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

donhe wrote:
just now
Adeixis inostentata ?

Unverified Moth (Lepidoptera)
donhe wrote:
1 hr ago
Statherotis euryphaea ?

Unverified Tortricid moth (Tortricidae)
kasiaaus wrote:
Yesterday
Thank you Glenn. The female is sighting 4670048

Philobota (brachypterous, unnamed)
GlennCocking wrote:
Yesterday
This specimen best matches the undescribed Philobota species with brachyperous females shown in Moths in the ACT p85. ANIC has many specimens of this moth, mostly from Black Mountain in 1960 but some others from other places in the ACT in May and June from 1928 to the 1970s. It has also been recorded by Katarina Christenson in Melba in May and July in recent years, and by others.
The forewing of the male has a variable subcostal dark stripe outlined on both sides with a white streak. The dark streak is narrow and may display prominently from base to termen, or may be reduced to scattered dark scales that scarcely form a line. The rest of the forewing has subdued patterning that is overall grey-brown to the naked eye indoors or more colourful in a flash photo as shown in Moths in the ACT. Katarina Christenson captured this specimen, and also a female a week earlier, and I have confirmed that they are both of this species.

Philobota diaereta
kasiaaus wrote:
Yesterday
I think it is safe to confirm this as Glenn has examined and confirmed this specimen. See Glenn's comment on sighting 4670817.

Philobota brachypterous female species
819,864 sightings of 22,406 species from 14,114 members
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