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.

Insects

Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Bees (Hymenoptera, Apiformes)

Beetles (Coleoptera)

Butterflies (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera)

Cicadas (Hemiptera, Cicadoidea)

Cockroaches (Blattodea, several families)

Dragonflies & Damselflies (Odonata)

Grasshoppers, Crickets & Katydids (Orthoptera)

Leafhoppers & planthoppers (Hemiptera, several families)

Moths (Lepidoptera)

Praying mantises (Mantodea)

Primitive insects

Psyllids, lerps, aphids & whiteflies (Hemiptera, several families)

Sawflies (Hymenoptera, Symphyta)

Scale insects & mealybugs (Hemiptera, Coccoidea)

Stick insects (Phasmatodea)

True bugs (Hemiptera, Heteroptera)

True flies (Diptera)

Wasps (Hymenoptera, Apocrita)

Other insects

Lacewings (Neuroptera)

Unidentified Insect Galls

Featured sightings

Ophidius histrio (Ornate click beetle) at Bonny Hills, NSW - 30 Jan 2025 by pls047

Didymuria violescens (Spur-legged stick insect) at Brindabella, NSW - 26 Jan 2025 by NedJohnston

Phaulacridium vittatum (Wingless Grasshopper) at Paddys River, ACT - 26 Jan 2025 by dgb900

Syndesus cornutus (Stag beetle) at Harrison, ACT - 25 Jan 2025 by DPRees125

Tetraschalis arachnodes (A Plume moth (Pterophorinae)) at Kangaroo Valley, NSW - 19 Jan 2025 by Chakola

Austroaeschna tasmanica (Tasmanian Darner) at Lenah Valley, TAS - 24 Jan 2025 by VanessaC

Pergidae sp. (family) at Smiggin Holes, NSW - 21 Jan 2025 by Harrisi

Choreutis metallica (A Metalmark moth (Choreutinae) at Burnside, QLD - 23 Jan 2025 by clarehoneydove

Latest sightings

Amegilla sp. (genus) at Aranda, ACT by KMcCue

Scopula rubraria at Aranda, ACT by KMcCue

Unidentified Leafhopper or planthopper (Hemiptera, several families) at Aranda, ACT by KMcCue

Eurymeloides pulchra at Denman Prospect, ACT by AaronClausen

Junonia villida at Braidwood, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Unidentified Click beetle (Elateridae) at Bonny Hills, NSW by pls047

Triclista guttata (March or Horse Fly) at Bonny Hills, NSW by pls047

Megachile (Eutricharaea) maculariformis at Casey, ACT by Hejor1

Pieris rapae at Braidwood, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Nososticta solida at Braidwood, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Trichiocercus sparshalli at Higgins, ACT by Nepenthe

Nerthra sp. (genus) at Bungendore, NSW by HelenCross

Delias harpalyce at Braidwood, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Heteronympha merope at Braidwood, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Vanessa itea at Braidwood, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Unidentified Eucalyptus Gall at Kambah, ACT by HelenCross

Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Yarralumla, ACT by AndyRussell

Eupoecila australasiae (Fiddler Beetle) at Bombay, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Unidentified Dragonfly (Anisoptera) at Bombay, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Castiarina sexguttata at Bombay, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Neorrhina punctatum (Spotted flower chafer) at Bombay, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Chauliognathus lugubris (Plague Soldier Beetle) at Bombay, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Unidentified Robber fly (Asilidae) at Borough, NSW by Paul4K

Orthaga thyrisalis at Borough, NSW by Paul4K

Lyctus parallelocollis at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus

Unidentified Cricket (several families) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus

Scolia (Discolia) verticalis (Yellow-headed hairy flower wasp) at Bombay, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Unidentified Grasshopper (several families) at Bombay, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Gastrimargus musicus at Bombay, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Melangyna viridiceps (Hover fly) at Splitters Creek, NSW by KylieWaldon

Agrilus hypoleucus at Strathnairn, ACT by jb2602

Unidentified Insect at Bungendore, NSW by yellowboxwoodland

Mataeomera (genus) at Higgins, ACT by Nepenthe

Unidentified Grasshopper (several families) at Gundaroo, NSW by ConBoekel

Macrotona securiformis at Gundaroo, NSW by ConBoekel

Melyridae (family) at Gundaroo, NSW by ConBoekel

Macrobathra desmotoma at Gundaroo, NSW by ConBoekel

Chrysolopus spectabilis (Botany Bay Weevil) at Gundaroo, NSW by ConBoekel

Goniaea opomaloides at Gundaroo, NSW by ConBoekel

Macrotona australis at Gundaroo, NSW by ConBoekel

Gastrimargus musicus at Gundaroo, NSW by ConBoekel

Oedaleus australis at Gundaroo, NSW by ConBoekel

Unidentified Moth (Lepidoptera) at Cotter River, ACT by SandraH

Heteronympha merope at Mittagong, NSW by Span102

Ischnura heterosticta (Common Bluetail Damselfly) at Mittagong, NSW by Span102

Chauliognathus lugubris (Plague Soldier Beetle) at Tarago, NSW by DrDJDavidJ

Agrotis porphyricollis at Lyons, ACT by ran452

Sarcophagidae (family) (Unidentified flesh fly) at Lyons, ACT by ran452

Microchilo gelastis at Jerrabomberra, NSW by DianneClarke

Bembecinus sp. (genus) (A sand wasp) at Acton, ACT by Numbat

Jalmenus ictinus at Booth, ACT by RAllen

Paralucia aurifera at Booth, ACT by RAllen

Geitoneura acantha (Ringed Xenica) at Booth, ACT by RAllen

Leptotarsus (Leptotarsus) clavatus (A crane fly) at Gundaroo, NSW by Gunyijan

Charaxes sempronius at Splitters Creek, NSW by KylieWaldon

Sphecinae sp. (subfamily) (Unidentified Sand or Digger wasp) at Wodonga, VIC by KylieWaldon

Castiarina dimidiata at Tinderry, NSW by Harrisi

Castiarina crenata (Jewel beetle) at Tinderry, NSW by Harrisi

Diphucrania duodecimmaculata (12-spot jewel beetle) at Tinderry, NSW by Harrisi

Onitis alexis at Jerrabomberra, NSW by DianneClarke

Castiarina octospilota (A Jewel Beetle) at Tinderry, NSW by Harrisi

Selagis caloptera (Caloptera jewel beetle) at Tinderry, NSW by Harrisi

Hypobapta diffundens at Jerrabomberra, NSW by DianneClarke

Garrha repandula at Jerrabomberra, NSW by DianneClarke

Limnaecia polycydista (Cosmopteriginae) at Jerrabomberra, NSW by DianneClarke

Cyneoterpna wilsoni at Jerrabomberra, NSW by DianneClarke

Gastrimargus musicus at Fyshwick, ACT by RodDeb

Castiarina delectabilis (A jewel beetle) at Tinderry, NSW by Harrisi

Castiarina nasuta (A jewel beetle) at Tinderry, NSW by Harrisi

Acyphas (genus) at Tinderry, NSW by Harrisi

Aenetus ligniveren at Tinderry, NSW by RobG1

Myrmeleon acer (Myrmeleon Antlion Lacewing) at Jerrabomberra, NSW by SteveBorkowskis

Cryptobothrus chrysophorus at Higgins, ACT by Nepenthe

Pompilidae (family) (Unidentified Spider wasp) at Kambah, ACT by HelenCross

Crypsiphona ocultaria (Red-lined Looper Moth) at Kambah, ACT by HelenCross

Archimantis (genus) (A praying mantis) at Morpeth, NSW by HildaHen

Unidentified Insect at Krawarree, NSW by stellabellaxx

Epilachna sumbana (A Leaf-eating Ladybird) at Krawarree, NSW by stellabellaxx

Unidentified Grasshopper (several families) at Krawarree, NSW by stellabellaxx

Neorrhina punctatum (Spotted flower chafer) at Booth, ACT by RAllen

Geitoneura acantha at Booth, ACT by RAllen

Chrysonoma fascialis (A Concealer moth (Wingia group) at Booth, ACT by RAllen

Chrysolarentia euclidiata (Euclidean Carpet) at Rendezvous Creek, ACT by RAllen

Speiredonia spectans at Pipeclay, NSW by MVM

Scirtidae (family) at Bungendore, NSW by clarehoneydove

Calopompilus affectata at Fitzroy Falls, NSW by NedJohnston

Unidentified Beetle (Coleoptera) at Marulan, NSW by NedJohnston

Gastrimargus musicus (Yellow-winged Locust or Grasshopper) at Yass River, NSW by ConBoekel

Eochrois acutella at Yass River, NSW by ConBoekel

Plectobela (genus) (A Concealer moth (Wingia Group)) at Yass River, NSW by ConBoekel

Oedaleus australis at Yass River, NSW by ConBoekel

Acrida conica (Giant green slantface) at Yass River, NSW by ConBoekel

Monolepta juno at Yass River, NSW by ConBoekel

Myrmecia sp., pilosula-group (Jack jumper) at Yass River, NSW by ConBoekel

Macrotona securiformis at Yass River, NSW by ConBoekel

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Discussion

WendyEM wrote:

1 hr ago

both C. wilsoni and C. alpina are very similar and can be separated by the patches on the undersides (Moths of Vic Part 4 CD pages)

Cyneoterpna wilsoni

donhe wrote:

2 hrs ago

I think that probably the caterpillars of a lot of Epipaschiinae look like this. So few have been reared. Hope you can rear it to confirm it.

Spectrotrota fimbrialis

WendyEM wrote:

2 hrs ago

from the species in Moths of Victoria Part4 the closest I can get is H. diffundens

Hypobapta diffundens

WendyEM wrote:

2 hrs ago

interesting photos. Could you create another record as the top 2 & bottom 2 caterpillars are different species and families. If possible crop your shots so it is clear which the records refer to. thanks

Unidentified Insect

DianneClarke wrote:

4 hrs ago

Thanks Wendy - that looks like it and there are a lot of the moths around at the moment.

Spectrotrota fimbrialis