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.

Insects

Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Bees (Hymenoptera, Apiformes)

Beetles (Coleoptera)

Butterflies (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera)

Cicadas (Hemiptera, Cicadoidea)

Cockroaches (Blattodea, several families)

Dragonflies & Damselflies (Odonata)

Grasshoppers, Crickets & Katydids (Orthoptera)

Leafhoppers & planthoppers (Hemiptera, several families)

Moths (Lepidoptera)

Praying mantises (Mantodea)

Primitive insects

Psyllids, lerps, aphids & whiteflies (Hemiptera, several families)

Sawflies (Hymenoptera, Symphyta)

Scale insects & mealybugs (Hemiptera, Coccoidea)

Stick insects (Phasmatodea)

True bugs (Hemiptera, Heteroptera)

True flies (Diptera)

Wasps (Hymenoptera, Apocrita)

Other insects

Lacewings (Neuroptera)

Unidentified Insect Galls

Featured sightings

Vanessa itea (Yellow Admiral) at Banks, ACT - 13 Jan 2025 by Shazw

Austroaeschna subapicalis (Conehead Darner) at Budawang, NSW - 29 Dec 2024 by MatthewFrawley

Chlorobapta bestii (A flower chafer) at Oallen, NSW - 16 Jan 2025 by Harrisi

Adrisa sp. (genus) (Burrowing Bug) at Ainslie, ACT - 14 Jan 2025 by jb2602

Trichaulax philipsii (Grey-furrowed rose chafer) at Mongarlowe, NSW - 15 Jan 2025 by LisaH

Parelictis saleuta (Mottled Footman) at Charleys Forest, NSW - 13 Jan 2025 by arjay

Tropis paradoxa (Longicorn beetle) at Bungendore, NSW - 6 Dec 2024 by clarehoneydove

Pholodes sinistraria (Sinister or Frilled Bark Moth) at Melba, ACT - 10 Jan 2025 by kasiaaus

Latest sightings

Siphanta acuta (Green planthopper, Torpedo bug) at Wanniassa, ACT by JohnBundock

Leptocneria reducta at Wanniassa, ACT by JohnBundock

Pholodes sinistraria at Wanniassa, ACT by JohnBundock

Asilidae (family) at Lyons, ACT by ran452

Philobota philostaura at Lyons, ACT by ran452

Antictenia punctunculus at Wanniassa, ACT by JohnBundock

Micrerethista nigrapex (A Tineid moth (Harmacloninae)) at Jerrabomberra, NSW by DianneClarke

Trachydora (genus) (A Gelechioid moth) at Jerrabomberra, NSW by DianneClarke

Thiotricha anticentra (A Twirler moth (Thiotrichinae)) at Jerrabomberra, NSW by DianneClarke

Hemicordulia tau (Tau Emerald) at Queanbeyan, NSW by Zoed

Anoplognathus sp. (genus) at Pialligo, ACT by Zoed

Crypsiphona ocultaria (Red-lined Looper Moth) at Belconnen, ACT by Spectregram

Heteronympha banksii (Banks' Brown) at Cotter River, ACT by dgb900

Zosteria sp. (genus) (Common brown robber fly) at Cotter River, ACT by dgb900

Chrysonoma fascialis (A Concealer moth (Wingia group) at O'Connor, ACT by ConBoekel

Jalmenus sp. (genus) at O'Connor, ACT by ConBoekel

Epiphyas postvittana (Light Brown Apple Moth) at Turner, ACT by ConBoekel

Merophyas divulsana (Lucerne Leafroller) at Turner, ACT by ConBoekel

Leucania abdominalis (Leucania abdominalis) at Turner, ACT by ConBoekel

Epilachna sumbana (A Leaf-eating Ladybird) at Macquarie, ACT by dgb900

Lipotriches sp. (genus) at Downer, ACT by RobertD

Acrida conica (Giant green slantface) at Lawson, ACT by TimL

Adinolepis mathesonae at Ainslie, ACT by Pirom

Austroscolia soror (Blue Flower Wasp) at Yarralumla, ACT by SimoneS

Dindymus versicolor (Harlequin Bug) at Yarralumla, ACT by SimoneS

Didymuria violescens (Spur-legged stick insect) at Wilsons Valley, NSW by PaulDoy

Cleobora mellyi (Southern Ladybird) at Wilsons Valley, NSW by PaulDoy

Doratifera (genus) (Cup Moth) at Anembo, NSW by Csteele4

Megachile ferox (Resin bee) at Acton, ACT by PeterA

Lipotriches (Austronomia) ferricauda (Halictid bee) at Acton, ACT by PeterA

Unidentified Wasp (Hymenoptera, Apocrita) at Monga, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Unidentified Beetle (Coleoptera) at Hackett, ACT by waltraud

Megachile (Eutricharaea) maculariformis (Gold-tipped leafcutter bee) at Acton, ACT by PeterA

Epithora dorsalis (Longicorn Beetle) at Harrison, ACT by DPRees125

Lasioglossum (Callalictus) callomelittinum (Halictid bee) at Acton, ACT by PeterA

Lymexylidae sp. (family) (Lymexylid beetle) at Harrison, ACT by DPRees125

Heteronympha merope at Monga, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Trapezites luteus at Monga, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Monga, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Braidwood, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Unidentified Moth (Lepidoptera) at Harrison, ACT by DPRees125

Delias aganippe (Spotted Jezebel) at Braidwood, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Papilio aegeus (Orchard Swallowtail, Large Citrus Butterfly) at Braidwood, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Vanessa itea at Braidwood, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Braidwood, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Stegobium paniceum (Drugstore beetle) at Harrison, ACT by DPRees125

Oncocoris geniculatus (A shield bug) at Lyons, ACT by ran452

Aporoctena undescribed species (A Geometrid moth) at Ainslie, ACT by jb2602

Capusa senilis (Black-banded Wedge-moth) at Ainslie, ACT by jb2602

Dysbatus (genus) (A Line Geometrid.) at Ainslie, ACT by jb2602

Goniaea carinata (Black kneed gumleaf grasshopper) at Kambah, ACT by gregbaines

Oxyops sp. (genus) (Oxyops weevil) at Wanniassa, ACT by gregbaines

Sceliodes cordalis (Eggfruit Caterpillar, Poroporo Fruit Borer) at Ainslie, ACT by jb2602

Aglaopus centiginosa (Dark-fringed Leaf Moth) at Ainslie, ACT by jb2602

Atractocerus sp. (genus) (Ship-timber beetle) at Harrison, ACT by DPRees125

Tebenna micalis (Small Thistle Moth) at Harrison, ACT by DPRees125

Orthorhinus klugii (Vine weevil) at Harrison, ACT by DPRees125

Cerambycidae (family) at Harrison, ACT by DPRees125

Gastrophora henricaria (Fallen-bark Looper, Beautiful Leaf Moth) at Yass River, NSW by SenexRugosus

Dichocrocis clytusalis (Kurrajong Leaf-tier, Kurrajong Bag Moth) at Ainslie, ACT by jb2602

Eupselia carpocapsella (Common Eupselia Moth) at Harrison, ACT by DPRees125

Dasypodia selenophora (Southern old lady moth) at Harrison, ACT by DPRees125

Bembix sp. (genus) (Unidentified Bembix sand wasp) at Lower Borough, NSW by mcleana

Uraba lugens (Gumleaf Skeletonizer) at Borough, NSW by Paul4K

Dichromodes (genus) at Borough, NSW by Paul4K

Unidentified Pyralid or Snout Moth (Pyralidae & Crambidae) at Borough, NSW by Paul4K

Endotricha pyrosalis (A Pyralid moth) at Borough, NSW by Paul4K

Phalacridae (family) at Borough, NSW by Paul4K

Agriopocoris sp. (genus) (Coreid bug) at Borough, NSW by Paul4K

Rhinotia edentula at Borough, NSW by Paul4K

Cuspicona thoracica (Shield bug) at Borough, NSW by Paul4K

Camponotus intrepidus (Flumed Sugar Ant) at Borough, NSW by Paul4K

Unidentified Case moth (Psychidae) at Borough, NSW by Paul4K

Heliocosma (genus - immature) (A tortrix or leafroller moth) at Borough, NSW by Paul4K

Calomela parilis (Leaf beetle) at Borough, NSW by Paul4K

Pterygophorus cinctus (Bottlebrush sawfly) at Lawson, ACT by TimL

Iridomyrmex rufoniger (Tufted Tyrant Ant) at Throsby, ACT by TimL

Ledromorpha planirostris (A leafhopper) at Acton, ACT by TimL

Stenocotis depressa (Leafhopper) at Acton, ACT by TimL

Rhinotia adelaidae (A belid weevil) at Strathnairn, ACT by jb2602

Gastrimargus musicus (Yellow-winged Locust or Grasshopper) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus

Monocrepidus submarmoratus (Click beetle) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus

Siphanta acuta at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus

Tortricopsis pyroptis (A Concealer moth (Wingia Group)) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus

Colgar sp. (genus) (Pink Planthopper) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus

Niditinea fuscella (Brown-dotted Clothes Moth) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus

Lasiosticha canilinea (A Pyralid moth) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus

Unidentified Beetle (Coleoptera) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus

Galanga labeculata (Double-spotted cicada) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus

Isochorista chaodes (A Tortricid moth (Tortricinae)) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus

Harpalinae (subfamily) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus

Phalacridae (family) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus

Agriophara undescribed species (A Gelechioid moth) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus

Hypobapta diffundens (Diffundens Grey) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus

Macrobathra alternatella (A Gelechioid moth) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus

Dispar compacta at Braidwood, NSW by MatthewFrawley

Unidentified Noctuoid moth (except Arctiinae) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus

Crypsiphona ocultaria (Red-lined Looper Moth) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus

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Discussion

RobertD wrote:

2 hrs ago

Not unlike Lipotriches (Austronomia) flavoviridis on p.191 of Terry Houston's Guide to Native Bees of Australia

Lipotriches sp. (genus)

MatthewFrawley wrote:

5 hrs ago

First NatureMapr sighting of the Banks' Brown in the Canberra & Southern Tablelands region for 2025.

Heteronympha banksii

Spectregram wrote:

5 hrs ago

I believe this is a Crypsiphona ocultaria (red-lined looper moth), but the controlled vocabulary of names does not include this.

Crypsiphona ocultaria

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

6 hrs ago

Thanks Trevor

Robshelfordia circumducta

trevorpreston wrote:

6 hrs ago

I cant find any info on Johnrehnia solida, and the inaturalist link is only a suggestion from one person and not a solid ID. Unfortunately they are not mentioned in Rentz's book on Cockroaches, so in the absence of evidence that this might be something else I am fairly confident in an ID of Robshelfordia circumducta.

Robshelfordia circumducta