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.

4257 species

Phylomictis maligna (A Stenomatinae moth)

Phylomictis maligna
Phylomictis maligna
Phylomictis maligna

Phylomictis sarcinopa (A Stenomatidae moth)

Phylomictis sarcinopa
Phylomictis sarcinopa
Phylomictis sarcinopa

Physopelta australis (A bordered plant bug)

Physopelta australis
Physopelta australis
Physopelta australis

Phytoecia coerulescens (Paterson's curse stem beetle)

Phytoecia coerulescens
Phytoecia coerulescens
Phytoecia coerulescens

Phytotrypa propriella (A concealer moth)

Phytotrypa propriella
Phytotrypa propriella
Phytotrypa propriella

Pictacara crassa (Marsh beetle)

Pictacara crassa
Pictacara crassa
Pictacara crassa

Piesarthrius laminosus (A longhorn beetle)

Piesarthrius laminosus
Piesarthrius laminosus
Piesarthrius laminosus

Piloprepes anassa (A Concealer moth)

Piloprepes anassa
Piloprepes anassa
Piloprepes anassa

Piloprepes antidoxa (A concealer moth)

Piloprepes antidoxa
Piloprepes antidoxa
Piloprepes antidoxa

Piloprepes gelidella (A Concealer moth)

Piloprepes gelidella
Piloprepes gelidella
Piloprepes gelidella

Pinara (genus) (Snout moth)

Pinara (genus)

Pinara cana (Neat Pinara)

Pinara cana
Pinara cana
Pinara cana

Pinara divisa (Common Pinara, Lasiocampidae)

Pinara divisa
Pinara divisa

Pinophilini sp. (tribe) (A rove beetle)

Pinophilini sp. (tribe)

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Insects

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2,148,925 sightings of 19,884 species in 6,408 locations from 11,278 contributors
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