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

trevorpreston wrote:
20 Dec 2024
Balta Bicolor female

Balta bicolor
RogerF wrote:
19 Dec 2024
Nb its apterous. Several pictures in Rentz's katydid book. May be worth getting.

Austrosalomona sp. (genus)
Curiosity wrote:
19 Dec 2024
Thanks, Roger. I tried looking online for Requena sp but only found sketchy info so far. However, I do have 2 more images of the same katydid. She is only a few metres from the previous sighting but again in a shady spot. I added considerable exposure during the editing stage to try for more detail.

Austrosalomona sp. (genus)
Curiosity wrote:
17 Dec 2024
An interesting bug, @Span102! I'm not sure about ID either! Your sighting is very similar to G. tasmanicus but I have suggested Amorbus atomarius because of the yellowish tips to the antennae and yellowish feet. I'm not seeing those on examples of G. tasmanicus.

Gelonus tasmanicus
Span102 wrote:
16 Dec 2024
thanks @Curiosity glad I caught some useful identifying characteristics

Archimantis latistyla
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