Identifying insects beyond Order
From the following scene.
The scattered remains of an unknown insect
Identification - Using either our textbook, our file on course CD, or the same document online, Identification Key to the Principal Families of Florida Heteroptera, examine characters that are used for Heteroptera Family determination. As you work through key characters, note the choices and terms you need to know while you answer these questions:
    Are the antennae longer than head?
    Is the head shorter than thorax OR is the body not linear in overall shape?
    Are tarsal claws inserted at apex of last segment, or are they anteapical?
    Are the antennae 4 or 5 segmented?
    Is the beak 3 or 4 segmented?(view closeup), this may be tricky to determine. Be sure you can recognize segments.
    Are the tarsi 2 or 3 segmented?
    Are front legs raptorial?
    Is there a cuneus on the hemelytra?
    Are ocelli present on the head?
    Is the body unusually slender, with long slender legs?
    Does the membrane of the hemelytra have 4-5 simple veins which arise from its base, or are there many veins arising from a transverse basal vein?
    Are scent glands present?
    Is the head narrower and shorter than pronotum?
    Do the bucculae extend backward beyond base of antennae?
    Are the hind coxae rounded or quadrate, or transverse?

Family: Here are answers to the above questions (photos from a whole specimen).

    Antennae are longer than the head
    The head is shorter than the thorax
    Tarsal claws are inserted at apex of last segment
    Antennae are 4 segmented
    Beak is 4 segmented
    Tarsi are 3 segmented
    Front legs are not raptorial
    There is no cuneus
    Ocelli are present
    Body is not unusually slender
    Membrane of hemelytra has many veins
    Scent glands are present
    Head is narrower and shorter than pronotum
    Bucculae extend backward beyond base of antennae
    Hind coxae are rounded
Results: based on the answers to our questions, the Family is-

    Hemiptera (Heteroptera): Coreidae


Having arrived at a determination for Family, our next challenge will be to see if we have enough material to determine:
  • Subfamily
  • Genus, and possibly species
This will involve using a diagnostic key to the species of Florida Coreidae (Heteroptera). Once we have arrived at a subfamily determination, we will attempt generic and species identification!
Introduction |  Processing | Identification  | ID Beyond the Order | Species ID |