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COLEOPTERA
There are over 40 of the 150+ families of Coleoptera which have species exhibiting entomophagous
habits.
(CLICK on key desired).
Keys to Adults of
Important Families of Entomophagous Coleoptera
(derived
fr. Schlinger & Doutt, 1964)
Additional Keys
to Families of Coleoptera
(derived
fr. Headstrom, 1977)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Please
refer to <Guide> for illustrations (Powerful connections use <Guide-2>)]
1a. Head not prolonged into
a beak; gular sutures double, at least anteriorly and posteriorly
..................................2
1b. Head usually beak-like; gular sutures fused
or lacking (Rhynchophora)...........................................Anthribidae
2a. First visible abdominal sternite divided by
hind coxal cavities; outer lobe or galea of maxillae palpiform
(Adephaga)....................................................................................................................................................3
2b. First visible abdominal sternite not
normally interrupted by the hind coxal cavities; outer lobe or galea of
maxillae not palpiform
(Polyphaga)..............................................................................................................7
3a. Abdomen with 6 or more visible sternites;
antennae filiform...............................................................................4
3b. Abdomen with 4 visible sternites; antennae
greatly thickened apically, clavate or broadly laminate
(Paussoidea)....................................................................................................................................Paussidae
4a. Eyes entire, not divided; antennae elongate,
slender (Caraboidea).......................................................................5
4b. Eyes divided, appearing as 2 pairs; antennae
short (Gyrinoidea)..........................................................Gyrinidae
5a. Metasternum with a distinct transverse
suture demarking a triangular antecoxal sclerite
....................................6
5b. Metasternum without a transverse suture or
antecoxal
sclerite..............................................................Dytiscidae
6a. Antennae inserted on the front above the base
of the mandibles; clypeus extending on each side beyond base of
antennae.......................................................................................................................................Cicindelidae
6b. Antennae inserted on the sides of head
between the base of mandibles and eyes; clypeus not extending beyond
base of
antennae..............................................................................................................................Carabidae
7a. Antennae usually not clubbed, but if so, then
club segments are not
lamellate.....................................................8
7b. Antennae with the last 3-7 segments
enlarged,
club-like..................................................................Scarabaeidae
8a. Hind tarsi with 4 segments, front and middle
tarsi with 5
segments......................................................................9
8b. Hind tarsi with at least as many joints as
front and middle tarsi.......................................................................15
9a. Front coxal cavities closed
behind....................................................................................................................10
9b. Front coxal cavities open behind......................................................................................................................11
10a. Abdominal sternites freely movable (males
only) (also see couplet 32) ...................................Rhizophagidae
10b. First 2-4 abdominal sternites somewhat fused
or immovable.....................................................Tenebrionidae
11a. Head strongly and suddenly constricted
behind
eyes......................................................................................12
11b. Head not strongly or suddenly constricted
behind
eyes........................................................................Pythidae
12a. Prothorax usually rounded on sides, without
sharp lateral margin..................................................................13
12b. Prothorax with sharp lateral
margin................................................................................................Mordellidae
13a. Base of prothorax narrower than
elytra...........................................................................................................14
13b. Base of prothorax as wide as
elytra.............................................................................................Rhipiphoridae
14a. Hind coxae large and
prominent...........................................................................................................Meloidae
14b. Hind coxae transverse, not
prominent................................................................................................Anthicidae
15a. Maxillary palpi much shorter than
antennae....................................................................................................16
15b. Maxillary palpi as long or longer than
antennae.........................................................................Hydrophylidae
16a. Elytra short, exposing much of
abdomen......................................................................................Staphylinidae
16b. Elytra covering most of abdomen, not
shortened.............................................................................................17
17a. Tarsi 5-jointed on at least 1 pair of legs,
usually on all legs.............................................................................18
17b. All tarsi with less than 5
segments....................................................................................................................41
18a. Abdomen with at least 6 sternites.....................................................................................................................19
18b. Abdomen with 5 sternites or less......................................................................................................................27
19a. Front coxae conical, large and
prominent.........................................................................................................20
19b. Front coxae globular, small and not
prominent..................................................................................Leptinidae
20a. Abdomen with 6
sternites..................................................................................................................................21
20b. Abdomen with 7-8
sternites..............................................................................................................................24
21a. Hind coxae not
grooved....................................................................................................................................22
12b. Hind coxae grooved for reception of femora
(also see couplet 39).................................................Rhipiceridae
22a. Hind coxae prominent, at least
internally........................................................................................................23
22b. Hind coxae flat, not prominent (also see
couplet 38)............................................................................Cleridae
23a. Tibial spurs
large..................................................................................................................................Silphidae
23b. Tibial spurs small,
indistinct...........................................................................................................Malachiidae
24a. Middle coxae in contact...................................................................................................................................25
24b. Middle coxae
distant...............................................................................................................................Lycidae
25a. Antennae inserted on the upper part of the
front or at the base of its anterior
lobe.........................................26
25b. Antennae inserted at the sides of the front,
before the eyes...................................................................Drilidae
26a. Head somewhat completely covered by
prothorax..........................................................................Lampyridae
26b. Head not at all covered by prothorax................................................................Phengodidae and Cantharidae
27a. Front coxae globular or
transverse...................................................................................................................28
27b. Front coxae somewhat conical and
prominent.................................................................................................38
28a. Front coxae transverse, somewhat
cylindrical..................................................................................................29
28b. Front coxae
globular.........................................................................................................................................33
29a. Hind coxae grooved to receive the femora.......................................................................................................30
29b. Hind coxae flat, not
grooved............................................................................................................................31
30a. Front coxae without a distinctly separated
side piece (trochantin)......................................................Helodidae
30b. Front coxae with
trochantin................................................................................................................Dascillidae
31a. Tarsi somewhat dilated, first joint not
shortened..............................................................................................32
31b. Tarsi slender, the metatarsus very
short..........................................................................................Ostomatidae
32a. Maxillae with only a single
lobe........................................................................................................Nitidulidae
32b. Maxillae with both inner and out lobe (also
see couplet 10)......................................................Rhizophagidae
33a. Prosternum without median process.................................................................................................................34
33b. Prosternum prolonged behind into a median
process which is received in the mesosternum.............Elateridae
34a. Hind coxae not in contact although close
together in some
species.................................................................35
34b. Hind coxae in
contact.......................................................................................................................Phalacridae
35a. Elytra entire, covering the
pygidium................................................................................................................36
35b. Elytra short, leaving 2 segments of abdomen
exposed......................................................................Histeridae
36a. Antennae consisting of 10-11
segments..........................................................................................................37
36b. Antennae consisting of only 2 apparent
segments..........................................................................Ectrephidae
37a. Maxillae covered by corneous
plates............................................................................................Passandridae
37b. Maxillae
exposed...............................................................................................................................Cucujidae
38a. Hind coxae dilated into plates which are
grooved to receive the femora.......................................................39
38b. Hind coxae not grooved (also see couplet
22)......................................................................................Cleridae
39a. Antennae with last 3 segments much enlarged
forming a strong club ..........................................Dermestidae
39b. Antennae not capitate (also see couplet
21)...................................................................................Rhipiceridae
40a. Tarsi with 3 segments......................................................................................................................................41
40b. Tarsi with 4
segments......................................................................................................................................42
41a. Second segment of tarsi
dilated.....................................................................................................Coccinellidae
41b. Second segment of tarsi not dilated................................................................................................Lathridiidae
42a. Abdominal sternites all free and
movable................................................................................Mycetophagidae
42b. Abdominal sternites 1-4 firmly
united...............................................................................................Colydiidae
Additional Keys to Families of Coleoptera
(derived
fr. Headstrom, 1977)
1a. Head prolonged into a beak or
snout...................................................................................................................2
1b. Head not prolonged into a beak or
snout.............................................................................................................8
2a. Beak longer than broad, antenna with a
distinct club. Not stout gray and black
checkered beetles. Maxillary &
labial palpi
flexible.....................................................................................................................Anthribidae
2b Beak not longer than broad, antenna without
a distinct
club................................................................................8
8a. Hind legs modified for swimming (= flattened
with fringes of long hair)
...........................................................9
8b. Hind legs not modified for
swimming................................................................................................................12
9a. Eyes
divided...........................................................................................................................................Gyrinidae
9b. Eyes not
divided.................................................................................................................................................10
10a. Legs with large spurs & small
claws.................................................................................................................11
10b. Legs with only short
bristles..............................................................................................................Haliplidae
11a. Antenna with knob at apex, labial palpi very
long, appearing like antennae .............................Hydrophilidae
11b. Antenna threadlike, without a knob; labial
palpi normal ..................................................................Dytiscidae
12a. Tarsi of all legs with 5 segments
each.............................................................................................................13
12b. Tarsi of front legs with 5 segments each,
tarsi of hind legs with 4 segments each
.........................................56
12c. Tarsi of all legs with less than 5 apparent
segments
each................................................................................67
13a. Antennae
threadlike..........................................................................................................................................14
13b. Antennae mostly not
threadlike........................................................................................................................17
14a. Antennae inserted above the bases of
mandibles; head, including eyes, wider than pronotum ........................
....................................................................................................................................................Cicindelidae
14b. Antennae inserted between eyes and bases of
mandibles; head, including eyes, narrower than pronotum. Body
not covered with scales................................................................................................................................16
16a. Scutellum visible or
exposed................................................................................................................Carabidae
16b. Antennae with distal segments expanded
laterally to form leaflike or platelike structures
..............................19
19a. Distal segments of antennae can be closely
folded together; abdomen with 5 visible segments............Trogidae
19b. Abdomen with 6 visible segments or, if only
5 are present, coxae of middle legs are transverse...Scarabaeidae
21a. Elytra abbreviated, covering less than 1/2
the length of
abdomen.....................................................................22
21b. Elytra covering whole abdomen or exposing
only one or two dorsal
segments.................................................24
22a. Abdomen flexible, with 7-8 visible ventral
segments......................................................................Staphylinidae
22b. Abdomen not flexible, with only 5-6 visible
ventral segments; antennae with 10-12 segments........Pselaphidae
24a. Elytra not square cut, abdomen not conical;
abdomen with 7-8 visible segments ............................................26
24b. Elytra
square cut, abdomen
conical....................................................................................................................
27
26a. Coxae of middle legs separated.................................................................................................................Lycidae
26b. Coxae of middle legs
touching...........................................................................................................................27
27a. Head completely or mostly exposed or at most
1/2 covered by pronotum ......................................Cantharidae
27b. Head completely covered by pronotum or at
least more than 1/2 covered........................................Lampyridae
27c. Head completely exposed, antennae well
separated at their bases....................................................Phengodidae
28a. First 3 ventral segments of abdomen not
fused and can be moved. Abdomen with 6
ventral segments. Very
small, flattened beetles with rudimentary eyes or none at all
.........................................................Leptinidae
28b. First 3 ventral segments of abdomen not
fused and can be moved; abdomen with 6 ventral segments; very
small oval beetles with eyes, no erect hairs; elytra leaving tip of
abdomen exposed......................Silphidae
28c. Elytra completely covering
abdomen...............................................................................................................35
28d. Abdomen with 5 ventral
segments...................................................................................................................39
35a. Not small and oval beetles. First segment of abdomen not cut into 3
parts by coxae of hind legs; coxae of hind
legs
conical.....................................................................................................................................Melyridae
35b. Coxae of hind legs flat; each 4th tarsal
segment about the size of the 3rd .............................................Cleridae
39a. Antennae bent at an angle or
elbowed..................................................................................................Histeridae
29b. Antennae not bent at an angle or
elbowed........................................................................................................40
40a. Femur attached to tip or near tip of
trochanter..................................................................................................41
40b. Femur attached to side of
trochanter.................................................................................................................44
41a. Coxae of front legs
conical................................................................................................................................45
41b. Coxae of front legs
transverse...........................................................................................................................46
41c. Coxae of front legs
spherical.............................................................................................................................50
45a. Antennae each with a 3-segmented
club..........................................................................................Dermestidae
45b. Antennae usually fan- or
saw-like...................................................................................................Rhipiceridae
46a. Elytra leaving tip of abdomen
exposed...............................................................................................Nitidulidae
46b. Elytra completely covering
abdomen................................................................................................................47
47a. Soft-bodied beetles; antennae usually
sawlike......................................................................................Helodidae
47b. Hard-bodied beetles; antennae each usually
with a small club; each femora of hind legs, when at rest, does not
fit into a groove in the
coxa.............................................................................................................Ostomidae
50a. Area between coxae of front legs with a
spine......................................................................................Elateridae
50b. Area between coxae of front legs without a
spine..............................................................................................54
54a. Antennae each with a
club..................................................................................................................................56
54b. Antennae each without a
club................................................................................................................Cucujidae
56a. Cavities in which coxae of front legs are
attached, closed behind; tarsal claws not comblike.......Tenebrionidae
56b. Cavities in which coxae of front legs are
attached open behind
........................................................................59
59a. Base of pronotum as wide as combined elytra;
antennae with long, flat processes, which fold like a fan (male)
or somewhat sawlike (female); head strongly and suddenly
constricted behind eyes .............Rhipiphoridae
59b. Base of pronotum as wide as combined elytra;
antennae threadlike, coxae of hind legs with plates; abdomen
usually ending in a pointed process..............................................................................................Mordellidae
59c. Base of pronotum narrower than combined
elytra.............................................................................................63
63a. Coxae of hind legs large and
prominent.................................................................................................Meloidae
63b. Coxae of hind legs not large and
prominent; eyes not notched; each 2nd tarsal segment not lobed beneath
........................................................................................................................................................Anthicidae
67a. Tarsi each with 4 segments................................................................................................................................68
67b. Tarsi each with apparently 4 segments (the
5th is small and concealed)...........................................................73
67c. Tarsi each with apparently 3 segments (if
4th present, it is too small to recognize
easily)................................76
68a. First 4 ventral segments of abdomen fused
together, only 5th being visible; tibia not enlarged nor armed with
spines. Antennae inserted
under margin of frontal
region.............................................................Colydiidae
68b. First 4 ventral segments of abdomen not
fused together; coxae of front legs oval ....................Mycetophagidae
73a. Body short, somewhat oval; antennae short,
and each with a 3-segmented club ..............................Phalacridae
73b. Body short, somewhat oval, antennae short,
and each without a club...............................................................76
76a. Wings without a fringe of long hairs; tarsi
with 4 segments each, the 3rd being very small and inconspicuous
....................................................................................................................................................Coccinellidae
76b. Tarsi without a fringe of long hairs and
only 3 segments each; elytra completely covering abdomen
......................................................................................................................................................Lathridiidae