freeze-up. I seem to recall having to do a 'force quit' at one stage when I was setting up the scanner and Silverfast6Ai because I initially tried to instal non-Intel software. But on that occasion, everything fired right back up OK and the Mac has been absolutely brilliant ever since. What a wonderful change after XP and IE7 and all the daily drama.
The Folder which has the small black arrow (I guess shortcut) has files for:
com.apple.IntlDataCache.le
com.apple.IntlDataCache.kbdx
com.apple.IntlDataCache.le.tecx
com.apple.IntlDataCache.tecx
com.apple.IntlDataCache.sbdl
com.apple.IntlDataCache.le.sbdl
com.apple.IntlDataCache.le.kbdx
com.apple.IntlDataCache
com.apple.Components2.SystemCache.QuickTimeComponents
com.apple.Components2.SystemCache.Components
plus it also contains a Folder:
com.apple.kernelcaches ... which has
kernelcache.ED112BB5 as the file.
Does this help you? I don't know if they have to be "put back" somewhere, or they are temporary files which can be trashed.
(As for the other empty folders "Edits" etc, my guess is they somehow arrived during a scan which I cancelled halfway through, or maybe from the Rapidweaver application when I was 'testdriving' the program. I am inclined to trash them anyway. Can't see how that would hurt.)
I reported that the question had been answered, anyway, but I would like MORE of the same !!
Cheers
CJ
iMac 2.33 Intel Core Duo 2GB 667Mhz DDR2 SDRAM 24" LCD Mac OS X (10.4.8) G Drive 250GB Back Up; Epson V750M Scanner; Epson R2400 Printer; PS CS2 9.0.2; Aperture 1.5.2

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