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.

Announcements

Discussion

RogerF wrote:
just now
Definitely Cryptes. Can someone verify?

Monophlebulus sp. (genus)
donhe wrote:
2 hrs ago
blue edge around thorax

Endoxyla encalypti
donhe wrote:
4 hrs ago
no white bar across hindwing, so not Platagarista macleayi.

Coenotoca subaspersa
Harrisi wrote:
Yesterday
Thanks for the suggestion Korinne, are there similar spp.?

Archaeosynthemis orientalis
Harrisi wrote:
Yesterday
sorry Paul, jumping on this post to detail an adverse reaction I had to being bitten by a jack jumper today up near Square rock carpark. Bit me through my strides and hurt like hell...I'd been bitten before and yes, feels like an electric shock. I was on my way home driving down Corin road and my palms and feet started itching badly, my hands went red and a few minutes later my lips started swelling, like I'd had a good session of Botox! Both intrigued and scared, i got home 40 minutes later having also experienced weird hot flushes and swelling to the bite site. On getting home (i nearly went straight to hospital) I read about jumping jack bites/venom and the symptoms listed matched mine exactly, a mild allergic reaction to their venom. Has anyone else had a similar reaction? I am no stranger to the Australian bush but this is the first time I have had an adverse reaction like this.

Myrmecia sp., pilosula-group
1,906,583 sightings of 21,350 species from 13,158 contributors
CCA 3.0 | privacy
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.