Insect species

Moderators

The following moderators provide knowledge and expertise for Insects:

mcosgrove

Become a moderator

Overview

A book which we highly recommend  is "Insects of South-eastern Australia" by Roger Farrow, which covers many local insect species.

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:

Peter Abbot (PeterA) - Bees

Ian Baird (ibaird) - Moths 

Michael Batley (michael.batley) - Bees

Ethan Beaver (ethanbeaver) - Case Moths

Suzi Bond (SuziBond) - Butterflies

Katarina Christenson (kasiaaus) - Moths

John Bromilow (jb2602) - most insects

Simone Clark (SimoneC) - Wasps

Dianne Clarke (DianneClarke) - Moths

Glenn Cocking (GlennCocking) - Moths

Chris Cohen (Myelaphus) - True Flies

Greg Daniels (GregD) - True Flies, a Robber Flies specialist

Roger Farrow (RogerF) - Grasshoppers, Crickets & Katydids, Other Insects, Unidentified Insect Galls

Matthew Frawley (MatthewFrawley) - Butterflies

Stuart Harris (Harrisi) - Jewel Beetles

Mark Hanlon (MarkH) - Jewel Beetles

Don Herbison-Evans (donhe) - Moths

Bronwyn King (Bron) - True Bugs & Moths

Hauke Koch (HaukeKoch) - Scarab Beetles (national)

Jon Lewis (JonLewis) - Ants

Sandra Lauer (Illilanga) - Cockroaches & Leafhoppers

James Lumbers (jgl) - True Flies

Michael Maconachie (maconachie) - Dragonflies & Damselflies

Korinne McDonnell (KorinneM) - Dragonflies & Damselflies

Alison Milton (AlisonMilton) - Ants, Beetles & Leafhoppers

Daniel Montes (Amata) - Wasps, Beetles

Harvey Perkins (HarveyPerkins) - Dragonflies & Damselflies

Lindsay Popple (lpopple) - Cicadas

Trevor Preston (trevorpreston) - Cockroaches, Grasshoppers, Crickets & Katydids

Kim Pullen (KimberiRP) - all insects, especially Beetles

David Rees (DPRees125) - Most Beetles

Sam Reid (samreid007) - Sawflies

Ella Shaw (Ella) - Beetles, True Bugs, Praying Mantiises, Stick Insects

Graeme Smith (GBS) - Silverfish

Allen Sundholm (entom2) - Jewel Beetles

Alice Wells (Alice) - Caddisflies

We are still in need of specialist moderators for a variety of insects. Enquiries are welcome.

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.

100 species

Myzus persicae (Green Peach Aphid)

Myzus persicae

Naupactus cervinus (Fuller's rose weevil)

Naupactus cervinus
Naupactus cervinus
Naupactus cervinus

Naupactus leucoloma (White-fringed weevil)

Naupactus leucoloma
Naupactus leucoloma
Naupactus leucoloma

Necrobia rufipes (Red-legged ham beetle)

Necrobia rufipes
Necrobia rufipes
Necrobia rufipes

Oestrus ovis (Sheep Nostil Fly)

Oestrus ovis
Oestrus ovis
Oestrus ovis

Onitis aygulus (Aygulus dung beetle)

Onitis aygulus
Onitis aygulus
Onitis aygulus

Onitis sp. (genus) (Onitis dung beetle)

Onitis sp. (genus)
Onitis sp. (genus)
Onitis sp. (genus)

Onthophagus binodis (Dung beetle)

Onthophagus binodis
Onthophagus binodis

Oxysarcodexia varia (Striped Dung Fly)

Oxysarcodexia varia
Oxysarcodexia varia
Oxysarcodexia varia

Periplaneta fuliginosa (Smoky-brown Cockroach)

Periplaneta fuliginosa
Periplaneta fuliginosa
Periplaneta fuliginosa

Periplaneta sp. (genus) (Unidentified Periplaneta cockroach)

Periplaneta sp. (genus)
Periplaneta sp. (genus)
Periplaneta sp. (genus)

Phlyctinus callosus (Garden weevil)

Phlyctinus callosus
Phlyctinus callosus
Phlyctinus callosus

Phyllonorycter messaniella (Zeller's Midget, Gracillariidae)

Phyllonorycter messaniella
Phyllonorycter messaniella
Phyllonorycter messaniella

Phytoecia coerulescens (Paterson's curse stem beetle)

Phytoecia coerulescens
Phytoecia coerulescens
Phytoecia coerulescens

Plodia interpunctella (Indian meal moth)

Plodia interpunctella
Plodia interpunctella
Plodia interpunctella

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Conservation level

Invasiveness

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Insects

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2,148,925 sightings of 19,884 species in 6,408 locations from 11,278 contributors
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