Insect species

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donhe  |  AlisonMilton  |  RogerF  |  HarveyPerkins  |  mcosgrove  |  WingsToWander  |  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/

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.

5756 species

Temognatha sp. (genus) (Jewel beetle)

Temognatha sp. (genus) (A Jewel Beetle)

Temognatha suturalis (Boldy sutured jewel beetle)

Temognatha suturalis
Temognatha suturalis
Temognatha suturalis

Temognatha tricolorata (Jewel Beetle)

Temognatha variabilis (Variable jewel beetle)

Temognatha variabilis
Temognatha variabilis
Temognatha variabilis

Tenebrionidae (family) (Darkling beetle)

Tenebrionidae (family)
Tenebrionidae (family)
Tenebrionidae (family)

Tenerus abbreviatus (Short-winged clerid beetle)

Tenerus abbreviatus

Tenerus sp. (genus) (Clerid beetle)

Tenerus sp. (genus)
Tenerus sp. (genus)

Tephritidae sp. (family) (Unidentified Fruit or Seed fly)

Tephritidae sp. (family)
Tephritidae sp. (family)
Tephritidae sp. (family)

Tepperia sterculiae (Kurrajong seed weevil)

Tepperia sterculiae
Tepperia sterculiae
Tepperia sterculiae

Terentius convexus (Hornless treehopper)

Terentius convexus
Terentius convexus
Terentius convexus

Termessa (genus) (Unidentified Termessa moths)

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Conservation level

  • All conservation levels (change?)

Invasiveness

Insects

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2,162,929 sightings of 20,524 species in 6,669 locations from 11,834 contributors
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