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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Diplacodes bipunctata (Wandering Percher)

Diplacodes bipunctata
Diplacodes bipunctata
Diplacodes bipunctata

Eleale aspera (Clerid beetle)

Eleale aspera
Eleale aspera
Eleale aspera

Eurema smilax (Small Grass-yellow)

Eurema smilax
Eurema smilax
Eurema smilax

Gastrophora henricaria (Fallen-bark Looper, Beautiful Leaf Moth)

Gastrophora henricaria
Gastrophora henricaria
Gastrophora henricaria

Goniaea australasiae (Gumleaf grasshopper)

Goniaea australasiae
Goniaea australasiae
Goniaea australasiae

Hemicordulia tau (Tau Emerald)

Hemicordulia tau
Hemicordulia tau
Hemicordulia tau

Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly)

Heteronympha merope
Heteronympha merope
Heteronympha merope

Junonia villida (Meadow Argus)

Junonia villida
Junonia villida
Junonia villida

Keyacris sp. (genus) (Matchstick grasshopper)

Keyacris sp. (genus)
Keyacris sp. (genus)
Keyacris sp. (genus)

Macrotona securiformis (Inland Macrotona)

Macrotona securiformis
Macrotona securiformis
Macrotona securiformis

Micraspis frenata (Striped Ladybird)

Micraspis frenata
Micraspis frenata
Micraspis frenata

Nacaduba biocellata (Two-spotted Line-Blue)

Nacaduba biocellata
Nacaduba biocellata
Nacaduba biocellata

Neorrhina punctatum (Spotted flower chafer)

Neorrhina punctatum
Neorrhina punctatum
Neorrhina punctatum

Ocybadistes walkeri (Green Grass-dart)

Ocybadistes walkeri
Ocybadistes walkeri
Ocybadistes walkeri

Orcus australasiae (Orange-spotted Ladybird)

Orcus australasiae
Orcus australasiae
Orcus australasiae

Papilio demoleus (Chequered Swallowtail)

Papilio demoleus
Papilio demoleus
Papilio demoleus

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