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:
1 hr ago
No picture loads for this sighting.

Tetrigidae (family)
chriselidie wrote:
2 hrs ago
Thanks for letting me know, PeterA - that's interesting! And yes, my camera isn't very good with tiny insects unfortunately

Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) lanarium
PeterA wrote:
4 hrs ago
The first two pictures is a male L. lanarium - see the distinctive small kink at the tip of the antennae. The third one is possibly L. (Homalictus) sphecodoides, but not clear enough.

Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) lanarium
PeterA wrote:
4 hrs ago
Probably A. asserta, but can't see the right bits.

Amegilla sp. (genus)
PeterA wrote:
4 hrs ago
Just about - I assume you saw more of it.

Hylaeus (Euprosopoides) rotundiceps
1,910,273 sightings of 21,475 species from 13,301 contributors
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