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

5 Feb 2025

Hi All,We've just rolled out some important improvements to NatureMapr's sensitive data handling framework in consultation with the NSW Government Saving Our Species team.For Highly Sensitive records,...


Continue reading

Near future enhancements

Platform update continued 30 JAN 2025

Major upgrade under way. Some known issues.

DO NOT MISS THIS!

Discussion

donhe wrote:
1 min ago
White antenna tips..

Amata (genus)
KorinneM wrote:
3 hrs ago
After consulting Greg Martin, going with Unicorn.

Austroaeschna unicornis
KorinneM wrote:
4 hrs ago
Very nice. Another location for this species. ALA only has some sightings within the ACT on the very western edge of the ACT.

Archaeosynthemis orientalis
jb2602 wrote:
4 hrs ago
Male smaller than female and may be mostly white with black wing tips (Butterfly House).
The ventral shot was a different specimen that I think is a male (more white) but I could be wrong.

Tonica effractella
ibaird wrote:
4 hrs ago
A new species for NatureMapr and NatureMapr's Canberra and Southern Tablelands regiion. Nice photo.

Dichomeris holomela
1,909,770 sightings of 21,471 species from 13,287 contributors
CCA 3.0 | privacy
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.