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
Following is a list of the moderators for insects with their usernames and area of expertise:
Ian Baird (ibaird) - Moths
Michael Batley (michael.batley) - Bees
Suzi Bond (SuziBond) - Butterflies
John Bromilow (jbromilow50) - most insects
Glenn Cocking (GlennCocking) - Moths
Chris Cohen (Myelaphus) - True Flies
Greg Daniels (GregD) - True Flies, a Robber Flies specialist
Roger Farrow (RogerF) - Grasshoppers, Crickets & Katydids
Dave Ferguson (DaveFerg) - True Flies
Matthew Frawley (MatthewFrawley) - Butterflies
Stuart Harris (Harrisi) - Jewel Beetles
Don Herbison-Evans (donhe) - Moths
Sandra Lauer (Illilanga) - Cockroaches & Leafhoppers
Sam Ivanoff (birdy11) - Stick Insects
Bronwyn King (Bron) - True Bugs
Bryan Lessard (BrytheFlyGuy) - Flies
Jon Lewis (Jon Lewis) - Ants
James Lumbers (jgl) - True Flies
Michael Maconachie (maconachie) - Dragonflies & Damselflies
Roy McDowall (roymcd) - Dragonflies & Damselflies
Alison Milton (Alison Milton) - Beetles & Ants
Harvey Perkins (HarveyPerkins) - Dragonflies & Damselflies
Lindsay Popple (lpopple) - Cicadas
Kim Pullen (KimPullen) - all insects, especially Beetles
Sam Reid (samreid007) - Ants & Sawflies
Alice Wells (Alice) - Caddisflies
Susan Wishart (SWishart) - Assassin Bugs, Shield, Stink & Jewel Bugs
We are still in need of specialist moderators for a variety of insects, such as Wasps, Lacewings & others.
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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