Insect species

Moderators

The following moderators provide knowledge and expertise for Insects:

WingsToWander  |  HarveyPerkins  |  AlisonMilton  |  canberrabutterflies

Become a moderator

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.

530 species

Synthemis eustalacta (Swamp Tigertail)

Synthemis eustalacta
Synthemis eustalacta
Synthemis eustalacta

Syrphini sp. (tribe) (Unidentified syrphine hover fly)

Syrphini sp. (tribe)
Syrphini sp. (tribe)
Syrphini sp. (tribe)

Tachinidae (family) (Unidentified Bristle fly)

Tachinidae (family)
Tachinidae (family)
Tachinidae (family)

Tapeigaster sp. (genus) (Fungus fly, Heteromyzid fly)

Tapeigaster sp. (genus)
Tapeigaster sp. (genus)
Tapeigaster sp. (genus)

Taractrocera papyria (White-banded Grass-dart)

Taractrocera papyria
Taractrocera papyria
Taractrocera papyria

Temognatha tricolorata (Jewel Beetle)

Tephritidae sp. (family) (Unidentified Fruit or Seed fly)

Tephritidae sp. (family)
Tephritidae sp. (family)
Tephritidae sp. (family)

Termessa nivosa (Snowy Footman)

Termessa nivosa
Termessa nivosa
Termessa nivosa

Terpandrus sp. (genus) (Gumleaf Katydid)

Terpandrus sp. (genus)
Terpandrus sp. (genus)
Terpandrus sp. (genus)

Tettigarcta crinita (Alpine Hairy Cicada)

Tettigarcta crinita
Tettigarcta crinita
Tettigarcta crinita

Thalaina clara (Clara's Satin Moth)

Thalaina clara
Thalaina clara
Thalaina clara

1  «  20  21  22  23  24  25  26  27 

Conservation level

  • All conservation levels (change?)

Invasiveness

  • All invasiveness levels (change?)

Insects

Machine learning

Machine learning is not enabled.

Follow Insects

Receive alerts of new sightings

Subscribe

Share field guide

Share link to Insects field guide

2,148,794 sightings of 19,882 species in 6,407 locations from 11,276 contributors
CCA 3.0 | privacy
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.