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

entom2 wrote:
6 Jan 2025
Agree that this is Selagis sp. Really need to see uppersides to attempt ID's to species level. Cheers, Allen M. Sundholm

Selagis sp. (genus)
entom2 wrote:
6 Jan 2025
This is Temognatha vitticollis, which needs to be added please. Cheers, Allen M. Sundholm

Temognatha vitticollis
Paul4K wrote:
30 Nov 2024
Certainly a number of white cedars in yard.

Leptocneria reducta
AlisonMilton wrote:
28 Nov 2024
They appear to be swarming everywhere. I remember going to school in Queensland they tended to land on anything light coloured. While there are thousands of them in Canberra at the moment, I haven't noticed them landing on clothes during the day as they did back in Queensland.
They are nectar scarabs so love flowers, but particularly light coloured ones. If you could get some more photos that would be great.

Phyllotocus macleayi
SarahEJ wrote:
28 Nov 2024
They appear to be swarming in the Bathurst region at the moment.
Many people are commenting on them being in their gardens by the 100s.. and being attracted to anything white, especially washing on the clothes line that they are leaving dirty marks on.

Phyllotocus macleayi
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