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.

80 species

Phlyctinus callosus (Garden weevil)

Phlyctinus callosus
Phlyctinus callosus
Phlyctinus callosus

Phoracantha acanthocera (Bull's eye borer)

Phoracantha acanthocera
Phoracantha acanthocera
Phoracantha acanthocera

Phylacteophaga froggatti (Leafblister sawfly)

Phylacteophaga froggatti
Phylacteophaga froggatti
Phylacteophaga froggatti

Pterocomma populeum (Poplar bark aphid)

Pterocomma populeum
Pterocomma populeum

Sauris malaca (A Geometer moth)

Sauris malaca
Sauris malaca

Sericesthis geminata (Pruinose scarab)

Sericesthis geminata
Sericesthis geminata
Sericesthis geminata

Sidnia kinbergi (Australian crop mirid)

Sidnia kinbergi
Sidnia kinbergi
Sidnia kinbergi

Sphenarches anisodactylus (Geranium Plume Moth)

Sphenarches anisodactylus
Sphenarches anisodactylus
Sphenarches anisodactylus

Sphenophorus brunnipennis (La Plata weevil)

Sphenophorus brunnipennis
Sphenophorus brunnipennis

Stegobium paniceum (Drugstore beetle)

Stegobium paniceum
Stegobium paniceum
Stegobium paniceum

Stephanitis pyrioides (Azalea Lace Bug)

Stephanitis pyrioides
Stephanitis pyrioides
Stephanitis pyrioides

Trogium pulsatorium (Larger Pale Booklouse)

Trogium pulsatorium

Tuberolachnus salignus (Giant willow aphid)

Tuberolachnus salignus
Tuberolachnus salignus
Tuberolachnus salignus

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Conservation level

  • All conservation levels (change?)

Invasiveness

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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