Insects

Insects

Add a sighting Subscribe View significant View unidentified

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.

Continue reading

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

Latest sightings

Moderators

MichaelMulvaney
DiBickers
become a moderator

Announcements

New priority species lists in the ACT
16 Mar 2025

Hello NatureMaprs!Three new priority species lists of exotic freshwater and terrestrial invertebrates, and vertebrates in the ACT have been added to NatureMapr. Uploading records of these species to N...

Continue reading

NatureMapr now receives more records in NSW than ACT

NatureMapr Data Collector 6.2.1 update

Critical nature positive infrastructure update

IMPORTANT NatureMapr Data Collector 6.2.0 mobile app update

Discussion

DiBickers wrote:
1 hr ago
Morning @donhe, I know this sighting was from some time ago, but are you aware of any name change? When I try to look for photos of Choreutis emplecta on iNaturalist it keeps saying Invalid Taxon… there is a remarkably similar-looking one called Choreutis periploca on iNat, but then The Butterfly House has both listed as active taxon so now I’m befuddled😩
Choreutis emplecta
DiBickers wrote:
1 hr ago
@entom2 Morning Allen, any chance would you mind having a look at this one for me please? I thought it was Rhytiphora albocincta, but according to iNat the taxon is now Rhytiphora collaris?
I’ve tentatively left both names in (but wrote “formerly” next to Rhytiphora albocincta), but I’m not in the know with revisions & thought you might be able to confirm this is correct for me (or point me in the right direction on how to find out). Hoping you can help, thanks so much💚
Rhytiphora albocincta
DiBickers wrote:
2 hrs ago
Hi @ibaird or @donhe, wondering if either of you like to Verify this sighting so we can move it out of Unidentified🤞Thanks heaps💚
Aglaosoma variegata
DiBickers wrote:
2 hrs ago
Calomela juncta is certainly the closest fit at this point in time. There is the possibility however, that given the subtleties between species within this group, the unusual splattering of colouration between the coloured lines and the midline of the elytra could indicate this is actually a different species again. I suppose we’ll find out down the track and can amend the identification if required😊
Calomela juncta
DiBickers wrote:
2 hrs ago
Calomela juncta is certainly the closest fit at this point in time. There is the possibility however, that given the subtleties between species within this group, the unusual splattering of colouration between the coloured lines and the midline of the elytra could indicate this is actually a different species again. I suppose we’ll find out down the track and can amend the identification if required😊
Calomela juncta

Significant sightings

Recent activity

Platybrachys sp. (genus) at Watson, ACT

Lamprolina (genus) at Balgowlah Heights, NSW

Rhytiphora collaris (formerly Rhytiphora albocincta)

Dasygaster padockina at Reid, ACT

Platybrachys sp. (genus) at Watson, ACT

Platybrachys sp. (genus) at Watson, ACT

Epicompsa xanthocrossa at Reid, ACT

Hednota species near grammellus at Reid, ACT

Crypsiphona ocultaria at Barton, ACT

Elhamma australasiae at Bargo, NSW

Species Richness Score (SRS)

Top contributors

Top moderators

806,333 sightings of 21,889 species from 13,696 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.