1. 20 Australian insects. By Lucy Vella.

2. Red back spiders Redback spiders, Latrodectus hasselti, are almost too familiar to need description. Redback spiders, Latrodectus hasselti, are almost too familiar to need description. Mature female redbacks are jet black spiders with a variable red stripe on the back of their spherical abdomen. Immature females are smaller, usually brown with whitish markings. Mature female redbacks are jet black spiders with a variable red stripe on the back of their spherical abdomen. Immature females are smaller, usually brown with whitish markings. Their tough, untidy webs are usually near the ground with the spider hiding in a shelter tucked in a corner, often guarding her round woolly egg sacs. Their tough, untidy webs are usually near the ground with the spider hiding in a shelter tucked in a corner, often guarding her round woolly egg sacs. Male redback spiders are rarely seen. They are small and brown with red and white markings. Redback spiders are found throughout Australia, in drier habitats and built-up areas. They are common in dry places around buildings, outdoor furniture, machinery and stacked materials. Male redback spiders are rarely seen. They are small and brown with red and white markings. Redback spiders are found throughout Australia, in drier habitats and built-up areas. They are common in dry places around buildings, outdoor furniture, machinery and stacked materials. In the bush, redback spiders nest under logs and rocks. In the bush, redback spiders nest under logs and rocks.

3. Funnel web spider The Sydney Funnel-web Spider (Atrax robustus) is one of 36 species of funnel- web spiders in Australia. Funnel-web spiders prefer moist cool habitats and are found in the south eastern regions of Australia. They live in silk lined burrows and crevices. Their hideouts can easily be identified by the characteristic trip lines radiating from the entrance of the burrow The Sydney Funnel-web Spider (Atrax robustus) is one of 36 species of funnel- web spiders in Australia. Funnel-web spiders prefer moist cool habitats and are found in the south eastern regions of Australia. They live in silk lined burrows and crevices. Their hideouts can easily be identified by the characteristic trip lines radiating from the entrance of the burrow

4. Australian tarantulas or bird- eating spiders are also called whistling or barking spiders. The name is due to the humming noise they can produce when they are disturbed or threatened. They can be found in most parts of Australia and they live in burrows which can be up to a metre deep. are also called whistling or barking spiders. The name is due to the humming noise they can produce when they are disturbed or threatened. They can be found in most parts of Australia and they live in burrows which can be up to a metre deep.

5. Facts about grasshoppers and crickets A good jump means that the legs must push against the ground with high force, and high speed. To be precise, a typical grasshopper weighing 2-3 gm will thrust against the ground with a force which peaks at about 30 gms when the legs are half extended, to give it a final take-off velocity of about 3 m.s-1. Note how in the good jump there is a slight delay between the initial crouch and the actual jump. A good jump means that the legs must push against the ground with high force, and high speed. To be precise, a typical grasshopper weighing 2-3 gm will thrust against the ground with a force which peaks at about 30 gms when the legs are half extended, to give it a final take-off velocity of about 3 m.s-1. Note how in the good jump there is a slight delay between the initial crouch and the actual jump.

6. Blue ants: the ‘ants’ that are really wasps Blue ants, despite their name, are not ants but large, wingless, female wasps which run around on the ground searching for mole crickets to lay their eggs on. Blue ants, despite their name, are not ants but large, wingless, female wasps which run around on the ground searching for mole crickets to lay their eggs on. The blue ant, Diamma bicolor, is a wingless female wasp in the Family Tiphiidae. The blue ant, Diamma bicolor, is a wingless female wasp in the Family Tiphiidae. They are approximately 23 millimetres long with a polished blue-green body and reddish legs. They are approximately 23 millimetres long with a polished blue-green body and reddish legs. Blue ants run on the ground in a jerky, restless motion with their abdomen raised. Blue ants run on the ground in a jerky, restless motion with their abdomen raised.

7. Carpet beetles Adult carpet beetles are small with compact, rounded, oval bodies. Adult carpet beetles are small with compact, rounded, oval bodies. Their legs and head are not obvious and are often hidden under the body. Their legs and head are not obvious and are often hidden under the body. The variegated carpet beetle (Anthrenus verbasci) and furniture carpet beetle (Anthrenus flavipes) are 2-3 millimetres long and mottled yellow, white and black. The variegated carpet beetle (Anthrenus verbasci) and furniture carpet beetle (Anthrenus flavipes) are 2-3 millimetres long and mottled yellow, white and black. The black carpet beetle (Attagenus unicolor) is larger, ranging from 3-5 millimetres, more elongate and black with brownish legs. The black carpet beetle (Attagenus unicolor) is larger, ranging from 3-5 millimetres, more elongate and black with brownish legs.

8. Dingy Swallowtail Dingy Swallowtail A small to medium size butterfly, mainly black and white with blue and red down the bottom quarter of the hindwing. Has yellow on the last half of the abdomen, and the buds of 'tails' on its hindwings. A small to medium size butterfly, mainly black and white with blue and red down the bottom quarter of the hindwing. Has yellow on the last half of the abdomen, and the buds of 'tails' on its hindwings.

9. Moth joins Kakadu weed battle Ten insect species and two fungal pathogens have been released in northern Australia over almost 20 years and are now having a noticeable impact on mimosa. The first releases were made near the Adelaide River in the Northern Territory in December 2004. Ten insect species and two fungal pathogens have been released in northern Australia over almost 20 years and are now having a noticeable impact on mimosa. The first releases were made near the Adelaide River in the Northern Territory in December 2004.

10. Leaf beetle A tiny beetle is set to be the most recent addition to the suite of biological control agents battling to control the woody weed Mimosa pigra in the wetlands of northern Australia. The mimosa leaf beetle larvae feed mainly on the roots of mimosa and on the soft stems. A tiny beetle is set to be the most recent addition to the suite of biological control agents battling to control the woody weed Mimosa pigra in the wetlands of northern Australia. The mimosa leaf beetle larvae feed mainly on the roots of mimosa and on the soft stems.

11. Ants are everywhere Ants are everywhere Ants belong to the family Formicidae, which forms part of the order Hymenoptera. This order of insects also includes bees and wasps. Ants are ubiquitous. In fact around 15 000 species and subspecies of ants have been described world wide, with just over 1 300 known from Australia so far. Ants belong to the family Formicidae, which forms part of the order Hymenoptera. This order of insects also includes bees and wasps. Ants are ubiquitous. In fact around 15 000 species and subspecies of ants have been described world wide, with just over 1 300 known from Australia so far.