Insect sightings


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.



Page 1 of 2 - image sightings only

Camponotus consobrinus (Banded sugar ant) at Seaford, VIC - 12 Jan 2025 by FeliciaT
Chelepteryx collesi (White-stemmed Gum Moth) at Cannons Creek, VIC - 1 Jan 2025 by Charlottee52
Dasypodia selenophora (Southern old lady moth) at Kew East, VIC - 30 Dec 2024 by Mulch
Unidentified Bee (Hymenoptera, Apiformes) at Mulgrave, VIC - 27 Dec 2024 by amiessmacro
Orcus australasiae at Emerald, VIC - 27 Dec 2024 by GlossyGal
Tisiphone abeona (Varied Sword-grass Brown) at Emerald, VIC - 13 Dec 2024 by GlossyGal
Ectropis excursaria (Common Bark Moth) at Emerald, VIC - 11 Dec 2024 by GlossyGal
Scolypopa australis (Passionvine hopper, Fluffy bum) at Emerald, VIC - 11 Dec 2024 by GlossyGal
Scolypopa australis at Emerald, VIC - 11 Dec 2024 by GlossyGal
Homotrysis lugubris at Emerald, VIC - 10 Dec 2024 by GlossyGal
Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Emerald, VIC - 8 Dec 2024 by GlossyGal
Epidesmia chilonaria (Golden-winged Epidesmia) at Emerald, VIC - 8 Dec 2024 by GlossyGal
Gasteruption sp. (genus) (Gasteruptiid wasp) at St Kilda, VIC - 5 Dec 2024 by BowFloMarRo
Gastrophora henricaria (Fallen-bark Looper, Beautiful Leaf Moth) at Diamond Creek, VIC - 28 Nov 2024 by Jul
Tisiphone abeona (Varied Sword-grass Brown) at Langwarrin, VIC - 24 Nov 2024 by Jimbobo
Hippotion scrofa (Coprosma Hawk Moth) at Mickleham, VIC - 20 Nov 2024 by Shari777
Pogonortalis doclea at Box Hill North, VIC - 5 Nov 2024 by AutumnLeaf
Dasypodia selenophora (Southern old lady moth) at Brighton East, VIC - 2 Nov 2024 by SalMac28
Epidesmia chilonaria (Golden-winged Epidesmia) at Knoxfield, VIC - 25 Oct 2024 by Blewberry
Chlenias (genus) at Alphington, VIC - 3 Oct 2024 by ConBoekel
Vanessa itea (Yellow Admiral) at Ivanhoe, VIC - 3 Oct 2024 by ConBoekel
Ecnolagria sp. (genus) at Ivanhoe, VIC - 3 Oct 2024 by ConBoekel
Scopula perlata (Cream Wave) at Ivanhoe, VIC - 3 Oct 2024 by ConBoekel
Orcus australasiae (Orange-spotted Ladybird) at Alphington, VIC - 3 Oct 2024 by ConBoekel
Chrysomya sp. (genus) (A green/blue blowfly) at Princes Hill, VIC - 2 Oct 2024 by ConBoekel
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Princes Hill, VIC - 2 Oct 2024 by ConBoekel
Diplacodes bipunctata (Wandering Percher) at Princes Hill, VIC - 2 Oct 2024 by ConBoekel
Diplacodes bipunctata (Wandering Percher) at Princes Hill, VIC - 2 Oct 2024 by ConBoekel
Unidentified Leaf beetle (Chrysomelidae) at Melton, VIC - 1 Oct 2024 by LyndalT
Apiomorpha sp. (genus) at Melton, VIC - 1 Oct 2024 by LyndalT
Monocrepidus (genus) (Click beetle) at Eaglemont, VIC - 28 Sep 2024 by martinl
Eunatalis sp. (Genus) (A Clerid Beetle) at Eaglemont, VIC - 28 Sep 2024 by martinl
Peltoschema delicatulum (Leaf beetle) at Eaglemont, VIC - 28 Sep 2024 by martinl
Orthorhinus cylindrirostris (Elephant Weevil) at Eaglemont, VIC - 28 Sep 2024 by martinl
Microtropesa sinuata (A bristle fly) at Mernda, VIC - 30 May 2024 by jmangion
Heteronympha penelope (Shouldered Brown) at Lysterfield, VIC - 12 Mar 2024 by GlossyGal
Geitoneura klugii (Marbled Xenica) at Belgrave South, VIC - 11 Mar 2024 by GlossyGal
Oenochroma vinaria (Pink-bellied Moth, Hakea Wine Moth) at Belgrave Heights, VIC - 11 Mar 2024 by GlossyGal
Adrisa sp. (genus) at Werribee, VIC - 1 Mar 2024 by ThomasK
Hyleoides concinna (Wasp-mimic bee) at Prahran, VIC - 19 Feb 2024 by addamborough
Delias harpalyce (Imperial Jezebel) at Port Melbourne, VIC - 15 Jan 2024 by Sweetascanbie
Unidentified Bee (Hymenoptera, Apiformes) at Frankston South, VIC - 22 Dec 2023 by SChan
Phalaenoides glycinae (Grapevine Moth) at Arthurs Seat, VIC - 17 Dec 2023 by HelenCross
Unidentified Dragonfly (Anisoptera) at Arthurs Seat, VIC - 17 Dec 2023 by HelenCross
Unidentified Flower wasp (Scoliidae or Tiphiidae) at Arthurs Seat, VIC - 17 Dec 2023 by HelenCross
Castiarina erythroptera (Lycid Mimic Jewel Beetle) at Arthurs Seat, VIC - 17 Dec 2023 by HelenCross
Vanessa kershawi (Australian Painted Lady) at Arthurs Seat, VIC - 17 Dec 2023 by HelenCross
Tisiphone abeona (Varied Sword-grass Brown) at Arthurs Seat, VIC - 17 Dec 2023 by HelenCross
Tisiphone abeona at Tremont, VIC - 19 Oct 2023 by Petesteamer
Geitoneura klugii (Marbled Xenica) at Tremont, VIC - 22 Mar 2023 by GlossyGal
Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly) at Tremont, VIC - 22 Mar 2023 by GlossyGal
Heteronympha penelope (Shouldered Brown) at Tremont, VIC - 22 Mar 2023 by GlossyGal
Geitoneura acantha (Ringed Xenica) at Tremont, VIC - 22 Mar 2023 by GlossyGal
Polistes (Polistes) chinensis at Coburg, VIC - 9 Feb 2023 by WaspsInTown
Pterygophorus cinctus at WendyEM's place - 20 Jan 2023 by WendyEM
Scaptia (Scaptia) auriflua (A flower-feeding march fly) at Wonga Park, VIC - 17 Jan 2023 by Kerry12
Scaptia (Scaptia) auriflua (A flower-feeding march fly) at Wonga Park, VIC - 17 Jan 2023 by Kerry12
Lamprima aurata at Heidelberg West, VIC - 9 Jan 2023 by Effy
Mantidae (family) adult or nymph at Camberwell, VIC - 30 Dec 2022 by rykokat
Apiformes (informal group) at Frankston South, VIC - 23 Dec 2022 by SChan
Unidentified Beetle (Coleoptera) at Pearcedale, VIC - 10 Jun 2022 by srsbb
Conocephalus semivittatus (Meadow katydid) at Bentleigh, VIC - 17 Apr 2022 by thatsnotmyrobot
Pterygophorus cinctus at Templestowe, VIC - 18 Jan 2022 by Tepidduck1
Polistes (Polistes) chinensis (Asian paper wasp) at Reservoir, VIC - 16 Jan 2022 by LiamWard
Endoxyla encalypti at Reservoir, VIC - 4 Jan 2022 by Alicejac
Unidentified Moth (Lepidoptera) at Oakleigh East, VIC - 10 Aug 2021 by Jessradev
Paralucia pyrodiscus lucida (Eltham Copper Butterfly) at Greensborough, VIC - 30 Dec 2020 by MichaelBedingfield
Thema protogramma (A concealer moth) at Epping, VIC - 28 Sep 2018 by WendyEM
Thema protogramma (A concealer moth) at Epping, VIC - 28 Sep 2018 by WendyEM
Pterygophorus cinctus at Coburg, VIC - 9 Feb 2017 by WendyEM
Pterygophorus cinctus at Coburg, VIC - 9 Feb 2017 by WendyEM
Pterygophorus cinctus at Coburg, VIC - 9 Feb 2017 by WendyEM
Metura elongatus (Saunders' case moth) at WendyEM's place - 5 Feb 2017 by WendyEM
Papilio anactus (Dainty Swallowtail) at WendyEM's place - 5 Feb 2017 by WendyEM
Aeolothapsa malacella (A Concealer moth) at WendyEM's place - 26 Oct 2013 by WendyEM
Stathmopoda lethonoa (Stathmopoda lethonoa) at WendyEM's place - 16 Jan 2012 by WendyEM
Leuroperna sera (A Plutellid moth) at Epping, VIC - 29 Jan 2011 by WendyEM
Etiella behrii (Lucerne Seed Web Moth) at Epping, VIC - 29 Jan 2011 by WendyEM
Paropsisterna laesa species complex (Laesa leaf beetle) at Epping, VIC - 29 Jan 2011 by WendyEM
Scoparia spelaea (a Crambid moth) at Epping, VIC - 29 Jan 2011 by WendyEM
Diasemiopsis ramburialis (A Crambid moth) at Epping, VIC - 29 Jan 2011 by WendyEM
Achyra nigrirenalis (Pyraustinae) at Epping, VIC - 29 Jan 2011 by WendyEM
Nabis sp. (genus) at Epping, VIC - 29 Jan 2011 by WendyEM
Heteroptera (order) at Epping, VIC - 29 Jan 2011 by WendyEM
Trichoptera sp. (order) at Epping, VIC - 29 Jan 2011 by WendyEM
Rhantus suturalis (A predaceous diving beetle) at Epping, VIC - 29 Jan 2011 by WendyEM
Hygraula nitens (Pond Moth) at Epping, VIC - 29 Jan 2011 by WendyEM
Ptomaphila lacrymosa (Carrion Beetle) at Epping, VIC - 29 Jan 2011 by WendyEM
Staphylinidae (family) at Epping, VIC - 29 Jan 2011 by WendyEM
Achyra affinitalis (Cotton Web Spinner) at Epping, VIC - 29 Jan 2011 by WendyEM
Labidura riparia (Common Brown Earwig) at Epping, VIC - 29 Jan 2011 by WendyEM
Crambidae sp. (family) at Epping, VIC - 29 Jan 2011 by WendyEM
Hellula hydralis (Cabbage Centre Moth) at Epping, VIC - 29 Jan 2011 by WendyEM
Nomophila corticalis (A Snout Moth) at Epping, VIC - 29 Jan 2011 by WendyEM
Achyra affinitalis (Cotton Web Spinner) at Epping, VIC - 29 Jan 2011 by WendyEM
Sepedophilus sp. (genus) at Epping, VIC - 29 Jan 2011 by WendyEM
Hemiptera (order) at Epping, VIC - 29 Jan 2011 by WendyEM
Conocephalus semivittatus (Meadow katydid) at Epping, VIC - 29 Jan 2011 by WendyEM
Trichoptera sp. (order) at Epping, VIC - 29 Jan 2011 by WendyEM
Tebenna micalis (Small Thistle Moth) at Epping, VIC - 29 Jan 2011 by WendyEM

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1,907,157 sightings of 21,366 species from 13,179 contributors
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