Insect species

Moderators

The following moderators provide 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

Stuart Harris (Harrisi) - Jewel Beetles

Mark Hanlon (MarkH) - Jewel Beetles

Don Herbison-Evans (donhe) - Moths

Bronwyn King (Bron) - True Bugs & Moths

Hauke Koch (HaukeKoch) - Scarab Beetles (national)

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.

51 species

Anthrenus verbasci (Varied or Variegated Carpet Beetle)

Anthrenus verbasci
Anthrenus verbasci
Anthrenus verbasci

Aphididae (family) (Unidentified aphid)

Aphididae (family)
Aphididae (family)
Aphididae (family)

Aphis chloris (St Johns Wort Aphid)

Aphis chloris
Aphis chloris

Aphodius fimetarius (Red dung beetle)

Aphodius fimetarius
Aphodius fimetarius
Aphodius fimetarius

Bibio superfluus (Garden maggot)

Bibio superfluus
Bibio superfluus
Bibio superfluus

Chrysolina quadrigemina (Greater St Johns Wort beetle)

Chrysolina quadrigemina
Chrysolina quadrigemina
Chrysolina quadrigemina

Coccinella undecimpunctata (11-spotted lady beetle)

Coccinella undecimpunctata
Coccinella undecimpunctata
Coccinella undecimpunctata

Ctenochares bicolorus (Black-tipped orange ichneumon)

Ctenochares bicolorus
Ctenochares bicolorus
Ctenochares bicolorus

Ctenoplusia albostriata (Eastern Streaked Looper)

Ctenoplusia albostriata
Ctenoplusia albostriata
Ctenoplusia albostriata

Cystiphora schmidti (Chondrilla gall midge)

Cystiphora schmidti
Cystiphora schmidti

Dactylopius opuntiae (Prickly Pear Cochineal)

Dactylopius opuntiae
Dactylopius opuntiae
Dactylopius opuntiae

Endrosis sarcitrella (White-shouldered House Moth)

Endrosis sarcitrella
Endrosis sarcitrella
Endrosis sarcitrella

Euaresta bullans (Spiny Cocklebur Fruit Fly)

Euaresta bullans

Euoniticellus fulvus (Fulvus dung beetle)

Euoniticellus fulvus
Euoniticellus fulvus
Euoniticellus fulvus

Euribia solstitialis (Nodding Thistle Gall Fly)

Euribia solstitialis
Euribia solstitialis
Euribia solstitialis

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Conservation level

Invasiveness

Insects

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2,148,794 sightings of 19,882 species in 6,407 locations from 11,276 contributors
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