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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.

95 species

Acanthosomatidae (family) (Unidentified Acanthosomatid shield bug)

Acanthosomatidae (family)
Acanthosomatidae (family)
Acanthosomatidae (family)
Acanthosomatidae (family)
Acanthosomatidae (family)
Acanthosomatidae (family)

Acrophylla titan (Titan Stick Insect)

Acrophylla titan Female
Acrophylla titan
Acrophylla titan
Acrophylla titan
Acrophylla titan
Acrophylla titan

Adversaeschna brevistyla (Blue-spotted Hawker)

Adversaeschna brevistyla
Adversaeschna brevistyla
Adversaeschna brevistyla
Adversaeschna brevistyla
Adversaeschna brevistyla
Adversaeschna brevistyla

Aedes notoscriptus (Common backyard mosquito)

Aedes notoscriptus
Aedes notoscriptus
Aedes notoscriptus
Aedes notoscriptus
Aedes notoscriptus
Aedes notoscriptus

Amata (genus) (Handmaiden Moth)

Amata (genus)
Amata (genus)
Amata (genus)
Amata (genus)
Amata (genus)
Amata (genus)

Amata nigriceps (Tiger moth)

Amata nigriceps Photo Dianne (ALA)
Amata nigriceps Photo RL (ALA)
Amata nigriceps
Amata nigriceps
Amata nigriceps
Amata nigriceps

Amegilla sp. (genus) (Blue Banded Bee)

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

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

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

Apis mellifera (European honey bee)

Apis mellifera
Apis mellifera
Apis mellifera
Apis mellifera
Apis mellifera
Apis mellifera

Austrosciapus sp. (genus) (Long-legged fly)

Austrosciapus sp. (genus)
Austrosciapus sp. (genus)
Austrosciapus sp. (genus)
Austrosciapus sp. (genus)
Austrosciapus sp. (genus)
Austrosciapus sp. (genus)

Bobilla sp. (genus) (A Small field cricket)

Bobilla sp. (genus)
Bobilla sp. (genus)
Bobilla sp. (genus)
Bobilla sp. (genus)
Bobilla sp. (genus)
Bobilla sp. (genus)

Calliphora vicina (European bluebottle)

Calliphora vicina
Calliphora vicina
Calliphora vicina
Calliphora vicina
Calliphora vicina
Calliphora vicina

Candalides absimilis (Common Pencilled-Blue)

Candalides absimilis
Candalides absimilis
Candalides absimilis
Candalides absimilis
Candalides absimilis
Candalides absimilis

Candalides heathi (Rayed Blue)

Candalides heathi
Candalides heathi
Candalides heathi
Candalides heathi
Candalides heathi
Candalides heathi

Chauliognathus lugubris (Plague Soldier Beetle)

Chauliognathus lugubris
Chauliognathus lugubris
Chauliognathus lugubris
Chauliognathus lugubris
Chauliognathus lugubris
Chauliognathus lugubris

Chrysolopus spectabilis (Botany Bay Weevil)

Chrysolopus spectabilis
Chrysolopus spectabilis
Chrysolopus spectabilis
Chrysolopus spectabilis
Chrysolopus spectabilis
Chrysolopus spectabilis

Colepia rufiventris (Robber fly)

Colepia rufiventris
Colepia rufiventris
Colepia rufiventris
Colepia rufiventris
Colepia rufiventris
Colepia rufiventris

Ecnolagria grandis (Honeybrown beetle)

Ecnolagria grandis
Ecnolagria grandis
Ecnolagria grandis Larvae
Ecnolagria grandis
Ecnolagria grandis
Ecnolagria grandis

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Conservation Level

  • All conservation levels (change?)

Invasiveness

  • All invasiveness levels (change?)

Insects

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2,100,160 sightings of 19,119 species in 5,092 locations from 10,190 contributors
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