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

WendyEM wrote:
7 hrs ago
I went for a wander through the paddocks late yesterday. I think it was a bit early for them to be out feeding. I eventually saw oodles of Pterolocera sp larvae, no Anthea sp. I've only recorded A. acuta, nicothoe & ocellata moths here so far.

Anthela (genus) immature
7 hrs ago
👍

Keyacris scurra
8 hrs ago
A common sighting at my home, see TimeLine.

Pantydia sparsa
donhe wrote:
13 hrs ago
A. basigera has white dots like that but i think its hairs are paler than this one. Maybe it is one of A. basigera's relatives : A. euryphrica or A. oressarcha. Not enough Anthela larvae have had the portraits published to sure of any of them.

Anthela (genus) immature
ibaird wrote:
Yesterday
If not this species, maybe another in the Bedellia (gemus)? Family: Lyonetiidae.

Bedellia somnulentella
807,539 sightings of 23,173 species from 14,629 members
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