Dichotomous Key/Coleoptera

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Dichotomous Key: Coleoptera
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Subphylum: Hexapoda Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera

[edit] 1

• Notopleural sutures
  • Present - #2 (Suborder: Adephaga)
  • Not present - #3 (Suborder: Polyphaga)

[edit] 2

• Coloration
  • Ventrally metallic/iridescent; extremely large eyes and cursorial form- Dichotomous Key:Cicindelidae
  • Brown, black, or uniformly metallic (some are iridescent on elytra only) - Dichotomous Key:Carabidae

[edit] 3

• Toothed or scalloped edge on front tibia
  • Present - Dichotomous Key:Scarabaeidae
  • Not present - #4

[edit] 4

• Abdomen adapted to produce light
  • Yes - Dichotomous Key:Lampyridae
  • No - #5

[edit] 5

• Makes a clicking sound when escaping or flipping over
  • Yes - Dichotomous Key:Elateridae
  • No - #6

[edit] 6

• Antennae clubbed
  • Yes - either Bostrichidae or Nitidulidae
  • No - #7

[edit] 7

• Head visible
  • No, covered by pronotum - Dichotomous Key:Coccinellidae
  • Yes - #8

[edit] 8

• Antennae arise from middle of snout
  • Yes - Dichotomous Key:Curculionidae
  • No - #9

[edit] 9

Could be Buprestidae, Cantharidae, Cerambycidae, Chrysomelidae, Scolytidae