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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11 Jul 2025

Hello everyone. Alison Milton has produced the June quarterly CNM newsletter. It has some interesting information about what the Nature Mappers have been doing and finding. We hope you enjoy the read....


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Discussion

trevorpreston wrote:
1 hr ago
Saragus costatus according to Kim Pullen.

Saragus costatus
Jimbobo wrote:
1 hr ago
These are late stage larvae from one of the Myrtaceae feeding genera. Likely genus Perga or Pergagrapta. Unfortunately we can't take these to species and in most cases even to genus level, without rearing through to adults. In lieu of a comprehensive study or guide to the larvae of the nearly 60 species in subfamily Perginae; subfamily level identification is the only valid option.

Perginae sp. (subfamily)
donhe wrote:
2 hrs ago
Eloasa sp ?

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera)
donhe wrote:
Yesterday
Euproctis sp.?

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera)
AlisonMilton wrote:
Yesterday
Looks like a water beetle

Unverified Beetle (Coleoptera)
831,186 sightings of 22,886 species from 14,392 members
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