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

HelenCross wrote:
37 min ago
Wow - those horns!

Distichocera fuliginosa
ibaird wrote:
2 hrs ago
OK. Nice to verify that. I suapected as much but didn't check Moths of Victoria.

Anthela ferruginosa
George wrote:
4 hrs ago
No @MatthewFrawley it’s a beauty though - can I share the image @Harrisi

Diphucrania leucosticta
KimberiRP wrote:
Yesterday
A male.

Distichocera fuliginosa
WendyEM wrote:
Yesterday
The females figured in Moths of Victoria Part 1 2nd ed CD pages show females with the white/pale antennae with short pectinations. Also some shots on iNat e.g. https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/200749846
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?place_id=6744&preferred_place_id=6744&quality_grade=research&taxon_id=471402

Anthela ferruginosa
832,507 sightings of 23,601 species from 15,369 members
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