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Insects

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:

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

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

Dave Ferguson (DaveFerg) - True Flies

Matthew Frawley (MatthewFrawley) - Butterflies

Stuart Harris (Harrisi) - Jewel Beetles

Mark Hanlon (MarkH) - Jewel Beetles

Don Herbison-Evans (donhe) - Moths

Owen Holton (owenh) - Butterflies

Sandra Lauer (Illilanga) - Cockroaches & Leafhoppers

Bronwyn King (Bron) - True Bugs & Moths

Jon Lewis (JonLewis) - Ants

James Lumbers (jgl) - True Flies

Michael Maconachie (maconachie) - Dragonflies & Damselflies

Roy McDowall (roymcd) - Dragonflies & Damselflies

Alison Milton (AlisonMilton) - Ants, Beetles & Leafhoppers

Daniel Montes (Birdy) - Wasps, Beetles, Butterflies

Harvey Perkins (HarveyPerkins) - Dragonflies & Damselflies

Lindsay Popple (lpopple) - Cicadas

Kim Pullen (KimberiRP) - all insects, especially Beetles

David Rees (DPRees125) - Most Beetles

Sam Reid (samreid007) - Ants & Sawflies

Graeme Smith (GBS) - Silverfish

Allen Sundholm (entom2) - Jewel Beetles

Alice Wells (Alice) - Caddisflies

Susan Wishart (SWishart) - Assassin Bugs, Shield, Stink & Jewel Bugs

We are still in need of specialist moderators for a variety of insects, for example cockroaches, but others as well. 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.