Insect species

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MichaelMulvaney  |  donhe  |  AlisonMilton  |  RogerF  |  HarveyPerkins  |  mcosgrove  |  WingsToWander  |  JasonPStewartNMsnc2016  |  canberrabutterflies  |  Curiosity  |  MEJETEuge  |  KylieWaldon  |  Aussiegall

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Overview

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.

6185 species

Aaaaba fossicollis (Raspberry jewel beetle)

Aaaaba fossicollis
Aaaaba fossicollis
Aaaaba fossicollis

Aaaaba nodosus (a Jewel beetle)

Aaaaba nodosus
Aaaaba nodosus
Aaaaba nodosus

Abantiades (genus) (A Swift or Ghost moth)

Abantiades (genus)
Abantiades (genus)
Abantiades (genus)

Abantiades aphenges (Bubbly Ghost Moth)

Abantiades aphenges
Abantiades aphenges
Abantiades aphenges

Abantiades atripalpis (Bardee grub/moth, Rain Moth)

Abantiades atripalpis
Abantiades atripalpis
Abantiades atripalpis

Abantiades hyalinatus (Mustard Ghost Moth)

Abantiades hyalinatus
Abantiades hyalinatus
Abantiades hyalinatus

Abantiades labyrinthicus (Labyrinthine Ghost Moth)

Abantiades labyrinthicus
Abantiades labyrinthicus
Abantiades labyrinthicus

Abantiades latipennis (Brown Ghost Moth, Pindi Moth)

Abantiades latipennis
Abantiades latipennis
Abantiades latipennis

Abantiades magnificus (Magnificent Ghost Moth)

Abantiades magnificus
Abantiades magnificus
Abantiades magnificus

Abispa ephippium (Potter wasp, Mason wasp)

Abispa ephippium
Abispa ephippium
Abispa ephippium

Abispa sp. (genus) (Potter Wasp)

Abispa sp. (genus)

Ablabesmyia sp. (genus) (A non-biting midge)

Ablabesmyia sp. (genus)

Acalolepta sp. (Longhorn beetle)

Acalolepta sp. (genus) (Longhorn beetle)

Acalolepta sp. (genus)
Acalolepta sp. (genus)
Acalolepta sp. (genus)

Acanthodela erythrosema (Acanthodela erythrosema)

Acanthodela erythrosema
Acanthodela erythrosema
Acanthodela erythrosema

Acanthodela protophaes (A Concealer moth)

Acanthodela protophaes
Acanthodela protophaes
Acanthodela protophaes

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Insects

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2,194,571 sightings of 20,863 species in 9,209 locations from 12,643 contributors
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