Insects (class Insecta) are a diverse group of hexapod invertebrates and is the largest group within the phylum Arthropoda. The class includes butterflies, crickets, moths, ants, termites, mantids, grasshoppers, crickets, just to name some of them.
Check out some of the genus/species listed, and come back as we add more over time… “what a wonderful world… we live in…”
InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub
— see other individually listed insects below… “
— see our Spiders (Arachnida)…
An amazing diverse group of animals that have adapted to almost every environment on the planet earth, insects play an essential role in the web of life. The interaction of insects and plants plays a crucial role in pollination and is very important for the environment and the humankind.
Insects comprise 75% of all catalogued animal species. They have exoskeletons and three body parts (head, thorax and abdomen), six jointed limbs and a pair of antennae.
The orders that contain the greatest numbers of species include Coleoptera (beetles), Diptera (true flies), Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps), and Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths).
Many insects are predators, parasites or parasitoids with a great diversity of hunting strategies and behaviours to capture or feed on their prey.
ANTS (FORMICIDAE)
FormicidaeFormicidae Index Ants More Ants in Australia Caste Systems, Colonies and Anthills Invasive Ants in Australia Camponotus Ants Camponotus aurocinctus Camponotus consobrinus (Banded Sugar Ant) Camponotus inflatus (Honey Ant) Camponotus innexus (Antarctic Sugar Ant) Chelaner kiliani (Mono Ant) Dolichoderus doriae (Dolly Ant) Dolichoderus scabridus Iridomyrmex purpureus Leptomyrmex erythrocephalus (Red-headed Spider Ant) Melophorus bagoti Myrmecia brevinoda (Nocturnal Bull Ant) Myrmecia forficata (Inchman Ant) Myrmecia gulosa (Red Bull Ant) Myrmecia impaternata Myrmecia mandibularis Myrmecia nigrocincta (Jumping Jack Ant) Myrmecia pilosula (Jack Jumper Ant) Myrmecia pyriformis (Inch Ant) Myrmecia rubripes (Bullant) Myrmecia tarsata (Australian Jumper Ant) Notoncus gilberti Notoncus spinisquamis Odontomachus sp (Trap-jaw Ant) Oecophylla smaragdina (Green Tree Ant) Opisthopsis rufithorax Polyrhachis Pseudoneoponera sublaevis Rhytidoponera aspera Rhytidoponera metallica (Green-head Ant)
BEES
BeesBees Anatomy Bees Antenna It’s in the eyes Pre-pygidial fimbria Sting of the bee Wings of the bee Bee Behaviour Bubbling Bees Buzz Pollination Operculum lifting behaviour Blogging Bees… Bees – image index Bees – Index Lists Unidentified Australian Native Bees Amegilla Bees Apical tergites of females Amegilla Amegilla Bee Body Colour Amegilla adelaidae Amegilla aeruginosa Amegilla asserta Amegilla chlorocyanea Amegilla walkeri Teddy Bear Bees (Asaropoda) Apis mellifera Dark Apis mellifera Apis mellifera — Captured flora moments Austroplebeia australis Austrothurgus Austrothurgus rubricatus Braunsapis sp Ceylalictus perditellus Colletidae Amphylaeus obscuriceps Anthoglossa nigrocinctus Callomelitta antipodes Hylaeinae Leioproctus Hylaeus spp – Masked Bee Neopasiphae mirabilis Paracolletes crassipes Trichocolletes Euryglossinae Euryglossinae Index Callohesma Dasyhesma Euhesma Euryglossa Euryglossina Xanthesma Exoneura Exoneura angophorae Hyleoides bivulnerata Lasioglossum Lasioglossum (Australictus) peraustrale Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) bicingulatum Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) brunnesetum Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) lanarium Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) willsi Lasioglossum (Homalictus) Lasioglossum (Homalictus) dotatum Lasioglossum (Homalictus) urbanum Leioproctus pappus Lipotriches Lipotriches australica Lipotriches flavoviridis Lipotriches gracilipes Lipotriches muscosa Lipotriches phanerura Megachile Megachile Index Megachile aurifrons Megachile erythropyga Megachile (Eutricharaea) Megachile (Hackeriapis) canifrons Megachile (Hackeriapis) rhodura Megachile lucidiventris Megachile punctata Megachile (Rhodomegachile) deanii Megachile semiluctuosa Megachile (Thaumatosoma) Megachile ustulata Meroglossa Meroglossa impressifrons Meroglossa rubricata Stenotritidae Ctenocolletes albomarginatus Leioproctus (Protomorpha) sp Ctenocolletes rufescens Tetragonula Tetragonula carbonaria Thyreus Thyreus caeruleopunctatus Thyreus waroonensis Xylocopa Xylocopa aerata Xylocopa bombylans
BLATTODEA (COCKROACHES and TERMITES)
BlattodeaAmitermes meridionalis Anamesia sp Balta bicolor Bush Cockroach Ellipsidion Ellipsidion australe Ellipsidion humarale Nasutitermes triodiae Termite — Alate
BUTTERFLIES (LEPIDOPTERA)
ButterfliesButterflies Index Acraea andromacha Caper White Butterfly Caper White Butterfly & Caper Bush Caper White Caterpillar and Instar Eggs of the Caper White Butterfly Caper White Butterfly Metamorphosis Chequered Swallowtail Butterfly Common Eggfly Butterfly Blue Moon Butterfly Meadow Argus Orchard Swallowtail Butterfly Pieridae Black Jezebel (Delias nigrina) Red Spotted Jezebel (Delias aganippe) Two-spotted Line Blue (Nacaduba biocellata) Yellow Palm Dart
CICADA (CICADOIDEA)
CicadaCicada Index Desert Screamer (Burbunga hillieri) — Cicada Floury Baker (Aleeta curvicosta) — Cicada Green Grocer (Cyclochila australasiae) — Cicada Masked Devil (Cyclochila australasiae) — Cicada Orange Drummer (Thopha colorata) — Cicada Razor Grinder (Henicopsaltria eydouxii) — Cicada White Drummer (Arunta perulata) — Cicada
COLEOPTERA (BEETLES and WEEVILS)
ColeopteraColeoptera Index Amarygmus sp Anoplognathus sp Anoplognathus macleayi (Christmas Beetle) Anoplognathus porosus Washerwoman (Anoplognathus porosus) Aphanestes gymnopleura Aphanesthes succine Aporocera speciosa Atractocerus crassicornis Blackburnium cavicolle Buprestidae More Buprestidae Buprestidae Index Jewel Beetles Astraeus Bubastes pilbarensis Calodema plebeia Calotemognatha Castiarina Chalcophorataenia quadriimpressa Cyrioides Diadoxus Hypocisseis suturalis Diphucrania Julodimorpha saundersii Melobasis Merimna atrata Metaxymorpha grayii Metaxymorpha gloriosa Stigmodera Temognatha Torresita cuprifera Carphurus Carphurus Index Carphurus cyaneipennis Carphurus cyanopterus Carphurus fasciculatus Carphurus frenchi Carphurus longicollis Carphurus pravus Cerambycidae Longhorn Beetles Index Aridaeus thoracicus Chlorophorus curtisi Didymocantha obliqua Pachydissus sp Rhytiphora Chalcopteroides (Chalcopterus Beetle) Christmas Beetles Christmas Beetle (Anoplognathus brunnipennis) Christmas Beetles (Anoplognathus) Christmas Beetle (Anoplognathus macleayi) Christmas Beetles (Diphucephala) Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles) Chrysomelidae Index Johannica gemellata (Pandorea Leaf Beetle) Pittosporum Leaf Beetle (Lamprolina impressicollis) Platymela hasenpuschi Spilopyra sumptuosa (Rainbow Leaf Beetle) Coleoptera (Beetles) Curculionidae Chrysolopus spectabilis (Botany Bay Diamond Weevil) Lixus Perperus lateralis (White-striped Weevil) Dicranolaius cinctus Dung Beetle Eretes australis Helea scaphiformis Hydrophilus Ladybirds (Beetles) Australoneda bourgeoisi Coccinella transversalis Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Harmonia conformis Olla v-nigrum Orcus australasiae Lepidiota Lucanidae Lucanidae Index Lamprima aurata Lissapterus obesus Prosopocoilus torresensis Lycidae Malachiinae Mordellidae (Pintail Beetles) Hoshihananomia leucosticte Mordella australis Neospades sp Omorgus Paropsine Beetle Paropsis maculata Paropsis porosa Paropsis sospita Paropsisterna sp Paropsisterna Index Paropsisterna beata Paropsisterna fastidiosa Paropsisterna m-fuscum Paropsisterna pictipes Paropsisterna sexpustulata Phorticosomus sp Protaetia fusca Pterohelaeus sp Rhinotia haemoptera Rhinotia suturalis Rhipiceridae Feather-horned Beetle (Rhipicera carinata) Feather-horned Beetle (Rhipicera femorata) Scarabaeidae Scarabaeidae Index Bisallardiana Scarabaeinae (Dung Beetles) Schizognathus compressicornis Tenebrionidae Xylophilostenus octophyllus
CRABRONIDAE (Paraphyletic Group of WASPS)
DIPTERA
DipteraDiptera Index Drone Flies and Hover Flies Flies Australian Sheep Blowfly (Lucilia cuprina) Australian Drain Fly Bat Flies Bee Flies Chrysomya saffranea Clogmia (Moth Fly) Eristalinus punctulatus Exorista, Fly Miltinus stenogaster Musca Odontomyia (Soldier Flies) Physiphora alceae Physocephala australiana Robber Flies Sarcophaga aurifrons Soldier Fly Syrphidae Therevidae
DRAGONFLIES & DAMSELFLIES (ODONATA)
Dragonflies & DamselfliesDragonfly or Damselfly? Sex Lives and Dragonflies Damselflies Diplacodes haematodes Diplacodes melanopsis (Black-faced Percher) Hemicordulia tau Orthetrum caledonicum Orthetrum migratum Orthetrum villosovittatum
HEMIPTERA
HemipteraHemiptera Index Cicadellidae Cicadoidea Fulgoromorpha (Planthoppers) Heteroptera (True Bugs) Membracoidea (Leafhoppers and Treehoppers)
Heteroptera (True Bugs)
HeteropteraHeteroptera Index Amyotea hamata (Yellow Predatory Shield Bug) Choerocoris paganus (Red Jewel Bug) Hyocephalus aprugnus Ippatha australiensis Leptocoris Mictis profana (Crusader Bug) Reduviidae Assassin Bugs Shield Bugs – Stink Bugs Tectocoris diophthalmus (Hibiscus Harlequin Bug)
MOTHS (LEPIDOPTERA)
MothsMoths Index Aedia arctipennis Agape chloropyga Agrius convolvuli (Convolvulus Hawk Moth) Agrotis munda Anthela guenei (Four-Spot Anthelid Moth) Ardices curvata (Crimson Tiger Moth) Austrocaligula engaea (Mistletoe Emperor Moth) Calicotis crucifera Case Moths (Variety of Cocoons) Coenotes eremophilae Comocrus behri (Mistletoe Moth) Cosmodes elegans (Green-blotched Moth) Diatenes gerula Donuca spectabilis (White-spotted Owl-Moth) Endoxyla cinereus (Carpenter Moth) Eudesmeola lawsoni Four-spotted Cup Moth (Doratifera quadriguttata) Hippotion celerio (Vine Hawk Moth) Hyles livornicoides (Australian Striped Hawk Moth) Ischnurges illustralis Leaf Case Moth Metura elongatus (Saunders’ Case Moth) Ochrogaster lunifer (Bag-shelter Moth) Opodiphthera eucalypti (Emperor Gum Moth) Pararguda rufescens Plume Moth Ribbed Case Moth Sameodes cancellalis Spodoptera litura Trigonodes hyppasia Utetheisa (Rattlepod Moth)
ORTHOPTERA
OrthopteraAustralian Orthopteroid Index Garden Mantis Grasshoppers Katydids (family Tettigoniidae) Psedna nana (Variable Psedna Grasshopper) Toadhopper (Buforania crassa)
STINK BUGS, SHIELD BUGS and ALLIES
Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and AlliesAmorbus
WASPS
WaspsWasps Index Australian Large Wasps Australian Mud Nest Wasps Mud Wasp Velvet Ants Abispa ephippium Acarozumia amaliae Aulacidae Australodynerus Bembix Bembicinae Bethylidae Blue Hairy Flower Wasp Braconidae Chrysididae Cryptocheilus Delta latreillei (Potter Wasp) Delta philantes Eumeninae Euodynerus aspra Ferreola handschini (Orange-collared Spider Wasp) Flower Wasps Gasteruptiid Wasp Hairy Flower Wasps Isodontia (Grass-carrying Wasp) Lissopimpla excelsa (Orchid Dupe Wasp) Mutillidae Orange Wasps Paralastor sp. Pseudabispa bicolor ssp. nigrocinctoides Radumeris radula (Yellow Hairy Flower Wasp) Radumeris tasmaniensis (Yellow Hairy Flower Wasp) Rhynchium superbum Sceliphron formosum (Vase-cell Mud-dauber Wasp) Sceliphron laetum Sphex Thynnid Wasps Tiphiidae Torymus Yellow and Black Wasp
Other creatures sometimes referred to as insects include spiders and centipedes. Unlike the class Insecta, that only have six legs, spiders are in the class Arachnida and have eight legs.
SpidersIndex of Spider Images Spiders in Australia Spiders Index Araneidae — Orb Weavers Spider sac Arkys Australian Huntsman Spider Barking Spider Black House Spider Carepalxis sp Celaenia sp Cosmophasis micarioides Crab Spiders Deinopidae — Net-casting Spiders Dolomedes sp Dolophones sp Euryopis umbilicata (Superb Ant-eater Spider) Flower Spiders Gnaphosidae (Stealthy Ground Spider) Hackled Orbweavers (Uloboridae) Helpis minitabunda (Bronze Hopper) Herennia sp Jewel Spider Jumping Spider Long Jawed Spider (Tetragnatha sp) Lynx Spider (Oxyopes) Mangrovia albida Maratus Missulena occatoria (Red-headed Mouse Spider) Molycria burwelli Mopsus mormon Nicodamidae (Red and Black Spider) Nyssus coloripes (Orange-legged Swift Spider) Ogre-faced Net-casting Spider Poltys sp (Twig Spider) Scorpion-tailed Spider (Arachnura higginsi) Redback Spider Miturgidae Salticidae Tetragnatha Thomisidae Tiger Spider (Trichonephila plumipes) White-spotted Swift Spider (Nyssus albopunctatus) Wolf Spider
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Informal:
- Apterygotes
- Pterygotes
- Subclass:
- Archaeognatha
- Dicondylia
- Informal:
Footnote & References
- Insects (Class Insecta), iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/47158-Insecta
- Insect Keys, NSW DPI, https://idtools.dpi.nsw.gov.au/keys/index.html
- Identification resources online, The Australian National Insect Collection provides web-based information and tools for the identification of insects and related organisms, CSIRO, https://www.csiro.au/en/research/animals/insects/id-resources
- Australian National Insect Collection (ANIC) is recognised both nationally and internationally as a major research collection. It is the world’s largest collection of Australian insects and related groups such as mites, spiders, nematodes and centipedes, housing over 12 million specimens, https://www.csiro.au/en/about/facilities-collections/collections/anic
InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub
InsectsBees Bees Anatomy Bee Behaviour Blogging Bees… Bees – image index Bees – Index Lists Unidentified Australian Native Bees Amegilla Bees Apis mellifera Austroplebeia australis Austrothurgus Braunsapis sp Ceylalictus perditellus Colletidae Euryglossinae Exoneura Hyleoides bivulnerata Lasioglossum Lasioglossum (Chilalictus) Lasioglossum (Homalictus) Leioproctus pappus Lipotriches Megachile Meroglossa Stenotritidae Tetragonula Thyreus Xylocopa Beetles Blattodea Amitermes meridionalis Anamesia sp Balta bicolor Bush Cockroach Ellipsidion Nasutitermes triodiae Termite — Alate Butterflies Butterflies Index Acraea andromacha Caper White Butterfly Chequered Swallowtail Butterfly Common Eggfly Butterfly Meadow Argus Orchard Swallowtail Butterfly Pieridae Two-spotted Line Blue (Nacaduba biocellata) Yellow Palm Dart Coleoptera Coleoptera Index Amarygmus sp Anoplognathus sp Aphanestes gymnopleura Aphanesthes succine Aporocera speciosa Atractocerus crassicornis Blackburnium cavicolle Buprestidae Carphurus Cerambycidae Chalcopteroides (Chalcopterus Beetle) Christmas Beetles Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles) Coleoptera (Beetles) Curculionidae Dicranolaius cinctus Dung Beetle Eretes australis Helea scaphiformis Hydrophilus Ladybirds (Beetles) Lepidiota Lucanidae Lycidae Malachiinae Mordellidae (Pintail Beetles) Neospades sp Omorgus Paropsine Beetle Paropsisterna sp Phorticosomus sp Protaetia fusca Pterohelaeus sp Rhinotia haemoptera Rhinotia suturalis Rhipiceridae Scarabaeidae Tenebrionidae Xylophilostenus octophyllus Cicada Cicada Index Desert Screamer (Burbunga hillieri) — Cicada Floury Baker (Aleeta curvicosta) — Cicada Green Grocer (Cyclochila australasiae) — Cicada Masked Devil (Cyclochila australasiae) — Cicada Orange Drummer (Thopha colorata) — Cicada Razor Grinder (Henicopsaltria eydouxii) — Cicada White Drummer (Arunta perulata) — Cicada Crabronidae Pison Diptera Diptera Index Drone Flies and Hover Flies Flies Australian Sheep Blowfly (Lucilia cuprina) Australian Drain Fly Bat Flies Bee Flies Chrysomya saffranea Clogmia (Moth Fly) Eristalinus punctulatus Exorista, Fly Miltinus stenogaster Musca Odontomyia (Soldier Flies) Physiphora alceae Physocephala australiana Robber Flies Sarcophaga aurifrons Soldier Fly Syrphidae Therevidae Dragonflies & Damselflies Dragonfly or Damselfly? Sex Lives and Dragonflies Damselflies Diplacodes haematodes Diplacodes melanopsis (Black-faced Percher) Hemicordulia tau Orthetrum caledonicum Orthetrum migratum Orthetrum villosovittatum Formicidae Formicidae Index Ants More Ants in Australia Caste Systems, Colonies and Anthills Invasive Ants in Australia Camponotus Ants Camponotus aurocinctus Camponotus consobrinus (Banded Sugar Ant) Camponotus inflatus (Honey Ant) Camponotus innexus (Antarctic Sugar Ant) Chelaner kiliani (Mono Ant) Dolichoderus doriae (Dolly Ant) Dolichoderus scabridus Iridomyrmex purpureus Leptomyrmex erythrocephalus (Red-headed Spider Ant) Melophorus bagoti Myrmecia brevinoda (Nocturnal Bull Ant) Myrmecia forficata (Inchman Ant) Myrmecia gulosa (Red Bull Ant) Myrmecia impaternata Myrmecia mandibularis Myrmecia nigrocincta (Jumping Jack Ant) Myrmecia pilosula (Jack Jumper Ant) Myrmecia pyriformis (Inch Ant) Myrmecia rubripes (Bullant) Myrmecia tarsata (Australian Jumper Ant) Notoncus gilberti Notoncus spinisquamis Odontomachus sp (Trap-jaw Ant) Oecophylla smaragdina (Green Tree Ant) Opisthopsis rufithorax Polyrhachis Pseudoneoponera sublaevis Rhytidoponera aspera Rhytidoponera metallica (Green-head Ant) Hemiptera Hemiptera Index Cicadellidae Cicadoidea Fulgoromorpha (Planthoppers) Heteroptera (True Bugs) Membracoidea (Leafhoppers and Treehoppers) Heteroptera Heteroptera Index Amyotea hamata (Yellow Predatory Shield Bug) Choerocoris paganus (Red Jewel Bug) Hyocephalus aprugnus Ippatha australiensis Leptocoris Mictis profana (Crusader Bug) Reduviidae Assassin Bugs Shield Bugs – Stink Bugs Tectocoris diophthalmus (Hibiscus Harlequin Bug) Moths Moths Index Aedia arctipennis Agape chloropyga Agrius convolvuli (Convolvulus Hawk Moth) Agrotis munda Anthela guenei (Four-Spot Anthelid Moth) Ardices curvata (Crimson Tiger Moth) Austrocaligula engaea (Mistletoe Emperor Moth) Calicotis crucifera Case Moths (Variety of Cocoons) Coenotes eremophilae Comocrus behri (Mistletoe Moth) Cosmodes elegans (Green-blotched Moth) Diatenes gerula Donuca spectabilis (White-spotted Owl-Moth) Endoxyla cinereus (Carpenter Moth) Eudesmeola lawsoni Four-spotted Cup Moth (Doratifera quadriguttata) Hippotion celerio (Vine Hawk Moth) Hyles livornicoides (Australian Striped Hawk Moth) Ischnurges illustralis Leaf Case Moth Metura elongatus (Saunders’ Case Moth) Ochrogaster lunifer (Bag-shelter Moth) Opodiphthera eucalypti (Emperor Gum Moth) Pararguda rufescens Plume Moth Ribbed Case Moth Sameodes cancellalis Spodoptera litura Trigonodes hyppasia Utetheisa (Rattlepod Moth) Orthoptera Australian Orthopteroid Index Garden Mantis Grasshoppers Katydids (family Tettigoniidae) Psedna nana (Variable Psedna Grasshopper) Toadhopper (Buforania crassa) Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Amorbus Wasps Wasps Index Australian Large Wasps Australian Mud Nest Wasps Mud Wasp Velvet Ants Abispa ephippium Acarozumia amaliae Aulacidae Australodynerus Bembix Bembicinae Bethylidae Blue Hairy Flower Wasp Braconidae Chrysididae Cryptocheilus Delta latreillei (Potter Wasp) Delta philantes Eumeninae Euodynerus aspra Ferreola handschini (Orange-collared Spider Wasp) Flower Wasps Gasteruptiid Wasp Hairy Flower Wasps Isodontia (Grass-carrying Wasp) Lissopimpla excelsa (Orchid Dupe Wasp) Mutillidae Orange Wasps Paralastor sp. Pseudabispa bicolor ssp. nigrocinctoides Radumeris radula (Yellow Hairy Flower Wasp) Radumeris tasmaniensis (Yellow Hairy Flower Wasp) Rhynchium superbum Sceliphron formosum (Vase-cell Mud-dauber Wasp) Sceliphron laetum Sphex Thynnid Wasps Tiphiidae Torymus Yellow and Black Wasp Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub
