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.

Announcements

4 Jun 2025

NatureMapr is close to releasing an important new feature which we are really excited about.This feature will change the dynamics of how the platform operates slightly and will ultimately expand on th...


Continue reading

NatureMapr update

Platform update

Improvements to data import tool (coming soon)

NatureMapr welcomes Edgar McNamara

Discussion

donhe wrote:
3 hrs ago
@PJH123 : Was this really facing downwards ?

Grammodes oculicola
HelenCross wrote:
Yesterday
Suggested by @KimberiRP: "possibly genus Anamesia"

Unverified Cockroach (Blattodea, several families)
WendyEM wrote:
Yesterday
Peraglyphis chalepa
https://bold-au.hobern.net/specimens.php?taxid=364698
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?taxon_id=567816

Hednota longipalpella
PJH123 wrote:
Yesterday
Not luteotactella which has its “Head in front, palpi, except the third joint, legs and costa of the fore wings ochraceous” as well as “fringe tipped with ochraceous”. Probably one of the many white mysteries found in several general within Xyloryctidae

Xyloryctidae (family)
donhe wrote:
Yesterday
Assuming dark marks are damage, absence of wing markings, and the dark legs, suggest X. luteotactella to me.

Xyloryctidae (family)
821,421 sightings of 22,464 species from 14,161 members
CCA 3.0 | privacy
NatureMapr is developed and subsidised by at3am IT Pty Ltd and is proudly Australian made