Dichotomous Key/Coleoptera

Dichotomous Key

Coleoptera
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Arthropoda
Subphylum	Hexapoda
Class	Insecta
Order	Coleoptera

1

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

2

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

3

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

4

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

5

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

6

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

7

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

8

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

9

Could be Buprestidae, Cantharidae, Cerambycidae, Chrysomelidae, Scolytidae