Insects


A guide to Australian insect families (from CSIRO) can be found at:
http://anic.ento.csiro.au/insectfamilies/

Daley, A. & Ellingsen, K., 2012. Insects of Tasmania: An online field guide

A useful introduction to Insects, visit:
http://australianmuseum.net.au/uploads/documents/9362/invertebrate_guide.pdf

A diagram of Insect morphology illustrating terminology with legend of body parts:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insect_morphology#/media/File:Insect_anatomy_diagram.svg

A diagram of an insect illustrating terminology based on a worker ant, see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaster_(insect_anatomy)#/media/File:Scheme_ant_worker_anatomy-en.svg

Photographing insects

There are two main ways to photograph insects with a camera: using a macro close-up lens or a zoom lens. If the insect tolerates your getting very close, then you can use the macro lens. For example, some moths will remain quite still when approached, believing they are camouflaged and invisible. However, many insects, especially those that can fly, will move away when you approach. This is especially true for insects like butterflies and dragonflies. So a good zoom lens is very useful for photographing many insects. If you are using a smartphone, then use a macro lens or a macro attachment. E.g. OlloClip for iPhone. If you want to have an insect identified to species then clear photographs are usually needed because minute parts of the anatomy may need to be checked. It is valuable to take several photos from various angles so that these anatomical details can be seen. Many insects are have particular plants that they feed on, and they can be identified more easily when the associated plant is known. So if the insect is resting or feeding on a plant, take note of what the plant is or ensure that a photo shows the plant clearly.

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Discussion

Maren wrote:
48 min ago
Hi Jon - I was just guessing, thanks for the correction :)

Myrmecia sp. (genus)
GlossyGal wrote:
53 min ago
And thanks from me to you both 😊

Pseudobargylia (Genus)
donhe wrote:
Yesterday
E. australasiae is thought to feed on grass roots, and is not a wood borer. The conical shape of the abdomen of this exuvia differs from the more bulbous shape shown in Sighting 4653595. Possibly close study of the spicules on the case could allow the determination of the species.

Hepialidae (family) IMMATURES
donhe wrote:
Yesterday
Subfurcatana subfurcatana is the name supported by AFD.

Subfurcatana subfurcatana
donhe wrote:
Yesterday
Too blurred to make out diagnostic spot details.

Utetheisa (genus)
802,959 sightings of 21,769 species from 13,569 contributors
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