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

ibaird wrote:
5 hrs ago
The only editing I do is to ensure the Scientific Name of a named species is confined to the accepted binomial of trinomial scientific name -of for a species not formally named, to a published or onlne name modertors agree to.

Eucyclodes fascinans
ibaird wrote:
5 hrs ago
Note: This photo already appears on Lepidoptera Butterfly House!
https://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/plus/rubiflabellata.html

Scriptoplusia rubiflabellata
ibaird wrote:
6 hrs ago
https://moths.csiro.au/cryptophasa-nubila-t-p-lucas-1894-2/

Cryptophasa (genus)
PJH123 wrote:
6 hrs ago
It does not have the dots on the forewing which are detailed in the description of nubila

Cryptophasa (genus)
WendyEM wrote:
6 hrs ago
I had a partner years ago who worked unloading imported shipping containers of sacks of nuts, dried fruit etc. Supposedly treated, but all sorts of things would fly out when he opened the doors (in the open air ~ 5+ km from my house) . So who knows. Thanks for the heads up, I'll take a look.

Palpita austrannulata
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