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

Yesterday

A known issue has been reported with the very latest 6.3.0 version of the NatureMapr data collector mobile app.SymptomsSightings recorded with previous versions of the naturemapr data collector mobile...


Continue reading

NatureMapr Mobile App Update

Platform consolidation and impact to regional functionality

Improvements to Search

NatureMapr 2025 partner update presented to Commonwealth DCCEEW

Discussion

ibaird wrote:
Yesterday
https://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/sphi/latreillii.html

Theretra latreillii
ibaird wrote:
Yesterday
Tentatively this may be Limnaecia sp. ANIC 14 which appears to have a northern Queensland ditriburion including Townsville. See
https://bold-au.hobern.net/specimen.php?processid=ANICW1453-11

Limnaecia (genus)
ibaird wrote:
Yesterday
Yes the AFG recognises the Australian subspepicies as you state it.

Unverified Geometer moth (Geometridae)
WendyEM wrote:
Yesterday
These seem to be rather variable moth even within the BINs

Chrysonoma fascialis
PJH123 wrote:
Yesterday
Looks like a complex, being in 4 Bins with one example on BOLD with the hindwing spot white with black centre, as per this specimen. So yes, Organopoda olivescens, for now.

Organopoda olivescens
829,355 sightings of 22,821 species from 14,341 members
CCA 3.0 | privacy
NatureMapr is developed by at3am IT Pty Ltd and is proudly Australian made