Insect species

Moderators

The following moderators provide local knowledge and expertise for Insects:

mcosgrove

Become a moderator

Overview

A book which we highly recommend  is "Insects of South-eastern Australia" by Roger Farrow, which covers many local insect species.

A guide to Australian insect families (from CSIRO) can be found at:
http://anic.ento.csiro.au/insectfamilies/

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

Following is a list of the moderators for insects with their usernames and area of expertise:

Peter Abbot (PeterA) - Bees

Ian Baird (ibaird) - Moths 

Michael Batley (michael.batley) - Bees

Ethan Beaver (ethanbeaver) - Case Moths

Suzi Bond (SuziBond) - Butterflies

Katarina Christenson (kasiaaus) - Moths

John Bromilow (jb2602) - most insects

Simone Clark (SimoneC) - Wasps

Dianne Clarke (DianneClarke) - Moths

Glenn Cocking (GlennCocking) - Moths

Chris Cohen (Myelaphus) - True Flies

Greg Daniels (GregD) - True Flies, a Robber Flies specialist

Roger Farrow (RogerF) - Grasshoppers, Crickets & Katydids, Other Insects, Unidentified Insect Galls

Matthew Frawley (MatthewFrawley) - Butterflies

Cristy Froehlich (Cristy1676) - Ants

Stuart Harris (Harrisi) - Jewel Beetles

Mark Hanlon (MarkH) - Jewel Beetles

Don Herbison-Evans (donhe) - Moths

Owen Holton (owenh) - Butterflies

Bronwyn King (Bron) - True Bugs & Moths

Hauke Koch (HaukeKoch) - Scarab Beetles (national)

Martin Lagerwey (martinl) - Leaf Beetles

Jon Lewis (JonLewis) - Ants

Sandra Lauer (Illilanga) - Cockroaches & Leafhoppers

James Lumbers (jgl) - True Flies

Michael Maconachie (maconachie) - Dragonflies & Damselflies

Korinne McDonnell (KorinneM) - Dragonflies & Damselflies

Alison Milton (AlisonMilton) - Ants, Beetles & Leafhoppers

Daniel Montes (Amata) - Wasps, Beetles

Harvey Perkins (HarveyPerkins) - Dragonflies & Damselflies

Lindsay Popple (lpopple) - Cicadas

Trevor Preston (trevorpreston) - Cockroaches, Grasshoppers, Crickets & Katydids

Kim Pullen (KimberiRP) - all insects, especially Beetles

David Rees (DPRees125) - Most Beetles

Sam Reid (samreid007) - Sawflies

Ella Shaw (Ella) - Beetles, True Bugs, Praying Mantiises, Stick Insects

Graeme Smith (GBS) - Silverfish

Allen Sundholm (entom2) - Jewel Beetles

Alice Wells (Alice) - Caddisflies

We are still in need of specialist moderators for a variety of insects. Enquiries are welcome.

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.

4471 species

Aaaaba fossicollis (Raspberry jewel beetle)

Aaaaba fossicollis
Aaaaba fossicollis
Aaaaba fossicollis

Aaaaba nodosus (a Jewel beetle)

Aaaaba nodosus
Aaaaba nodosus
Aaaaba nodosus

Abantiades (genus) (A Swift or Ghost moth)

Abantiades (genus)
Abantiades (genus)
Abantiades (genus)

Abantiades atripalpis (Bardee grub/moth, Rain Moth)

Abantiades atripalpis
Abantiades atripalpis
Abantiades atripalpis

Abantiades hyalinatus (Mustard Ghost Moth)

Abantiades hyalinatus
Abantiades hyalinatus
Abantiades hyalinatus

Abantiades labyrinthicus (Labyrinthine Ghost Moth)

Abantiades labyrinthicus
Abantiades labyrinthicus
Abantiades labyrinthicus

Abantiades latipennis (Brown Ghost Moth, Pindi Moth)

Abantiades latipennis
Abantiades latipennis
Abantiades latipennis

Abantiades magnificus (Magnificent Ghost Moth)

Abantiades magnificus
Abantiades magnificus
Abantiades magnificus

Abispa ephippium (Potter wasp, Mason wasp)

Abispa ephippium
Abispa ephippium
Abispa ephippium

Ablabesmyia sp. (genus) (A non-biting midge)

Ablabesmyia sp. (genus)

Acalolepta sp. (genus) (Longhorn beetle)

Acalolepta sp. (genus)
Acalolepta sp. (genus)
Acalolepta sp. (genus)

Acanthodela erythrosema (Acanthodela erythrosema)

Acanthodela erythrosema
Acanthodela erythrosema
Acanthodela erythrosema

Acanthodela protophaes (A Concealer moth)

Acanthodela protophaes
Acanthodela protophaes
Acanthodela protophaes

Acantholena siccella (A Concealer moth (Chezala Group))

Acantholena siccella
Acantholena siccella
Acantholena siccella

Acantholophus echinatus (Spiny ground weevil)

Acantholophus echinatus
Acantholophus echinatus
Acantholophus echinatus

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Insects

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2,196,074 sightings of 20,864 species in 9,229 locations from 12,659 contributors
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