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.

Announcements

Discussion

donhe wrote:
12 min ago
On second thoughts, the thoracic shield does look like that of Doratifera oxleyi, which does have variable colours. I am thinking now that this is D oxleyi.

Doratifera oxleyi
donhe wrote:
17 min ago
This certainly lokks like the larva of a Limacodidae species, but it does not resemble any of the larvae of the 20 Limacocidae species illustrated at
http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/lima/lima-cats.html
It does not resemble the Pseudanapaea larvae shown there, as those larvae have no stinging spines.
It is probably the larva of one of the other 96 Australian Limacdidae species.
@clarehoneydove : I do hope you can rear it in protective custody to get an adult moth to ID the species.

Doratifera oxleyi
HelenCross wrote:
57 min ago
Fantastic!

Trichaulax philipsii
LisaH wrote:
1 hr ago
Oh wow - so much required for ID - I had no idea. Thank you for explaining!

Praxibulus sp. (genus)
jb2602 wrote:
1 hr ago
Adrisa - second of four segments is longest

Adrisa sp. (genus)
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