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.

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Discussion

ibaird wrote:
4 min ago
The labial palps look very different between the first two photos and the third photo.

Ardozyga eumela
WalterEgo wrote:
2 hrs ago
Has wings (visible in 2nd and 3rd photos) but I haven't seen it fly

Thaumastocoris peregrinus
WendyEM wrote:
3 hrs ago
Ardozyga haemaspila ?? I am not totally convinced but better match than A. eumela
https://bold-au.hobern.net/specimens.php?taxid=369543
or alternately Scrobipalpa pyrrhanthes ??
https://bold-au.hobern.net/specimens.php?taxid=369916
especially top 2 green ones

Ardozyga eumela
DiBickers wrote:
3 hrs ago
Hi LE, thanks for your sighting. The media you provided is missing or unclear. To help us verify this sighting, please provide additional media.

Anestia (genus)
WendyEM wrote:
4 hrs ago
Oxycanus gelidus
https://bold-au.hobern.net/specimens.php?taxid=328538 see the oblong marking 1/2way along costa
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?verifiable=true&taxon_id=858930&place_id=6744&preferred_place_id=6744

Oxycanus gelidus
818,061 sightings of 22,340 species from 14,063 members
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