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.



Page 4 of 7

121

Larinus latus (Onopordum seed weevil)

Lema (Quasilema) daturaphila (Three-lined potato beetle)

Lema bilineata (Leaf beetle)

Listroderes delaiguei (Subterranean Clover Weevil)

Listroderes difficilis (Vegetable weevil)

Listroderes sp. (genus) (Listroderes sp. (genus))

Lixus cardui (Thistle Stem-borer Weevil)

Mogulones geographicus (Paterson's Curse root weevil)

Mogulones larvatus (Paterson's curse crown weevil)

Myzus cerasi (Black Cherry Aphid)

Myzus persicae (Green Peach Aphid)

Naupactus cervinus (Fuller's rose weevil)

Naupactus leucoloma (White-fringed weevil)

Necrobia rufipes (Red-legged ham beetle)

Neogalea sunia (Catabena Moth)

Oestrus ovis (Sheep Nostil Fly)

1  2  3  4  5  6  7 

810,434 sightings of 22,038 species from 13,792 members
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.