Insect species

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Overview

A guide to Australian insect families (from CSIRO) can be found at:
http://anic.ento.csiro.au/insectfamilies/

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.

134 species

Aeneutus lewinii (Lewin's Splendid Ghost Moth)

Aeneutus lewinii
Aeneutus lewinii

Amegilla sp. (genus) (Blue Banded Bee)

Amegilla sp. (genus)
Amegilla sp. (genus)
Amegilla sp. (genus)

Amenia sp. (genus) (Yellow-headed Blowfly)

Amenia sp. (genus)
Amenia sp. (genus)
Amenia sp. (genus)

Anonychomyrma sp. (genus) (Black Cocktail Ant)

Anonychomyrma sp. (genus)
Anonychomyrma sp. (genus)
Anonychomyrma sp. (genus)

Aphididae (family) (Unidentified aphid)

Aphididae (family)
Aphididae (family)
Aphididae (family)

Apis mellifera (European honey bee)

Apis mellifera
Apis mellifera
Apis mellifera

Apolinus lividigaster (Yellow Shouldered Ladybird)

Apolinus lividigaster
Apolinus lividigaster
Apolinus lividigaster

Archimantis sp. (genus) (Large Brown Mantis)

Archimantis sp. (genus)
Archimantis sp. (genus)
Archimantis sp. (genus)

Asura cervicalis (Spotted Lichen Moth)

Asura cervicalis
Asura cervicalis
Asura cervicalis

Blattidae sp. (family) (Unidentified blattid cockroach)

Blattidae sp. (family)
Blattidae sp. (family)
Blattidae sp. (family)

Candalides absimilis (Common Pencilled-Blue)

Candalides absimilis
Candalides absimilis
Candalides absimilis

Chauliognathus lugubris (Plague Soldier Beetle)

Chauliognathus lugubris
Chauliognathus lugubris
Chauliognathus lugubris

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Insects

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2,146,651 sightings of 19,859 species in 6,380 locations from 11,236 contributors
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