AUSTRALIAN INSECTS

Click on a link below to view images in a category within the extensive range of photos of Australian insects.

GRASSHOPPERS  FLIES, BEES, WASPS BUTTERFLIES & MOTHS  CATERPILLARS  OTHER INSECTS

Insects were the first creatures to fly through the skies more than 400 million years ago, and today there are twice as many species of insects in the world as there are all other animal species combined. Their population in merely 2 square kilometres of rural land exceeds that of the entire human population of the planet, and they owe their astounding success to a range of highly refined senses.

There are more than 62,000 identified species of insects in Australia, many of which are regarded as household, garden or agricultural pests and although some, such as flies, mosquitoes and termites, are on no one’s list of favourite creatures, all play an essential role in maintaining a healthy and balanced ecosystem, with many being food for larger creatures, and others controlling populations of pest species.

The  photos on this website include colourful images of caterpillars, butterflies and moths, cicadas, beneficial and pest species, predatory insects, grasshoppers,  flies, bees and wasps, These are merely a few of the  astounding diversity of insects that can be discovered on the doorstep of everyone who’s prepared to open their eyes and see that small is beautiful too.

To see a list of the species that are included in this gallery 

  • Acacia leaf beetle, Dicranosterna picea
  • Assassin bug, Pristhesancus plagipennis,
  • Cicada, Double Drummer, Thopha saccata
  • Cockroach, Ellipsidion australe
  • Cotton Stainer Bug, Dysdercus decussatus
  • Dendrobium orchid beetle, Stethopachys formosa
  • Dragonfly, Fiery Skimmer, Orthetrum villosovittatum
  • Dragonfly, Water Prince, Hydrobasileus brevistylus
  • Dragonfly, Yellow-striped Flutterer, Rhyothemis phylli
  • Elephant beetle, Xylotrupes gideon
  • Eucalyptus plant hopper, Platybrachys species
  • Eucalyptus tip wilter bug, Amorbus rhombifer
  • Eucalyptus weevil, Gonipterus species
  • Fiddle beetle, Eupoecila australasiae
  • Gum nut weevil, Gonipterus species
  • Harlequin bug, Tectocoris diophthalmus
  • Mirid bug
  • Rhinocerous beetle, Xylotrupes gideon
  • Sawfly larvae
  • Shield bug – Bromocoris species
  • Solider beetle, Chauliognathus species
  • Spined predatory shield bug, Oechalia schellenbergii
  • Stick insect
  • Stink bug, Poecilometis patruelis
  • Zebra shield bug, Bathrus variegatus

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