WEEK 9: TAXONOMY OF COLEOPTERA

In week 4 you placed insects into taxonomic orders by examining the physical characteristics of insects in combination with taxonomic keys (those found within your textbook: Borrer & De Long, 7th edition). This week, you will use the taxonomic keys to place insects into their correct family, by following the descriptions of physical characteristics that best match your insect specimen.

FAMILIES IN ORDER COLEOPTERA

ORDER COLEOPTERA (Beetles)	FAMILIES:
	(1) Carabidae (Ground Beetles)
	(2) Dytiscidae (Predatious Diving Beetles)
	(3) Silphidae (Carrion Beetles)
	(4) Staphylinidae (Rove Beetles)
	(5) Hydrophilidae (Water Scavenger Beetles)
	(6) Scarabaeidae (Scarab Beetles)
	(7) Buprestidae (Metallic Wood-Boring Beetles)
	(8) Elateridae (Click Beetles, Wire Worms)
	(9) Lampyridae (Lightening Bugs, Fireflies)
	(10) Cantharidae (Soldier Beetles)
	(11) Dermestidae (Carpet Beetles, Dermestids)
	(12) Cleridae (Checkered Beetles)
	(13) Coccinellidae (Ladybird Beetles)
	(14) Tenebrionidae (Darkling Beetles)
	(15) Meloidae (Blister Beetles)
	(16) Cerambycidae (Long-Horned Beetles, Round-Headed Borers)
	(17) Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)
	(18) Curculionidae (Weevils, Bark Beetles, Ambrosia Beetles)

KEYING STEPS FOR FAMILIES OF COLEOPTERA (BEETLES):

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