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

HelenCross wrote:
8 min ago
Thanks Ian, hopefully we'll continue to see more of them

Agrotis infusa
ibaird wrote:
13 min ago
There seem to be healthier numbers of Bogong Moths (Agrotis infusa) being recorded this year. I think the gusty NW winds assist them in their migration from western NSW and Queensland to the Australian Alps for the summer.

Agrotis infusa
33 min ago
The tachnid genus Phasia has been recorded as a parasite on Ruherglen Bug, but I don't know what its eggs/larvae look like

Nysius vinitor
1 hr ago
Perperus lateralis?

Perperus sp. (genus)
WendyEM wrote:
1 hr ago
The big green eyes suggests Heliothinae to me, but too worn to see any markings

Noctuidae (family)
816,774 sightings of 23,396 species from 14,827 members
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