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

RogerF wrote:
40 min ago
Convergent evolution?

Scolytinae (subfamily)
DiBickers wrote:
5 hrs ago
Without a clear view of the wing tips I can’t really tell if this is Polistes humilis ssp. synoecus or Polistes stigma.

Polistes sp. (genus)
DiBickers wrote:
5 hrs ago
@Hejor1 tricky one, at first glance I think the colouration looks similar to Polistes humilis, however the definition and placement of the black marking near the wing tip would indicate this is likely to be Polistes stigma. Given your location, I’m going to Verify it as the latter, but happy to be corrected.

Polistes stigma
donhe wrote:
8 hrs ago
The drawings by Hampson and by Druce show checquered forewing margins, see
http://lepidoptera.butterflyhouse.com.au/lima/symphonistis.html

Neogalea sunia
PJH123 wrote:
Yesterday
I think the banding on the cilia of my specimen is too bold for Neogalea sunia

Neogalea sunia
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