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

36 min ago
A male

Boreoides subulatus
36 min ago
A male

Boreoides subulatus
WendyEM wrote:
3 hrs ago
I know (from personal experience) these fellas and other day fliers are tricky but it helps to have shots with the top surface of wings also a shot with the top side of abdomen too. Like this - thank you.

Platyptilia celidotus
WendyEM wrote:
3 hrs ago
aaah .....I did wonder about those fat front legs! thanks Kim. Tapeigaster " .... can be recognised by the combination of the thorax dorsally striped, the mid and fore femora noticeably inflated (compared to the hind femora),..." SOURCE (21/06/2025) https://tasmanianinsectfieldguide.com/hexapoda/insectsoftasmaniadiptera/suborder-brachycera/infraorder-cyclorrhapha/heleomyzidae/genus-tapeigaster/tapeigaster-annulipes/
I gather they have an interest in fungi - the pictures on this reference are sitting on fungi, like mine Tapeigaster sp. = Fungus flies

Tapeigaster sp. (genus)
donhe wrote:
13 hrs ago
The AFD pages of the Lithosiini each have a copy of Dave's photo of that species.

Unverified Tiger moth (Arctiinae)
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