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.

Announcements

Discussion

PeterA wrote:
21 Jan 2025
Wasp nest.

Apis mellifera
AlisonMilton wrote:
19 Jan 2025
These are shiled bug nymphs

Unidentified Beetle (Coleoptera)
bevegeia wrote:
17 Jan 2025
Thanks NaturMapr and through you Michael Mulvaney for this suggestion. I don’t think it is Limnophora – this lacks the strong blue banding on the thorax of my fly and the limited distribuion data in the ALA makes it unlikely for my location. I have since determined this fly as Anthomyia medialis Anthomiidae and have submitted it to ALA on this basis; it is a strong match on both physical traits and distribution.
I would value any further opinions on this.
Bevegia

Limnophora (genus)
SimonDunstan wrote:
16 Jan 2025
New Queen.

Camponotus sp. (genus)
1,907,015 sightings of 21,364 species from 13,173 contributors
CCA 3.0 | privacy
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.