Orders

Adult Coleoptera Features

Body Type

1. Each eye divided into dorsal and ventral halves; second and third pair of legs short .............(whirligig beetles) GYRINIDAE
Eyes not divided; legs not short .. 2

3. Legs modified for swimming....4
Legs not obviously modified for swimming....5

5. Head usually prolonged into snout ; antennae elbowed ...(weevils)CURCULIONIDAE
Head not prolonged into snout; antennae usually not elbowed....6 7. Tarsal formula 5-5-5....18
Tasar formula either less or appearing to be less than 5-5-5; i.e., one segment may be greatly reduced...8 8. Tarsal formula 5-5-4...9
Tarsal formula not 5-5-4...14 9. Each tarsal claw split longitudinally and appearing to be double (blister beetles) MELOIDAE
Tarsal claws not split longitudinally....10 10. Prothoracic coxal cavities closed posteriorly...(darkling beetles) TENEBRIONIDAE
Prothoracic coxal cavities open... 11 12. First tarsal segment from tibia on hind leg elongated.. (false darkling beetles) MELANDRYIDAE
First tarsal segment from tibia on hind leg not elongated...13 13. Body flattened; reddish or yellowish in color...(flat bark beetles) CUCUJIDAE
Body wedge-shaped; black or mottled gray in color...(false darkling beetles) MELANDRYIDAE 14. Tarsal formula appears to be 3-3-3 (actually 4-4-4)...(lady beetles) COCCINELLIDAE
Tarsal formula appears to be 4-4-4 (actually 5-5-5)...15

20. Elytra short, three or more terga exposed...21
Elytra covering the abdomen or only one or two segments exposed....22

22. Pronutum enlarged and with wide lateral flanges: head difficult to see from dorsal view ........................23
Pronotum without such widened flanges; head may be difficult to see from dorsal view in Bostricidae ........................23 23. Pronotum prolonged posteriorly into long sharp angles at lateral corners ........................(click beetles) ELATERIDAE
Pronotum without long sharp lateral angles ........................24 26. Large. black. shiny; often “horn” on head ....................................................... (passalid beetle) PASSALIDAE
Not as above ...................................................27 27. Body lightly sclerotized, especially elytra ..............................28
Body well sclerotized and hard ..................................... 29 29. Head deflected ventrally. usually not visible from dorsal view .................. (false powderpost beetles) BOSTRICHID
Head not so positioned, although head may be difficult to see .............. 30 31. Most of ventral surface with dense white hair .... (dermestid beetles) DERMESTIDAE
Little if any ventral white hair ............................................ 32