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

Jimbobo wrote:
Yesterday
Species level identification of Perginae larvae is not possible with our current understanding. There is no thorough guide that covers the early life stages of the nearly 60 species.

Perga dorsalis
HelenCross wrote:
Yesterday
What a stunner!

Milionia queenslandica
Jimbobo wrote:
Yesterday
While these are likely to be a *Perga* sp. my understanding is that the larvae of *Perga affinis* and *Perga dorsalis* cant be separated visually. Don regarding the images of sawfly larvae on your website; where these validated identifications. ie where the larvae reared through to adults to confirm their true identity?

Perga dorsalis
ibaird wrote:
Yesterday
Attn, donhe. I think LBH needs a more representative extra photo of this species.

Hypodoxa emiliaria
PJH123 wrote:
Yesterday
@donhe @WendyEM How is this not miniosalis
https://bold-au.hobern.net/specimens.php?taxid=264146

Hyalobathra miniosalis
828,631 sightings of 22,770 species from 14,320 members
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