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

ibaird wrote:
Yesterday
Stiriinae family?

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera)
jb2602 wrote:
Yesterday
Male

Oxycanus dirempta
WendyEM wrote:
Yesterday
https://bold-au.hobern.net/specimens.php?taxid=20482
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?taxon_id=1273862

Cnaphalocrocis poeyalis
WendyEM wrote:
Yesterday
I am a little uneasy about Hypodoxa muscosaria. I think it might be H. calliglauca. The BOLD locations are all Qld but the 2 iNat ones are on Qld/NSW border.
https://bold-au.hobern.net/specimens.php?taxid=362977
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/1384304-Hypodoxa-calliglauca

Unverified Geometer moth (Geometridae)
ibaird wrote:
Yesterday
Excellent clear shot of the Head and the antennae, 3rd photo.

Oxycanus dirempta
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