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
Unverified Dragonfly or Damselfly (Odonata)
Diphucephala sp. (genus)
There are (at least ) 2 genus/sp illustrated.
https://bold-au.hobern.net/specimens.php?taxid=77154
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?place_id=6744&quality_grade=research&taxon_id=524567
Cryptaspasma sordida sits with its wings very tent-like, not low curve. There is a white/cream spot, with an arc of black around it on the centre of the forewing a little past 1/2 way between the base and termen. It also has a nearly reniform dark patch near it.
Moths like above don't hold their wings as tent-like, don't have pale spot with dark arc, or dark reniform patch. Palps are too long too. This moth (and 2 sample picture moths for Cryptaspasma sordida) are much more in the Cnephasia/ Rupicolana or something.
https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/d2462f7a-cfe0-4288-9fb5-a35ee25f17f0#gallery
Rupicolana GROUP
Significant sightings
- Perunga ochracea at Denman Prospect, ACT
- Anthophiloptera dryas at Laguna, NSW
- Paraspania discors at O'Connor, ACT
- Scolecobrotus variegatus at Reid, ACT
- Candalides xanthospilos at Jerrabomberra, NSW
- Mordellistena (genus) at Campbell, ACT
- Agrotis infusa at Ainslie, ACT
- Setocoris (Genus) at Kambah, ACT
- Setocoris (Genus) at Bungendore, NSW
- Paraselina brunneri at Nightcap, NSW
Species Richness Score (SRS)
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