Insect field guide


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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Achyra affinitalis (Cotton Web Spinner)

Achyra affinitalis
Achyra affinitalis
Achyra affinitalis

Archimantis sp. (genus) (Large Brown Mantis)

Archimantis sp. (genus)
Archimantis sp. (genus)
Archimantis sp. (genus)

Coccinella transversalis (Transverse Ladybird)

Coccinella transversalis
Coccinella transversalis
Coccinella transversalis

Danaus petilia (Lesser wanderer)

Danaus petilia
Danaus petilia
Danaus petilia

Earias huegeliana (Earias huegeliana)

Earias huegeliana
Earias huegeliana
Earias huegeliana

Earias paralella (Three-barred Earis)

Earias paralella
Earias paralella

Ennominae (subfamily) (An ennomine looper moth)

Hellula hydralis (Cabbage Centre Moth)

Hellula hydralis
Hellula hydralis
Hellula hydralis

Hemicordulia australiae (Australian Emerald)

Hemicordulia australiae
Hemicordulia australiae
Hemicordulia australiae

Labidura riparia (Common Brown Earwig)

Labidura riparia
Labidura riparia
Labidura riparia
Lasiocampidae (family) immature
Lasiocampidae (family) immature
Lasiocampidae (family) immature

Lophosticha idiograpta (Diptychini, Enominae)

Lophosticha idiograpta
Lophosticha idiograpta

Mantidae (family) (Egg case of praying mantis)

Mantidae (family)
Mantidae (family)
Mantidae (family)

Mantodea (order) (Unidentified praying mantis)

Mantodea (order)
Mantodea (order)
Mantodea (order)
Pachybela sp
Pachybela sp

Rayieria sp. (genus) (Mirid plant bug)

Rayieria sp. (genus)
Rayieria sp. (genus)
Rayieria sp. (genus)

Scopula rubraria (Reddish Wave, Plantain Moth)

Scopula rubraria
Scopula rubraria
Scopula rubraria
Thalaina angulosa

Trichiocercus sparshalli (Sparshall's Moth)

Trichiocercus sparshalli
Trichiocercus sparshalli
Trichiocercus sparshalli
Utetheisa pulchelloides
Utetheisa pulchelloides
Utetheisa pulchelloides
1,898,437 sightings of 21,107 species in 9,314 locations from 12,954 contributors
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