Insects

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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

Unidentified Insect Leaf Miners

Featured sightings

Tropis roei (Roe's longhorn beetle) at Ainslie, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Perunga ochracea (Perunga grasshopper, Cross-dressing Grasshopper) at Hume, ACT - 14 Nov 2025 by SteveBorkowskis

Keyacris scurra (Key's Matchstick Grasshopper) by Acacia

Ardozyga porphyroloma (A Gelechioid moth (Protolechia Group) at Jerrabomberra, NSW - 5 Nov 2024 by DianneClarke

Perunga ochracea (Perunga grasshopper, Cross-dressing Grasshopper) at Denman Prospect, ACT - 6 Nov 2025 by Wolfdogg

Utetheisa (genus) (A tiger moth) at Isaacs, ACT - 5 Nov 2025 by Mike

Camponotus consobrinus (Banded sugar ant) at Ainslie, ACT - 30 Oct 2025 by Hejor1

Euchaetis incarnatella (A Concealer moth (Wingia group) at Jerrabomberra, NSW - 23 Oct 2025 by DianneClarke

Latest sightings

Gasteruptiidae (Family) at Downer, ACT - Today by RobertD

Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Aranda, ACT - Yesterday by KMcCue

Myrtartona coronias at Hawker, ACT - Today by sangio7

Hyleoides concinna (Wasp-mimic bee) at Braemar, NSW - 13 Nov 2025 by Curiosity

Delias harpalyce (Imperial Jezebel) at Yarralumla, ACT - Today by JohnBundock

Homotrysis sp. (genus) at Aranda, ACT - Yesterday by KMcCue

Scaptia (Scaptia) auriflua (A flower-feeding march fly) at Aranda, ACT - Yesterday by KMcCue

Camponotus aeneopilosus (A Golden-tailed sugar ant) at Aranda, ACT - Yesterday by KMcCue

Acanthonevroides sp. (genus) at Aranda, ACT - Yesterday by KMcCue

Theclinesthes serpentata at Aranda, ACT - Yesterday by KMcCue

Paropsisterna cloelia (Eucalyptus variegated beetle) at Paddys River, ACT - 15 Nov 2025 by Ash295

Osmylops sejunctus at Russell, ACT - Yesterday by Hejor1

Unverified Weevil (Curculionoidea) at Tinderry, NSW - Yesterday by Harrisi

Paropsisterna obliterata (Obliterate Melaleuca Leaf Beetle) at Tinderry, NSW - Yesterday by Harrisi

Unverified Leafhopper or planthopper (Hemiptera, several families) at Tinderry, NSW - Yesterday by Harrisi

Castiarina kerremansi (A jewel beetle) at Stromlo, ACT - Yesterday by Harrisi

Pelecorhynchus fulvus (Orange cap-nosed fly) at Tinderry, NSW - Yesterday by Harrisi

Pieris rapae (Cabbage White) at Sydney, NSW - Yesterday by MatthewFrawley

Zizina otis at Sydney, NSW - Yesterday by MatthewFrawley

Zizina otis (Common Grass-Blue) at Sydney, NSW - Yesterday by MatthewFrawley

Psaltoda moerens (Redeye cicada) at Russell, ACT - Yesterday by Hejor1

Hyalarcta nigrescens (Ribbed Case Moth) at Russell, ACT - Yesterday by Hejor1

Paralucia aurifera at Rendezvous Creek, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by DavidDedenczuk

Bombyliidae (family) at Rendezvous Creek, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by DavidDedenczuk

Perunga ochracea at Theodore, ACT - 15 Nov 2025 by DavidDedenczuk

Lichenaula arisema at Russell, ACT - Yesterday by Hejor1

Lepispilus (genus) at Pebbly Beach, NSW - 10 Nov 2025 by Pirom

Notius consputus (Yellow-dotted shield bug) at Pebbly Beach, NSW - 10 Nov 2025 by Pirom

Unverified Dragonfly or Damselfly (Odonata) at Watson, ACT - 14 Nov 2025 by HappyWanderer

Apis mellifera (European honey bee) at Watson, ACT - 14 Nov 2025 by HappyWanderer

Peltoschema oceanica (Oceanica leaf beetle) at Watson, ACT - 14 Nov 2025 by HappyWanderer

Argynnina cyrila at Palerang, NSW - Yesterday by Csteele4

Unverified Katydid (Tettigoniidae) at Palerang, NSW - Yesterday by Csteele4

Orthodera ministralis at Theodore, ACT - Yesterday by Cardy

Poecilometis strigatus (Gum Tree Shield Bug) at Theodore, ACT - Yesterday by Cardy

Unverified Butterfly (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera) at Kaleen, ACT - Yesterday by MinaK

Diptera (order) at Crowther, NSW - Yesterday by Frecko

Harmonia conformis (Common Spotted Ladybird) at Fisher, ACT - 8 Nov 2025 by Paul57

Unverified Concealer moth (Oecophoridae) at Lawson, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by TimL

Culladia cuneiferellus at O'Connor, ACT - Yesterday by ConBoekel

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera) at Turner, ACT - Yesterday by ConBoekel

Aeolothapsa malacella (A Concealer moth) at Turner, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera) at Turner, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera) at Turner, ACT - 15 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera) at Denman Prospect, ACT - Yesterday by Miranda

Papyrius sp. (genus) (A Coconut Ant) at Denman Prospect, ACT - Yesterday by Miranda

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera) at Turner, ACT - 14 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Dolopus rubrithorax (Large Brown Robber Fly) at Denman Prospect, ACT - Yesterday by Miranda

Thema macroscia (A Concealer moth (Chezala group) at O'Connor, ACT - 14 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Taxeotis intermixtaria at O'Connor, ACT - 14 Nov 2025 by ConBoekel

Phrissogonus laticostata (Apple Looper Moth) at Acton, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by TimL

Unverified True fly (Diptera) at Spence, ACT - Yesterday by JudithRoach

Unverified Other beetle at Bendick Murrell, NSW - Yesterday by BCTbluebucket

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera) at Lyons, ACT - Yesterday by ran452

Geron sp. (genus) (Slender Bee Fly) at Acton, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by TimL

Tortricopsis uncinella (Wingia group) at Lyons, ACT - Yesterday by ran452

Pollanisus (genus) at Canyonleigh, NSW - 10 Nov 2025 by blacksheep

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera) at Canyonleigh, NSW - 11 Nov 2025 by blacksheep

Melanerythrus mactans (A seed bug) at Canyonleigh, NSW - 13 Nov 2025 by blacksheep

Unverified Grasshopper (several families) at Canyonleigh, NSW - 13 Nov 2025 by blacksheep

Lissopimpla excelsa (Orchid dupe wasp, Dusky-winged Ichneumonid) at Canyonleigh, NSW - 13 Nov 2025 by blacksheep

Asilidae (family) at Canyonleigh, NSW - 14 Nov 2025 by blacksheep

Exoneura sp. (genus) at Canyonleigh, NSW - 14 Nov 2025 by blacksheep

Unverified Scarab beetle (Scarabaeidae) at Canyonleigh, NSW - 14 Nov 2025 by blacksheep

Unverified True fly (Diptera) at Canyonleigh, NSW - 15 Nov 2025 by blacksheep

Melanerythrus mactans (A seed bug) at Canyonleigh, NSW - 15 Nov 2025 by blacksheep

Unverified True fly (Diptera) at Lyons, ACT - Yesterday by ran452

Olbonoma triptycha at Higgins, ACT - Yesterday by Jennybach

Chloropidae (family) at Ainslie, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Calomela juncta at Ainslie, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Epiphyas postvittana at Ainslie, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Monolepta sp. (genus) at Ainslie, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Anestia (genus) (A tiger moth) at Ainslie, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

PSOCOPTERA (Order) at Ainslie, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Eleale aspera (Clerid beetle) at Ainslie, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Eleale pulchra (Clerid beetle) at Ainslie, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Myrmeleontidae (family) at Ainslie, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Platybrachys sp. (genus) at Ainslie, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Apocrita (suborder) (Unidentified wasp) at Ainslie, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Aporocera (Aporocera) haematodes (A case bearing leaf beetle) at Ainslie, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Acacia insect gall (Unidentified gall of Acacia sp.) at Ainslie, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Melanterius sp. (genus) at Ainslie, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Coccinella transversalis (Transverse Ladybird) at Ainslie, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Metasia familiaris (A Crambid moth (Spilomelinae)) by DianneClarke

Ditropidus sp. (genus) at Ainslie, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) sp. (genus & subgenus) (Halictid bee) at Ainslie, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

Stomorhina subapicalis (A snout fly) at Ainslie, ACT - 16 Nov 2025 by Hejor1

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Discussion

WendyEM wrote:

8 min ago

Culladia cuneiferellus - no, above moth lacks the chevron lines on the forewings indicative of the Genera.

Culladia cuneiferellus

WendyEM wrote:

16 min ago

The picture has not attached to the record. Please try to attach it again.

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera)

DianneClarke wrote:

32 min ago

Con It looks like you have uploaded this one twice - I suggested an id on the other one so perhaps delete this one (unless the system is playing up and showing doubles .... but I haven't noticed it with others.

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera)

DavidDedenczuk wrote:

Yesterday

thanks Alison - that would make sense

Bombyliidae (family)

AlisonMilton wrote:

Yesterday

@DavidDedenczuk David, This looks like a bee fly.

Bombyliidae (family)