151a (148b). Prosternum with a groove to receive proboscis; proboscis with 3 segments

(Figs.A-B) (general predators)...... A......…............….....(Hemiptera / Heteroptera) Reduviidae

151b. Prosternum without a groove; proboscis usually with 4 segments (Figs.A-C) (general

predators)..........................................................……........................(Hemiptera / Heteroptera) Nabidae

Major Families of Adult Predatory & Parasitic Coleoptera:

152a (27a, 51b, 54a & 73b). Head not prolonged into a beak; gular sutures (= longitudinal

sutures demarking sclerite on ventral side of head) double, at least anteriorly and

posteriorly ........................................................................................................…..................……......153

152b. Head usually prolonged into a beak; gular sutures fused or lacking; antennae not elbowed;

elytra cover base of pygidium (= last dorsal segment of abdomen) (Figs.A-C) (predators of

Coccidae)......... A......................................................…............................(Coleoptera) Anthribidae

153a (152a). First abdominal sternite divided by the hind coxal cavities ...(Coleoptera) (Adephaga) ..154

153b. First abdominal sternite not interrupted by hind coxal cavities.......(Coleoptera) (Polyphaga) ...158

154a (153a). Abdomen with 6 or more visible sternites; antennae filiform......……...................................155

154b. Abdomen with only 4 visible sternites; antennae very much thickened apically, clavate or

laminate (Fig.A) (predators of ants)....... A...................……........................(Coleoptera) Paussidae

155a (154a). Eyes entire, not divided; antennae elongated, slender............................................

.................................................................................…..........................(Coleoptera) Caraboidea).....156

155b. Eyes divided, appear as 2 pairs; antennae short and somewhat clubbed; front legs

elongated and slender (Figs.A-B) (predators of aquatic arthropods)................

................................................................… A.........................(Coleoptera) (Gyrinoidea) Gyrinidae

156a (155a). Metasternum with a distinct transverse suture demarking a triangular antecoxal

suture......................................................................……...................…...........................................157

156b. Metasternum without a transverse suture or antecoxal sclerite; body smooth and hard;

hind legs flattened and fringed with long hairs (Figs.A-C) (predators of aquatic

arthropods)................................................. A...........……..........................(Coleoptera) Dytiscidae

157a (156a). Antennae inserted on front above base of mandibles; clypeus extends laterally

beyond the base of antennae; often brightly colored insects (Figs.A-C) (general

predators)........................................................ A....…..............................(Coleoptera) Cicindelidae

157b. Antennae inserted on side of head between base of mandible and eye; clypeus does not

extend laterally beyond base of antennae; most are dark, shiny and flattened

(Figs.A-F) (general predators)........................................…............................(Coleoptera) Carabidae

158a (153b). Antennae usually not clubbed, but if so, segments are not lamellate..........…......….........159

158b. Antennae with the last 3-7 segments enlarged, club-like; body heavy, oval or elongated

and usually convex (Figs.A-F) (considered predators of grasshopper egg pods). ..........

…………………………………………………A.......................……… (Coleoptera) Scarabaeidae

159a (158a). Hind tarsi with 4 segments, front and middle tarsi with 5 segments.......……............….....160

159b. Hind tarsi with at least as many segments as fore and middle tarsi...........................……....….....166

160a (159a). Front coxal cavities closed behind...........................................................................……...…..161

160b. Front coxal cavities open behind.........................................................................................……….....162

161a (160a). Abdominal sternites freely movable (%% only; also refer to couplet 182); abdomen

tip exposed beyond elytra; last tarsal segment elongated, others are short (Figs.A-D) (predators)

……………………………………………………........A..……………(Coleoptera) Rhizophagidae

161b. First 2-4 abdominal sternites somewhat fused or immovable; eyes usually notched; most

are black or brownish (Figs.A-H) (predators)...................………............(Coleoptera) Tenebrionidae

162a (160b). Head very much and abruptly constricted behind eyes................................….........……...163

162b. Head not much and suddenly constricted behind eyes ......…….....................(Coleoptera) Pythidae

163a (162a). Prothorax usually rounded on sides, without a sharp lateral margin....….......……............164

163b. Prothorax with a sharp lateral margin; body somewhat humpbacked, with head bent

down; abdomen pointed apically, extending beyond tips of elytra (Figs.A-B) (may be

predators) ....................................................................… A..........….......(Coleoptera) Mordellidae

164a (163a). Base of prothorax narrower than elytra......................................….......................……...........165

164b. Base of prothorax as wide as elytra; antennae pectinate (= comb-like); abdomen blunt

(Figs.A-B) (parasitoids of Hymenoptera)................. A...........….….....(Coleoptera) Rhipiphoridae

165a (164a). Hind coxae large and prominent; elytra soft and flexible; pronotum narrower than

either head or elytra (Figs.A-F) (parasitoids of Hymenoptera) . A..(Coleoptera) Meloidae

165b. Hind coxae transverse (= at right angles to longitudinal axis), not prominent; head

constricted behind eyes; ant-like in appearance (Figs.A-B) (general predators)...........

…………………………………………………………………....................…(Coleoptera) Anthicidae

166a (159b). Maxillary palpi much shorter than antennae..................................……..…...........................167

166b. Maxillary palpi as long as, or longer than, antennae; short clubbed antennae; body oval

(Figs.A-B) (general predators......... A.......................………..................(Coleoptera) Hydrophilidae

167a (166a). Elytra cover most of abdomen, not short...............................................……........…..............168

167b. Elytra short, exposing much of abdomen; 6-7 visible abdominal sterna; well-developed

hind wings, folded when at rest (Figs.A-F) (general predators & some parasitoids of

Diptera ........................................................................…… A…..................... (Coleoptera) Staphylinidae

[also see Staphylinidae Identification]

168a (167a). Tarsi with 5 segments on at least one pair of legs, usually on all legs.….....…...…...........169

.

168b. All tarsi with less than 5 segments....................................................................….……......................191

169a (168a). Abdomen with at least 6 sternites.............................................................….……....................170

169b. Abdomen with 5 or less sternites.......................................................................……...........................178

170a (169a). Front coxae conical, large and prominent..................................................…..........….............171

170b. Front coxae globular, small and not prominent; body louse-like, brownish (Fig.A)

(general predators)................................................ A.....…….….....................(Coleoptera) Leptinidae

171a (170a). Abdomen with 6 sternites visible........................................................…....…............…..........172

171b. Abdomen with 7-8 sternites visible...................................................................….............…..............175

172a (171a). Hind coxae not grooved...........................................................................................….……......173

172b. Hind coxae grooved for reception of femora; orange antennae (also see couplet 189)

(Figs.A-C) (parasitoids of cicadas)...................... A.................……........(Coleoptera) Rhipiceridae

173a (172a). Hind coxae prominent, at least internally.................................…….........…...............…........174

173b. Hind coxae flat, not prominent; body pubescent and often brightly colored (also see

couplet 188) (Figs.A-I) (general predators)........ A..........…….…..................(Coleoptera) Cleridae

174a (173a). Tibial spurs large; body often brightly colored and relatively large (Figs.A-G)

(general predators) ......................... A............................…………..............(Coleoptera) Silphidae

174b. Tibial spurs small, indistinct (general predators).................(Coleoptera) Melyridae (Malachiidae)

175a (171b). Middle coxae touching each other.............................................….....................……..............176

175b. Middle coxae separated, not touching each other; net-like lines on elytra (Figs.A-B)

(general predators) ..................................................... A.........…...............….....(Coleoptera) Lycidae

176a (175a). Antennae inserted on the upper part of the front or at the base of its anterior lobe

.........................................................................................................................…................................... 177

176b. Antennae inserted at the side of front, before eye (Fig.A) (general predators) .........

................................................................................................…....... A...............(Coleoptera) Drilidae

177a (176a). Head almost completely covered by prothorax; many species with illuminescent

organs (Figs.A-B) (predators of snails)........ A...............................(Coleoptera) Lampyridae

177b. Head not at all covered by prothorax; no light producing organs (Figs.A-C) (general

predators).................................................................................……....................(Coleoptera) Cantharidae

177c. Head not covered by prothorax, adult females often wingless & luminescent (Figs.A-B)

(glow worms; larvae predaceous on other arthropods).....….........….....(Coleoptera) Phenogodidae

178a (169b). Front coxae globular or transverse........................................................................……...........179

178b. Front coxae somewhat conical and prominent........................................................……...................189

179a (178a). Front coxae transverse, somewhat cylindrical........................................................……........180

179b. Front coxae globular...............................................................................................……........................184

180a (179a). Hind coxae grooved to receive femora............................................................…….................181

180b. Hind coxae flat, not grooved....................................................................................…..............….......182

181a (180a). Front coxae without a distinctly separated side piece; some species with enlarged

hind femora (Figs.A-B) (general predators).......... A.........................(Coleoptera) Helodidae

181b. Front coxae with a distinct side piece (trochantin); body pubescent (Fig.A) (general predators).

…………………………………………………………………................…….(Coleoptera) Dascillidae

182a (180b). Tarsi somewhat dilated, 1st segment not shortened.....................................……................183

182b. Tarsi slender, the metatarsus very short; body oval or elliptical; pronotum rather closely

joined to base of elytra (Fig.A) (general predators)...... A.........…......(Coleoptera) Ostomatidae

183a (182a). Maxillae with only a single lobe (Figs.A-E) (general predators)… A ..........................

.............................................................................................................................Coleoptera) Nitidulidae

183b. Maxillae with both an inner and an outer lobe; abdomen tip exposed beyond elytra; last

tarsal segment elongated, others are short (Fig.A) (also see couplet 160) ...................

..............................................................................……..............................(Coleoptera) Rhizophagidae

184a (179b). Prosternum without a median process........................................................................……......185

184b. Prosternum prolonged behind into a median process that is received into the

mesosternum; posterior corners of pronotum prolonged posteriorily into sharp points;

able to click and jump (Figs.A-C) (general predators)... A..........….....(Coleoptera) Elateridae

185a (184a). Hind coxae not in contact with each other, although they may be close together in

some species.................................................................................................................…....................186

185b. Hind coxae in contact with each other; body oval, shining and convex, usually brownish

(Figs.A-B) (predators of aphids)...... A........................................………...(Coleoptera) Phalacridae

186a (185a). Elytra entire, covering the pygidium.............................................................………................187

186b. Elytra short, cut off square at apex, leaving at least 2 segments of abdomen exposed

(Figs.A-B) (general predators).............. A..........................…….............…...(Coleoptera) Histeridae

187a (186a). Antennae with 10-11 segments; body flattened..................………........................................188

187b. Antennae with only 2 segments (Fig.A) (general predators)… A.…...(Coleoptera) Ectrephidae

188a (187a). Maxillae covered by corneous plates (Fig.A) (often included in Cucujidae)

............................................................. A........…….....(Coleoptera) Cucujidae (old Passandridae)

188b. Maxillae exposed (Fig.A) (general predators) .........................……................(Coleoptera) Cucujidae

189a (178b). Hind coxae dilated into plates which are grooved to receive femora....….......……...........190

189b. Hind coxae not grooved; body pubescent and often brightly colored (also see couplet

172) (Figs.A-I).............. A....................................................…..................…......(Coleoptera) Cleridae

.

190a (189a). Antennae short with last 3 segments much enlarged forming a strong club; median

ocellus present (Figs.A-F) (general predators)...... A.............…..(Coleoptera) Dermestidae

190b. Antennae not club-shaped; orange in color (also see couplet 171) (Figs.172b-A-C)

…………………………………………………………………....................…..(Coleoptera) Rhipiceridae

191a (168b). Tarsi with 3 segments...............................................................……...........................................192

191b. Tarsi with 4 segments...................................................................................……...................................193

192a (191a). Second segment of tarsi dilated; body small, oval, convex and brightly colored

(Fig.A) (predators of Homoptera)......... A..…...............................(Coleoptera) Coccinellidae

192b. Second segment of tarsi not dilated (Fig.A).................……….....................(Coleoptera) Lathridiidae

193a (191b). Abdominal sternites all free and movable; body hairy, often brightly colored

(Figs.A-B) (general predators)......... A......................................(Coleoptera) Mycetophagidae

193b. Abdominal sternites Nos. 1-4 firmly united; body hard, shiny (Figs.A-B) (general

predators).......................................................................……..............................(Coleoptera) Colydiidae

Major Families of Adult Entomophagous Neuroptera:

194a (16a, 49a, 50a, 68a, 71a & 84a). Head hypognathous (= head and mouthparts projecting

downward); hind wing not folded fan-like when at rest.........................................................…........195

194b. Head prognathous (= head and mouthparts directed forward); hind wing folded fan-like

when not in use .....….............................................................(Neuroptera) (Sialodea)...…........…....196

195a (194a). Antennae usually filiform (= thread-like); ovipositor not exserted .............

.........................................................................................(Neuroptera) (Planipennia).…........…......197

195b. Antennae setiform; ovipositor exserted.......................(Neuroptera) (Raphidiodea)..…................216

196a (194b). Ocelli absent; 4th segment of tarsi bilobed (Figs.A-B).... A.......(Neuroptera) ….. Sialidae

196b. With 3 ocelli present; 4th segment of tarsi not bilobed (Fig.A)...............(Neuroptera) Corydalidae

197a (195a). Veins and usually cross veins abundant; wings without whitish powder............….........198

197b. Veins and crossveins less in number; wings covered with whitish powder (Fig.A) (mite

predators).................................................................... A.......…….......(Neuroptera) Coniopterigidae

198a (197a). Large moth-like species; costal area of fore wing not broad; head small and closely

set on prothorax; antennae long, filiform (= thread-like), with 40-50 segments

(Figs.A & C)............................................................... A.….................….....(Neuroptera) Ithonidae

198b. Not as previously described......................................................................….......................................199

199a (198b). Antennae never enlarged apically, moniliform (= bead-like), filiform (= thread-

like), or rarely pectinate (= comb-like)...........................................................…................................200

199b. Antennae at least thickly cylindrical, usually enlarged towards apex...........................….............212

200a (199a). Hind wings not longer than fore wings, the 2 pairs similar in form and venation….........201

200b. Hind wings greatly elongated and ribbon-like, often with widened, spoon-like ends

………………………………………………….......A....….(Figs.A-C)...(Neuroptera) Nemopteridae

-------------

Key continues with <insect5.htm>