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

AlisonMilton wrote:
39 min ago
@MichaelMulvaney Not Paropsisterna m-fuscum. I was thinking more of Paropsisterna decolorata

Paropsisterna m-fuscum
2 hrs ago
probably Polistes (Polistella) humilis

Polistes sp. (genus)
JasonPStewart wrote:
4 hrs ago
Yep !
Thank you @Curiosity for checking and confirming this identification.

Orthetrum villosovittatum
WendyEM wrote:
6 hrs ago
wing trailing edge see https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/266956552

Glyphipterix (genus)
WendyEM wrote:
6 hrs ago
Are you looking at the spider web?/hair? on moths LHS of head? Its antennae look just right to me. c.f.
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/332539693
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?place_id=6744&quality_grade=research&taxon_id=311409
wings mustard behind head, then white/shiny band across wings, then darker brown wing section with black spots with highlights, then another pale/spangly band
https://bold-au.hobern.net/specimen.php?processid=ANICF623-10 shows striped abdomen. Some Glyphips have a striped abdomen but it is longer and thinner to my eye.

I think the fawn thing in foreground is a flower or some other plant debris

Glyphipterix (genus)
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