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

ibaird wrote:
4 min ago
There are plainer examples of N. corticalis identified as such online:-
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/184072424

Nomophila corticalis
WendyEM wrote:
19 min ago
re Nomophila corticalis - there is no good sign of the lines of dark circles, separated by pale bands across the wings which would indicate this species. While maybe it is the angle of the photo, this moth appears to have broader wings too.

Nomophila corticalis
WendyEM wrote:
42 min ago
It looks like they fade/wear quickly - going by BOLD etc. You caught up with it newly emerged.

Termessa xanthomelas
WendyEM wrote:
49 min ago
The ones with the black&white mark on the side, like this one, I think are E. excursia. Good luck with raising. They are fairly quick to emerge after pupation.

Ectropis (genus) immature
chriselidie wrote:
2 hrs ago
Thanks, that's good to know. I've taken all 11 caterpillars in and housed according to colour. Will see if any make it to adulthood.

Ectropis (genus) immature
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