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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Anestia (genus) (A tiger moth)

Anestia (genus)
Anestia (genus)
Anestia (genus)

Anoplognathus olivieri (A christmas beetle)

Anoplognathus olivieri
Anoplognathus olivieri
Anoplognathus olivieri

Aridaeus thoracicus (Tiger Longicorn Beetle)

Aridaeus thoracicus
Aridaeus thoracicus
Aridaeus thoracicus

Belenois java (Caper White)

Belenois java
Belenois java
Belenois java

Chironomidae (family) (Non-biting Midge)

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

Coelophora inaequalis (Variable Ladybird beetle)

Coelophora inaequalis
Coelophora inaequalis
Coelophora inaequalis

Ellipsidion humerale (Common Ellipsidion)

Ellipsidion humerale
Ellipsidion humerale
Ellipsidion humerale
Eupoecila australasiae
Eupoecila australasiae
Eupoecila australasiae

Harmonia conformis (Common Spotted Ladybird)

Harmonia conformis
Harmonia conformis
Harmonia conformis

Hemicordulia australiae (Australian Emerald)

Hemicordulia australiae
Hemicordulia australiae
Hemicordulia australiae

Hippodamia variegata (Spotted Amber Ladybird)

Hippodamia variegata
Hippodamia variegata
Hippodamia variegata
Orthetrum villosovittatum
Orthetrum villosovittatum
Orthetrum villosovittatum

Paropsisterna beata (Blessed Leaf Beetle)

Paropsisterna beata
Paropsisterna beata
Paropsisterna beata

Polyrhachis ammon (Golden-spined Ant, Golden Ant)

Polyrhachis ammon
Polyrhachis ammon
Polyrhachis ammon
1,899,827 sightings of 21,133 species in 9,338 locations from 12,979 contributors
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