© 2003

Identification of Beetles (Coleoptera)

Notes:
There have been many name changes within the Order Coleoptera. Numerous families have been
split, and some have been combined. Familys names listed here are those used in your textbook. When a
textbook revision is published in 2004 the new family names will be used. Until then, please use the
names as they are presented in your text.
Dichotomous Keys to Some Families of Florida Coleoptera

Introduction to the Identification of Beetles (Coleoptera)

P. M. Choate, 2003

The order Coleoptera probably contains the

larg- est number of described species of any insect
Suborder Adephaga
order. Beetles are found in almost every habitat,
and range in size from 1 – 100mm. in length. The Carabidae - ground beetles, includes Rhysodidae
heaviest known insect is a scarab beetle. and Cicindelidae
The diversity of this order contributes to the Cicindelidae - tiger beetles now treated as Cara-
com- plexity of writing classification keys that bidae, tribe Cicindelini
encompass all exceptions. Frequently generic keys Rhysodidae - now placed in Carabidae
that are writ- ten to cover all species become so Haliplidae - aquatic
complex and lengthy that even experts get bogged Noteridae - aquatic
down in de- tails. In order to introduce you to this Dytiscidae - aquatic
order without adding to the difficulty of Gyrinidae - aquatic, surface inhabitants only
identification I have con- stucted a key to 50+
families of beetles that you should be able to Suborder Polyphaga
identify (Florida). Keep in mind that there are more
than 100 families of beetles, and that this key is Staphylinidae - rove beetles, elytra reduced, expos-
only intended to introduce you to the terminology ing several abdominal tergites
and morphology that you will use in oth- er, more Silphidae - carrion beetles
comprehensive keys. Pselaphidae - short-winged beetles (very small,
The keys that follow are dichotomous, mean- <3mm).
ing that each couplet has 2 paragraphs of Hydrophilidae - mostly aquatic, maxillary palpi
characters from which you are to pick the best ap- pear as antennae when viewed from above,
match. Through process of elimination you should an- tennae shorter than palpi, with well
be able to work your way through this key to a developed club.
reasonable identifi- cation choice. If you find that Histeridae - clubbed antennae, many species very
every couplet seems to be a difficult choice, you convex and capable of retracting legs into grooves.
have likely made a mistake or the specimen you Scirtidae - (= Helodidae) small (<7mm),
are trying to identify belongs in a family not pubescent species, with swollen femora for
included in the key. When you arrive at a tentative jumping.
identification, look at examples of the family to see Lucanidae - stag beetles; antennae elbowed, large
if you have a specimen that fits mem- bers of that beetles (>20mm.) 3 genera in Florida, found in
family. Realize that some of the larger families panhandle only.
have many different morpho-types, so be cautious Passalidae - Large shining black beetles, adults
here! and larvae occur in colonies in rotting logs. Both
Terminology: Beetle identification requires sexes with horns
you to become familiar with antennal shapes, tarsi Scarabaeidae - "June", "dung", flower inhabiting
(for- mulas, shapes of segments) mouthparts beetles. One of the largest families of
(labial and maxillary palpi), ventral characters Coleoptera. Lamellate antennae, size quite
(sterna, pleu- ra, coxae), and other morphological variable.
characters. Size and color of specimens will not Buprestidae - metallic wood borers. Closely
usually help you iden- tify beetle families unless resem- ble click beetles but lack clicking
you are already familiar with the morphological mechanism Many species brightly colored or at
characters that identify each family. Therefore, do least with metallic reflection.
not try to remember families from pictures or by Callirhipidae - (= Rhipiceridae)
size and color. There is too much variation. Learn Elmidae - aquatic
the morphology that sets each fam- ily apart. Dryopidae - aquatic
Family names have undergone numerous changes Heteroceridae - semi-aquatic
with the publication of American Beetles (Arnett Ptilodactylidae - unusual antennal shapes in males
and Thomas,2001) vols. 1 and 2. I follow tra- ditional of some species
family names here (sensu Borror, Triplehorn, and Elateridae - click beetles
Johnson) Eucnemidae - false click beetles
Cebrionidae - males fly when its raining,
females are brachypterous.
Lycidae - net winged beetles
 Identification of Beetles (Coleoptera)
Phengodiae - glow worms; males fly, female larvi- Great Plains.Edwards Brothers, Inc. Ann Arbor,
form Michigan.181p.
Lampyridae - fireflies Peck, S. B., and M.C. Thomas. A distributional checklist
Cantharidae - soldier beetles of the beetles (Coleoptera) of Florida. Arthropods of
Dermestidae - skin beetles Florida and neighboring land areas. Vol. 16. Entomol-
ogy Contribution no. 862.Florida Dept. Agric. and
Bostrichidae
Con- sumer Services, Gainesville, FL. 180pp.
Anobiidae - death watch beetles Young, F. N. 1954. The water beetles of Florida. Univer-
Lyctidae sity of Florida Press, Gainesville. 238p.
Cleridae
Trogossitidae
Coleoptera: sub-order Adephaga or
Nitidulidae
Cucujidae - flat bark beetles Polyphaga?
Languriidae - lizard beetles
Coccinellidae - lady bugs These 2 sub-orders are based on the positions
Endomychidae - pleasing fungus beetles of the hind coxal cavities in relation to the 1st
Melandryidae - false darkling beetles visible sternite. If the hind coxae are fused to,
Anthicidae - ant-like flower beetles and divide the 1st visible abdominal sternite
Tenebrionidae - darkling beetles, frequently misi- (Figs. 1, 4), the specimen belongs in Adephaga.
dentified as ground beetles by beginning students. If hind coxae are on a flexible plate and do not
Mordellidae - Tumbling flower beetles completely divide the 1st visible sternite (Fig. 2),
Meloidae - blister beetles the specimen belongs in Polyphaga.
Rhipiphoridae - Once you are satisfied that you have correctly
Lagriidae - placed the specimen into its correct sub-order, pro-
Cerambycidae - "long horned beetles" ceed to the next level of keys (to family).
Bruchidae - seed weevils
Chrysomelidae - leaf beetles, with 4 distinctly dif-
ferent body shapes. 1st visible sternite
Curculionidae - "weevils"
Anthribidae Hind (meta-) Coxa
Brentidae
Platypodidae
Scolytidae - bark beetles

In order to identify these families you must

first be able to separate them into 2 major
suborders (Adephaga and Polyphaga). Beetle
family keys and checklists are numerous,
frequently regional, and rarely comprehensive. A
few of the more com- prehensive are:
References Fig. 1. Adephaga - coxa divides 1st visible sternite
Arnett, R. H., Jr. 1960 - 1963. The beetles of the United
States. Washington, DC. Catholic University Press. xii
+ 1110p.(includes keys to all of the genera for all Hind (meta-) coxa
fami- lies in USA).
Arnett, R. H., Jr., and M. C. Thomas. 2001. American
Beetles. vol. 1. Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga, Epimeron
Polyphaga: Staphyliniformia. CRC Press, Boca Raton,
FL.443p.
Blatchley, W. S. 1910. An illustrated Descriptive Cata- 1st visible sternite
logue of the Coleoptera or beetles known to occur in
Indiana. Indianapolis. 1386p.
Downie, N. M., and R. H. Arnett.1996. The beetles of
Northeastern North America. Vol. 1: Introduction;
Sub- orders Archostemata, Adephaga, and Polyphaga, Fig. 2. Polyphaga - coxa does not divide 1st sternite; be
thru superfamily Cantharoidea. The Sand Hill Crane sure not to confuse the epimeron with the coxae.
Press, Gainesville, Florida.880p.(includes species keys
for all families).
Edwards, J. G.1949. Coleoptera or Beetles East of the
Dichotomous Keys to Some Families of Florida Coleoptera

pro-femur

meso-tibia

elytron

meta-tarsus

Fig. 3. Dorsal view of Adephaga beetle, Carabidae.

Tarsal formula 5-5-5. Antennae filiform.

A few reasons why we can't generalize about

beetle families:

– There are many long-horned beetles that do

not have long horns.
– There are snout beetles without snouts.
– There are beetles with snouts that are not
wee- vils.
– There are "June beetles" that appear in Au-
gust.
– There are ground beetles that live in trees.
– There are aquatic beetles that never go near
water (some Hydrophilidae live in dung).
– There are ectoparasitic beetles.
– Many beetles have fused elytra, with flight
procoxa wings reduced to small pads.
– There are blind, eyeless subterranean beetles.
mesocoxa
– There are beetles other than fireflies (Lampy-
ridae) that produce light.
metacoxa – The same family may have species that range
in size from 1mm to 100mm.
sterna 1-6
– The same genus may have brightly colored spe-
cies as well as dull, uniformly colored species.
– The are many volumes of literature dealing
with the classification of beetles, but rarely do they
agree on higher classification.
Fig. 4. Ventral view of Adephaga beetle, Carabidae.
We will introduce you to the diversity of
beetles, while emphasizing that this diversity will
initially make it seem difficult to become familiar
with these families.Once you have made a tentative
identifica- tion, be sure to check your textbook for
comparison. Since it is impractical to include all
families here, we have chosen to create a key for
the more com- monly collected families. Keep this in
mind when you are identifiying specimens.
 Identification of Beetles (Coleoptera)

Key to some Florida families of

Coleoptera: s.o. Adephaga

1. Hind coxae greatly enlarged, forming a plate that

coxal plate
covers attachment of hind legs. Body size
3mm., pale with dark spots (Fig. 5)
Haliplidae
– Hind coxae not greatly enlarged into plates.
Size and color various........................................2

2. Eyes divided into 2 portions by lateral margin of

head; one dorsal and one ventral when viewed
from the side (Fig. 6). Body dorsally flattened. Fig. 5. Adult Haliplidae. Left - ventral aspect showing
Antennae reduced to short peg-like structures. coxal plates; right - dorsal aspect.
Whirligig beetles................................Gyrinidae
– Eyes not divided by lateral margin of head.
Anten- nae variously shaped..............................3 dorsal part of eye

3. Hind legs modified for swimming, posterior

mar- gin with fringes of hairs (Fig. 7. Antennae ventral part of eye
long and moniliform or filiform........................4
– Legs not modified for swimming. Antennae monil- Fig. 6. Side view of Gyrinidae head. Eyes are split into 2
iform Carabidae (Figs. 3, 4) (including Cicin- sections.
delidini, Rhysodini) *keys to Florida ground beetles.
http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/choate/
florida_carabidae_new.pdf

4. Scutellum visible(Fig. 8c) Dytiscidae (in part) fringes of hair along

– Scutellum hidden (Figs. 8 a, b).............................5 posterior margin

5. Hind tarsi with 2 curved claws (Fig. 9) of equal

length; abdomen with 5 visible sterna; front
cox- al cavities closed behind (small beetles, 1-
5mm) Fig. 7. Hind leg of Dytiscidae showing fringed posterior
margin.
...............................................................Noteridae
– Hind tarsi with 1 straight claw; abdomen with 6 scutellum
visible sterna; front coxal cavities open behind;
size usually over 5mm Dytiscidae (in part)

a. b. c.

Fig. 8. Adult Dytiscidae and Noteridae. Note scutellum

that is visible in many Dytiscidae (c.).

2 tarsal claws

Fig. 9. Adult Noteridae. Note 5 visible sterna, 2 claws on

hind tarsi. Superficially similar in shape to Dytiscidae,
their small size (<5mm) and above characters should
make them fairly easy to identify.
Dichotomous Keys to Some Families of Florida Coleoptera

Key to some Florida families

of Polyphaga Coleoptera
1. Abdomen with at least 3 segments corneous(chiti-
nous) dorsally; 1 or more segments exposedby
shortened elytra (Fig. 11). Antennaevariable, but
never lamellate (Fig. 10)...................................2
– Abdomen at most with 2 segments corneous dor-
Fig. 10. Lamellate antenna, scarab genus Polyphylla.
sally; elytra completely covering abdomen ......
..................................................................................5

2. Elytra very short, dorsally exposing 4-7abdomi- nal

segments..................................................................3
–Elytra covering most of abdomen, dorsally expos-
ing 1-2 segments...................................................4

3. Abdomen flexible, with 7 or 8 segments visible

ventrally; antennae not clubbed distally .........
.......................................................Staphylinidae
– Abdomen not flexible, only 5 or 6 ventral Fig. 11. Dorsal view of Pselaphidae.
segments visible (Fig. 11); antennae with distal
segments enlarged, may form a
club ............................... Pselaphidae,
Nitidulidae with shortened elytra 12a.
12b.
4. Hind tarsi 5 segmented, antennae elbowed and
clavate (Fig. 12a.)............................Histeridae
– Hind tarsi 5 segmented, middle and front tarsi 5- Fig. 12. a. Antenna of Histeridae; b. Silphidae
segments; antennae not elbowed (Fig. 12b) ...
................................................................Silphidae horn

5. Antennae with lamellate club (Fig. 10)..............6

– Antennae variable but not with lamellate club ..
..................................................................................8

6. Plates composing antennal club flattened and ca-

pable of close apposition...........Scarabaeidae
– Plates of antennal club not capable of closing,. and
not flattened............................................................7 Fig. 13. Head of Passalidae.

7. Large black shining beetles; antennae curved;

both sexes with short curved horn (Fig. 13)
on head; elytra deeply striated.....Passalidae
– Large, dull beetles (>20mm); Antennae elbowed
Fig. 14. Geniculate antenna of Lucanidae
(Fig. 14); head without horns; in species with
brown coloration, elytra smooth and not striat-
ed; if black species, elytra dull and unevenly
car- inate or shallowly striate..........Lucanidae segment 1

8. All tarsi apparently 4 segmented; 1st 3segments

dilated and brush-like beneath; or 3rdsegment
deeply bi-lobed (Fig. 15).....................................9 Fig. 15. Tarsus of Chrysomelidae. Apparently 4 segmented,
– Tarsi variable; one or more pair with 3, or 5......seg- with pads beneath each segment. Segment 3 deeply
ments; if segment bi-lobed, usually 2nd or......4th bi- lobed.
segment.................................................................17

9. Head not prolonged into beak.............................10

 Identification of Beetles (Coleoptera)
– Head prolonged into beak (Figs. 16, 17, 18)
which may be short and inconspicuous.........13

10. Antennae filiform or nearly so.........................11

– Antennae distinctly clavate.................Erotylidae

11. Oval, compact beetles; antennae and body usual-

ly with scales;elytra shortened, exposing pygidi-
um; antennae serrate, rarely pectinate; head
prolonged into broad "muzzle" Bruchidae
– If oval, not with above combination of characters
................................................................................12

12. Body elongate; antennae frequently longer than

body, inserted on frontal prominence;
pronotum unmargined; tibial spurs well
developed; ........
......................................................Cerambycidae
– Body shape various, rarely elongate; Antennae
moderate, not longer than body; not inserted on
frontal prominence; prothorax frequently mar-
gined; tibial spurs absent; ...............................
.....................................................Chrysomelidae
elongate 1st antennal segment
13. Beak extremely short and broad; tibiae with se-
ries of teeth externally or front tibiae anteriorly
produced forming stout curved process at apex; snout
antennae short with broad club; small, oval
or cylindrical beetles........................................14 Fig. 16. Lateral view of head of typical weevil
– Beak conspicuous, frequently elongate (Fig. 16);
tibiae simple, without teeth externally or at
apex; antennae clubbed or not........................15

14. First segment of anterior tarsi shorter than

2nd, third, and 4th combined; eyes oval,
emarginate, or divided; head narrower than
thorax ...........
..............................................................Scolytidae
– First segment of anterior tarsi very long, longer
than 2+3+4 combined; eyes round; head
broader than prothorax..............Platypodidae
Fig. 17 Female Brentidae Fig. 18. Male Brentidae
15. Antennae straight, without distinct club; beak
present at least in female and pointing
directly forward (Figs. 17, 18); body shape
elongate and narrow..........................Brentidae
– Antennae straight or geniculate, always with a
dis- tinct club.......................................................16
antenna
16. Palpi flexible; beak short and broad; thorax
maxillary palpus
with transverse raised line which is ante-basal
or bas- al; antennae long, with small but
distinct apical club;........................Anthribidae
– Palpi rigid; beak well developed, frequently long sternal spine
and downward curved;.............Curculionidae

17. Hind tarsi clearly 5 segmented..........................18

–Hind tarsi apparently 3 or 4 segmented..............38
Fig. 19. Ventral view of Hydrophilidae beetle.
Dichotomous Keys to Some Families of Florida Coleoptera
18. Maxillary palpi as long as or longer than anten-
nae. (Fig. 19) Antennae with terminal 3-4
seg- ments forming a distinct club. Many
species with elongate sternal spine
.......................................................Hydrophilidae
– Palpi length "normal". If sternum spined, it iscon- enlarged tarsal claws
fined to prosternum only.................................19
Fig. 20. Dryopidae tarsal claws
19. Tarsal claws elongate, large; abdominalsegments
1-3 fused ventrally (Fig. 20)............................20
– Tarsal claws normal...............................................21

20. Anterior coxae transverse, with distinct

trochan- tin..........................................Dryopidae
– Anterior coxae rounded, lacking trochantin .......
...................................................................Elmidae

21. Abdomen with no more than 5 segments.......22

– Abdomen with at least 6 segments.....................34

22. Hind femur joined at apex of trochanter........23

– Hind femur joined to side of trochanter.............25

23. Tibia without spines...........................Anobiidae

– Tibia with spines.....................................................24

24. Ventral segment 1 (sternum) more or less equal

to sternum 2..................................Bostrichidae
– Ventral segment 1 elongate, longer than segment
2.................................................................Lyctidae

25. Anterior coxae globular or transverse,projecting

but little from coxal cavity................................26
– Anterior coxae conical, projecting prominentlyfrom
coxal cavity..........................................................32

26. Anterior coxae transverse....................................27

– Anterior coxae globular...........................................28

27. Tarsi more or less dilated; segment 1 not

short- er; antennae 11 segmented, terminating
in a 3 segmented club....................Nitidulidae Prosternal process
– Tarsi slender, 1st segment short, antennae with
apical segments expanded into pseudo-club
....
........................................................Trogossitidae
Fig. 21. Prosternal process extending back into
28. Prosternum with posterior processextending
mesosternum.
backwards into a groove in mesosternum(Fig.
21 ).........................................................................29
– Prosternum without process received by the. .me-
sosternum, although it may be prolonged soas
to meet mesosternum........................................31

29. Abdominal segments 1+2 fused on ventral side

...........................................................Buprestidae
– All abdominal segments free on ventral side ......
................................................................................30
 Identification of Beetles (Coleoptera)
30. Prothorax loosely joined to mesothorax; front
cox- al cavities ending in prosternum; antennae
in- serted distant from eyes, insertion
narrowing the front........................Eucnemidae
– Prothorax firmly joined to mesothorax;
antennae inserted under margin of front Fig. 22. Antenna of Zenoa picea, Callirhipidae.
Elateridae

31. Body flattened, depressed (size generally small,

less than 5mm for most species); middle coxal
cavities not closed externally by a meeting of
mesosternum and metasternum Cucujidae
– Body convex; middle coxal cavities entirely sur-
rounded by sterna..............................Erotylidae

32. Posterior coxae dilated into plates partly

protect- ing femora, at least at their sides...33
– Posterior coxae not dilated into plates partly
pro- tecting femora; Posterior coxae flat, not
promi- nent, covered by femora in repose; tarsi
with 4th segment of normal size......Cleridae

33. Antennae serrate or flabellate (Fig. 22 ) .........

..........................Callirhipidae (= Rhipiceridae)
– Antennae with last 3 segments forming a
distinct club; tarsi simple...........Dermestidae Fig. 23. Lycidae, showing reticulated elytral sculpturing.

34. Anterior coxae globular; tibial spines well

devel- oped......................................Cebrionidae
– Anterior coxae conical............................................35

35. Middle coxae contiguous; epipleura distinct .... reticulated surface

................................................................................36
– Middle coxae distant; epipleurae lacking;
elytra reticulated (Fig. 23)..................Lycidae

36. Episterna of metathorax not sinuate on inner

side; epipleura usually wide at base...............37
– Episterna of metathorax sinuate on inner side;
epipleura narrow at base............Cantharidae

37. Head more or less covered by pronotum

when viewed from above; antennae
approximate or moderately distant (they
almost touch at base);metathorax epimeron
long; many species with glowing organ
............................................................Lampyridae
– Head exposed when viewed from above;
antennae distant; metathorx epimera wide;
male anten- nae fimbriate (Fig. 24)
..........................................................Phengodidae Fig. 24. Phengodidae male showing fimbriate antennae.

38. Hind tarsi clearly with 3 segments; or 4

segment- ed, with 3rd segment small and
concealed in a notch at end of 2nd segment
(Fig. 15); or all tar- si with 4 segments (Fig.
25)..........................................................................39 Fig. 25. Hind tarsus of Heteroceridae.
–Front and middle tarsi with 5 segments; hind tarsi
with 4 distinct and unconcealed segments
......
................................................................................45
Dichotomous Keys to Some Families of Florida Coleoptera

Dilated tibia, fitted for

39. All tarsi clearly 4 segmented (Fig. 25)..........40 digging
– Hind tarsi appearing to have 3 segments..........43

40. First 4 abdominal segments fused on venter;

tib- iae dilated, armed with rows of spines,
fitted for digging (Fig. 26 ).....Heteroceridae
– Ventral segments not fused..................................41

41. Tarsi slender; tibiae not armed with rows of spines

.....................................................Endomychidae
– Tarsi dilated, spongy beneath ......................... 42
Fig. 26. Dorsal view of Heteroceridae.

42. Frontal coxal cavities closed behind by

epimeron (Fig. 27); pronotum with or without
moderate prebasal impressions; body elongate
oval ........
..............................................................Erotylidae
– Frontal coxal cavities open behind; pronotum
with- out distinct, paired prebasal impressions; open closed
body elongate, slender..................Languriidae
43. Tarsi with 2nd segment dilated.........................44 Fig. 27. Open behind and closed behind anterior coxal
– Tarsal claws simple; elytra truncate; first and cavities.
fifth abdominal segments longer than others
.........
............................................................Nitidulidae

44. Tarsal claws toothed or appendiculate (Fig.

28); first ventral segment with distinct curved
Fig. 28. Toothed tarsal claw, Coccinellidae.
coxal lines.....................................Coccinellidae
– Tarsal claws simple; first ventral segment
without coxal lines..................Endomychidae pectinate claw

45. Anterior coxal cavities closed behind (Fig. 27) .

................................................................................46
– Anterior coxal cavities open behind (Fig. 27) . 47 Fig. 29 Tarsal claw, Alleculidae.

46. Tarsal claws simple; front of head with protrud-

ing rim extending from eye to eye, hiding
anten- nal insertion when viewed from
above ............
......................................................Tenebrionidae
– Tarsal claws pectinate (Fig. 29 ) Alleculidae

47. Head not suddenly and strongly constricted.at

base........................................................................48
– Head strongly constricted at base.......................50

48. Middle coxae very prominent......Oedemeridae

– Middle coxae not very prominent.........................49

49. Metasternum long; epimera of metathorax visi-

ble...................................................Melandryidae
– Metasternum quadrate; epimera of metathorax
covered..................................................Cucujidae

50. Prothorax with side pieces not separated.......from

pronotum by a suture.......................................51
 Identification of Beetles (Coleoptera)
– Lateral suture of prothorax distinct; base of pro-
thorax as wide as elytra.....................................56

51. Prothorax at base as wide as elytra .................

......................................................Rhipiphoridae
– Prothorax at base narrower than elytra...........52

52. Hind coxae not prominent.................................53

– Hind coxae large, prominent; tarsal claws cleft or
toothed....................................................Meloidae

53. Anterior coxae globular, not prominent ...........

...............................................................Cucujidae
– Anterior coxae conical, prominent........................54

54. Abdomen consisting of 5 free segments, tarsi with

penultimate segment lobed beneath................55
– Abdomen consisting of 4 free segments, the first
formed from 2 fused segments; tarsi with ante-
penultimate segment lobed beneath ................
............................................................Euglenidae

55. Eyes large, oval, finely faceted.........Pedilidae

– Eyes small, coarsely faceted..............Anthicidae

56. Antennae filiform................................................57

– Antennae flabellate in male, subserrate in female
......................................................Rhipiphoridae

57. Hind coxae plate-like......................Mordellidae

–Hind coxae not plate-like................Melandryidae