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Our track record

Our research on insects has a nearly 100 year history.

We've tackled sheep blow flies, invented Aerogard, imported dung beetles and used a weevil to control the weed Salvinia. Today our research spans most insect groups, with a focus on taxonomy, biosecurity and innovations in genomics.

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Our insect research

Biosecurity at ANIC

The Australian National Insect Collection helps us identify insects and biosecurity pests that are intercepted at Australia's borders.

Beetles

Coleoptera is the group classification given to insects collectively known as beetles and are one of the largest orders of living organisms on the planet. Our research examines their economic and environmental importance.

Wasps, bees and ants

Hymenoptera is a large order of insects, comprising the sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants. Over 150,000 living species of Hymenoptera have been described, in addition to over 2,000 extinct ones. Our research focuses on uncovering and studying ant, bee and wasp evolution and biodiversity.

Flies

Our research into flies or Diptera is helping scientists better understand the evolution and ecology of this group of insects.

Mites

Research on mites or Acarina is increasing our knowledge of their diversity, biology and behaviour. Mites are not insects, but arachnids, a group that also includes spiders, scorpions and harvestmen, and a few other groups of small invertebrates.

Moths and Butterflies

Lepidoptera, otherwise known as moths or butterflies, is one of the most diverse insect orders and probably one of the best-loved insect groups.

Roundworms

Roundworms or nematodes are the most abundant and ubiquitous multicellular organisms on earth. Between 100,000 and 1,000,000 are believed to exist. Only a small percentage of Australia's species are currently known, with 1000 having been named.

Spiders

Our research on spiders or Aranaea is increasing our knowledge of their diversity, distribution and complexity. Image credit: Jürgen Otto, CC-BY-SA 2.0.

Thrips

Our research on Thrips or Thysanoptera, aims to better understand their biological diversity and economic importance in Australia and its relationship to the fauna in other parts of the world.

Molecular systematics

Molecular Systematics provides new tools and techniques for understanding the identity and evolution of insects and their relatives.

Insect identification resources

The Australian National Insect Collection provides web-based information and tools for the identification of insects and related organisms.