Insects


A guide to Australian insect families (from CSIRO) can be found at:
http://anic.ento.csiro.au/insectfamilies/

Daley, A. & Ellingsen, K., 2012. Insects of Tasmania: An online field guide

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.

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Discussion

Hejor1 wrote:
4 min ago
@WendyEM @donhe 5th photo now shows pupa! I had to strip down the cocoons but they were disguised in leaves and flowers. I have 2, possibly a 3rd.

Chloroclystis (genus)
Hejor1 wrote:
12 min ago
@donhe @WendyEM updated photos. He now has a pale stripe down each side and is a greyer green colour. Still very hungry and doesn't seem to be overly particular in his tastes - any eucalyptus I give him seems acceptable.

Geometrinae (subfamily)
JonLewis wrote:
2 hrs ago
Looks like a termite to me.

Termitoidae (informal group)
ibaird wrote:
2 hrs ago
Seems quite worn, so difficult to see a match at the species level, thpugh likely Leistaercha (genus), perhaps L amphigramma?

Leistarcha (genus)
KorinneM wrote:
2 hrs ago
Not a damselfly. Maybe a flying ant?

Termitoidae (informal group)
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