Insect species

Moderators

The following moderators provide knowledge and expertise for Insects:

RogerF  |  Aussiegall  |  Curiosity

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.

449 species

Abantiades (genus) (A Swift or Ghost moth)

Abantiades (genus)
Abantiades (genus)
Abantiades (genus)

Abantiades atripalpis (Bardee grub/moth, Rain Moth)

Abantiades atripalpis
Abantiades atripalpis
Abantiades atripalpis

Abantiades hyalinatus (Mustard Ghost Moth)

Abantiades hyalinatus
Abantiades hyalinatus
Abantiades hyalinatus

Acrida conica (Giant green slantface)

Acrida conica
Acrida conica
Acrida conica

Acrididae sp. (family) (Unidentified Grasshopper)

Acrididae sp. (family)
Acrididae sp. (family)
Acrididae sp. (family)

Acrophylla titan (Titan Stick Insect)

Acrophylla titan
Acrophylla titan
Acrophylla titan

Adoxia benallae (Leaf beetle)

Adoxia benallae
Adoxia benallae
Adoxia benallae

Adversaeschna brevistyla (Blue-spotted Hawker)

Adversaeschna brevistyla
Adversaeschna brevistyla
Adversaeschna brevistyla

Agonoscelis rutila (Horehound bug)

Agonoscelis rutila
Agonoscelis rutila
Agonoscelis rutila

Alleculinae sp. (Subfamily) (Unidentified Comb-clawed beetle)

Alleculinae sp. (Subfamily)
Alleculinae sp. (Subfamily)
Alleculinae sp. (Subfamily)

Amata (genus) (Handmaiden Moth)

Amata (genus)
Amata (genus)
Amata (genus)

Amegilla sp. (genus) (Blue Banded Bee)

Amegilla sp. (genus)
Amegilla sp. (genus)
Amegilla sp. (genus)

1  2  3  4  5  6  »  23 

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

2,146,651 sightings of 19,859 species in 6,380 locations from 11,236 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.