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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Acripeza reticulata (Mountain Katydid)

Acripeza reticulata
Acripeza reticulata
Acripeza reticulata

Acrophylla titan (Titan Stick Insect)

Acrophylla titan
Acrophylla titan
Acrophylla titan

Adversaeschna brevistyla (Blue-spotted Hawker)

Adversaeschna brevistyla
Adversaeschna brevistyla
Adversaeschna brevistyla

Anax papuensis (Australian Emperor)

Anax papuensis
Anax papuensis
Anax papuensis

Ancita crocogaster (Longhorn or Longicorn beetle)

Ancita crocogaster
Ancita crocogaster
Ancita crocogaster

Anoplognathus sp. (genus) (Unidentified Christmas beetle)

Anoplognathus sp. (genus)
Anoplognathus sp. (genus)
Anoplognathus sp. (genus)
Austroargiolestes icteromelas
Austroargiolestes icteromelas
Austroargiolestes icteromelas

Austrogomphus guerini (Yellow-striped Hunter)

Austrogomphus guerini
Austrogomphus guerini
Austrogomphus guerini
Austrolestes annulosus
Austrolestes annulosus
Austrolestes annulosus

Austrolestes cingulatus (Metallic Ringtail)

Austrolestes cingulatus
Austrolestes cingulatus
Austrolestes cingulatus

Austrolestes sp. (genus) (Ringtail damselfy)

Austrolestes sp. (genus)
Austrolestes sp. (genus)
Austrolestes sp. (genus)

Bembix sp. (genus) (Unidentified Bembix sand wasp)

Bembix sp. (genus)
Bembix sp. (genus)
Bembix sp. (genus)

Caedicia simplex (Common Garden Katydid)

Caedicia simplex
Caedicia simplex
Caedicia simplex

Calomela curtisi (Acacia leaf beetle)

Calomela curtisi
Calomela curtisi
Calomela curtisi
Danaus plexippus
Danaus plexippus
Danaus plexippus

Delias harpalyce (Imperial Jezebel)

Delias harpalyce
Delias harpalyce
Delias harpalyce

Delias nigrina (Black Jezebel)

Delias nigrina
Delias nigrina
Delias nigrina

Echthromorpha intricatoria (Cream-spotted Ichneumon)

Echthromorpha intricatoria
Echthromorpha intricatoria
Echthromorpha intricatoria

Eumeninae (subfamily) (Unidentified Potter wasp)

Eumeninae (subfamily)
Eumeninae (subfamily)
Eumeninae (subfamily)
Eupoecila australasiae
Eupoecila australasiae
Eupoecila australasiae

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1,902,856 sightings of 21,201 species in 9,373 locations from 13,041 contributors
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