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Insects

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Overview

A guide to Australian insect families (from CSIRO) can be found at:
http://anic.ento.csiro.au/insectfamilies/

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.

41 species

Apis mellifera (European honey bee)

Apis mellifera
Apis mellifera
Apis mellifera
Apis mellifera
Apis mellifera
Apis mellifera

Asura lydia (Lydia Lichen Moth)

Asura lydia
Asura lydia
Asura lydia Male
Asura lydia
Asura lydia
Asura lydia

Austrolestes leda (Wandering Ringtail)

Austrolestes leda
Austrolestes leda
Austrolestes leda
Austrolestes leda
Austrolestes leda
Austrolestes leda

Calomela juncta (Leaf beetle)

Calomela juncta
Calomela juncta
Calomela juncta
Calomela juncta
Calomela juncta
Calomela juncta

Castiarina sexplagiata (Jewel beetle)

Castiarina sexplagiata
Castiarina sexplagiata
Castiarina sexplagiata
Castiarina sexplagiata
Castiarina sexplagiata
Castiarina sexplagiata

Chauliognathus lugubris (Plague Soldier Beetle)

Chauliognathus lugubris
Chauliognathus lugubris
Chauliognathus lugubris
Chauliognathus lugubris
Chauliognathus lugubris
Chauliognathus lugubris

Choerocoris paganus (Ground shield bug)

Choerocoris paganus ADULT
Choerocoris paganus
Choerocoris paganus JUVENILE
Choerocoris paganus
Choerocoris paganus
Choerocoris paganus

Chorista australis (Autumn scorpion fly)

Chorista australis
Chorista australis
Chorista australis
Chorista australis
Chorista australis
Chorista australis

Chrysolopus spectabilis (Botany Bay Weevil)

Chrysolopus spectabilis
Chrysolopus spectabilis
Chrysolopus spectabilis
Chrysolopus spectabilis
Chrysolopus spectabilis
Chrysolopus spectabilis

Cleobora mellyi (Southern Ladybird)

Cleobora mellyi
Cleobora mellyi
Cleobora mellyi
Cleobora mellyi
Cleobora mellyi
Cleobora mellyi

Cuspicona sp. (genus) (Shield bug)

Cuspicona sp. (genus)
Cuspicona sp. (genus)
Cuspicona sp. (genus)
Cuspicona sp. (genus)
Cuspicona sp. (genus)
Cuspicona sp. (genus)

Delias harpalyce (Imperial Jezebel)

Delias harpalyce
Delias harpalyce
Delias harpalyce
Delias harpalyce
Delias harpalyce
Delias harpalyce

Dicranosterna immaculata (Acacia leaf beetle)

Dicranosterna immaculata
Dicranosterna immaculata
Dicranosterna immaculata larvae
Dicranosterna immaculata
Dicranosterna immaculata
Dicranosterna immaculata

Dictyochrysa fulva (Green Lacewing)

Dictyochrysa fulva
Dictyochrysa fulva
Dictyochrysa fulva
Dictyochrysa fulva
Dictyochrysa fulva
Dictyochrysa fulva

Diplacodes bipunctata (Wandering Percher)

Diplacodes bipunctata
Diplacodes bipunctata
Diplacodes bipunctata
Diplacodes bipunctata
Diplacodes bipunctata
Diplacodes bipunctata

Dolichopodidae (family) (Unidentified Long-legged fly)

Dolichopodidae (family)
Dolichopodidae (family)
Dolichopodidae (family)
Dolichopodidae (family)
Dolichopodidae (family)
Dolichopodidae (family)

Eleale aspera (Clerid beetle)

Eleale aspera
Eleale aspera
Eleale aspera
Eleale aspera
Eleale aspera
Eleale aspera

Eristalinus punctulatus (Golden Native Drone Fly)

Eristalinus punctulatus
Eristalinus punctulatus
Eristalinus punctulatus
Eristalinus punctulatus
Eristalinus punctulatus
Eristalinus punctulatus

Fabriogenia sp. (genus) (Spider wasp)

Fabriogenia sp. (genus)
Fabriogenia sp. (genus)
Fabriogenia sp. (genus)
Fabriogenia sp. (genus)
Fabriogenia sp. (genus)
Fabriogenia sp. (genus)

Gryllotalpa australis (Mole cricket)

Gryllotalpa australis
Gryllotalpa australis
Gryllotalpa australis
Gryllotalpa australis
Gryllotalpa australis
Gryllotalpa australis

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Conservation Level

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Invasiveness

  • All invasiveness levels (change?)

Insects

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2,097,392 sightings of 19,078 species in 5,626 locations from 10,136 contributors
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