Insect species

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The following moderators provide knowledge and expertise for Insects:

WingsToWander  |  HarveyPerkins  |  AlisonMilton  |  canberrabutterflies

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Overview

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

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.

512 species

Paropsisterna beata (Blessed Leaf Beetle)

Paropsisterna beata
Paropsisterna beata
Paropsisterna beata

Paropsisterna cloelia (Eucalyptus variegated beetle)

Paropsisterna cloelia
Paropsisterna cloelia
Paropsisterna cloelia

Paropsisterna decolorata (A Eucalyptus leaf beetle)

Paropsisterna decolorata
Paropsisterna decolorata
Paropsisterna decolorata

Peltoschema oceanica (Oceanica leaf beetle)

Peltoschema oceanica
Peltoschema oceanica
Peltoschema oceanica

Pentatomidae (family) (Shield or Stink bug)

Pentatomidae (family)
Pentatomidae (family)
Pentatomidae (family)

Perga affinis (Large Green Sawfly)

Perga affinis
Perga affinis
Perga affinis

Perginae sp. (subfamily) (Unidentified pergine sawfly)

Perginae sp. (subfamily)
Perginae sp. (subfamily)
Perginae sp. (subfamily)

Phaulacridium vittatum (Wingless Grasshopper)

Phaulacridium vittatum
Phaulacridium vittatum
Phaulacridium vittatum

Philobota (genus) (Unidentified Philobota genus moths)

Philobota (genus)
Philobota (genus)
Philobota (genus)

Phoracantha semipunctata (Common Eucalypt Longicorn)

Phoracantha semipunctata
Phoracantha semipunctata
Phoracantha semipunctata

Phyllotocus kingii (Nectar scarab)

Phyllotocus kingii
Phyllotocus kingii
Phyllotocus kingii

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Conservation level

  • Local native (change?)
    * designates formal legal status

Invasiveness

  • All invasiveness levels (change?)

Insects

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2,161,298 sightings of 20,472 species in 6,613 locations from 11,779 contributors
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