Key to some Florida families of
Coleoptera: s.o. Adephaga
1. Hind coxae greatly enlarged, forming a plate that
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.
Antennae reduced to short peg-like structures.
Whirligig beetles ............................Gyrinidae
– Eyes not divided by lateral margin of head. Antennae
variously shaped ..................................... 3
3. Hind legs modified for swimming, posterior margin
with fringes of hairs (Fig. 7. Antennae long
and moniliform or filiform ............................. 4
– Legs not modified for swimming. Antennae moniliform
Carabidae (Figs. 3, 4) (including Cicindelidini,
Rhysodini) *keys to Florida ground beetles.
http://entnemdept.ifas.ufl.edu/choate/
florida_carabidae_new.pdf
4. Scutellum visible(Fig. 8c) Dytiscidae (in part)
– Scutellum hidden (Figs. 8 a, b) ........................ 5
5. Hind tarsi with 2 curved claws (Fig. 9) of equal
length; abdomen with 5 visible sterna; front coxal
cavities closed behind (small beetles, 1-5mm)
....................................................... Noteridae
– Hind tarsi with 1 straight claw; abdomen with 6
visible sterna; front coxal cavities open behind;
size usually over 5mm ... Dytiscidae (in part)