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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Cascera bella (A Prominent moth (Notodontidae)

Catada apoblepta (An Erebid moth (Hypeninae)

Cathetus euthysticha (A Swallowtail moth (Uraniidae)

Cepora perimale ssp. scyllara (Caper Gull (Australian Subspecies))

Chrysonoma fascialis (A Concealer moth (Wingia group)

Craspedosis leucosticta (A Geometrid moth (Boarmiini)

Cupha prosope (Bordered Rustic)

Cyclochila virens (Northern Greengrocer)

Cyme reticulata (A Tiger moth (Lithosiini)

Diphlebia euphoeoides (Tropical Rockmaster)

Dysphania (genus) (A False Tiger moth (Dysphaniini)

Echiomima mythica (A Gelechioid moth (Xyloryctinae)

Ectropis bhurmitra (Tea Twig Caterpillar)

Enchesphora apicalis (A Pyralid moth (Epipaschiinae)

Eschatura lemurias (A Gelechioid moth (Xyloryctidae)

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820,915 sightings of 22,452 species from 14,154 members
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