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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Adversaeschna brevistyla (Blue-spotted Hawker)

Adversaeschna brevistyla
Adversaeschna brevistyla
Adversaeschna brevistyla

Belenois java (Caper White)

Belenois java
Belenois java
Belenois java

Celibe limbata (Pie-dish beetle)

Celibe limbata
Celibe limbata
Celibe limbata

Chironomidae (family) (Non-biting Midge)

Chironomidae (family)
Chironomidae (family)
Chironomidae (family)

Dasypodia selenophora (Southern old lady moth)

Dasypodia selenophora
Dasypodia selenophora
Dasypodia selenophora

Dindymus versicolor (Harlequin Bug)

Dindymus versicolor
Dindymus versicolor
Dindymus versicolor

Ecnolagria grandis (Honeybrown beetle)

Ecnolagria grandis
Ecnolagria grandis
Ecnolagria grandis

Erina hyacinthina (Varied Dusky-blue)

Erina hyacinthina
Erina hyacinthina
Erina hyacinthina

Eumeninae (subfamily) (Unidentified Potter wasp)

Eumeninae (subfamily)
Eumeninae (subfamily)
Eumeninae (subfamily)

Harmonia conformis (Common Spotted Ladybird)

Harmonia conformis
Harmonia conformis
Harmonia conformis

Helea ovata (Pie-dish beetle)

Helea ovata
Helea ovata
Helea ovata

Hippodamia variegata (Spotted Amber Ladybird)

Hippodamia variegata
Hippodamia variegata
Hippodamia variegata

Hylaeora dilucida (Ochre Rough-head)

Hylaeora dilucida
Hylaeora dilucida
Hylaeora dilucida

Nacaduba biocellata (Two-spotted Line-Blue)

Nacaduba biocellata
Nacaduba biocellata
Nacaduba biocellata

Oenosandra boisduvalii (Boisduval's Autumn Moth)

Oenosandra boisduvalii
Oenosandra boisduvalii
Oenosandra boisduvalii

Pieris rapae (Cabbage White)

Pieris rapae
Pieris rapae
Pieris rapae

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1,903,523 sightings of 21,215 species in 9,380 locations from 13,060 contributors
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