The continent of Australia is a special place on the planet.

Australia's insect fauna is diverse and highly endemic, with many unique taxa. Some estimates suggest that there are over 200,000 species of insects in Australia, but only around 62,000 have been named. Many more species are represented in insect collections, but have yet to be named.

Many insect groups found in Australia show characteristic Gondwanan distribution patterns on the southern continents.

The insect fauna has been poorly studied, particularly when compared with the vertebrate groups. However, studies in the last two decades have provided a more comprehensive picture of the size of the invertebrate fauna, relationships, levels of endemism, origins and its evolution.