Dichotomous Keys - Text Format.

Arthropods - Key A: Arthropods with Six Legs, with Well-Developed Wings.

Tips: Only adult arthropods are included, and certain uncommon orders are not included. To
use a key, read both descriptions in a couplet (for instance, 1a and 1b). Decide which sounds
most like your critter, and move to the next couplet indicated. Should you reach a dead-end,
use the numbers in parentheses to backtrack until you reach a couplet that you felt unsure
about, and try following the other path. Some orders are found more than once in the keys,
because the arthropods occur in different forms.
STEP FROM

CHARACTERS

1a

One pair of wings. . . . . . . . . . go to 2

1b

Two pairs of wings. . . . . . . . . . go to 3

2a

1a

ORDER / CLASS

Hind wings reduced to tiny knobs (halteres), tip of abdomen

without 2-3 thread-like tails
DIPTERA
(Flies)

2b

1a

Hind wings not reduced to tiny knobs, tip of abdomen with 2-3
thread-like tails (caudal filaments)

EPHEMEROPTERA
(Mayflies)
3a

1b

Front and hind wings have similar texture. . . . . . . . . . go to 4

3b

1b

Front wings a rigid or leathery covering for clear hind wings. . . .

. . . . . . go to 14

4a

3a

Wings covered with powdery scales, mouthparts usually a

coiled tube (proboscis) for sucking
LEPIDOPTERA
(Moths / Butterflies)

4b

3a

Wings not covered with powdery scales, mouthparts not a

coiled tube. . . . . . . . . . go to 5

5a

4b

Wings slope downwards (rooflike) from the center at rest. . . . . .

. . . go to 6

5b

4b

Wings not held rooflike at rest. . . . . . . . . . go to 9

6a

5a

Wings covered with hair

TRICHOPTERA
(Caddisflies)

6b

5a

Hairless wings. . . . . . . . . . go to 7

7a

6b

Sucking mouthparts in the form of a rigid beak, often short and

bristley antennae, body may look like a thorn
HOMOPTERA
(Hoppers)

7b

6b

Mouthparts not in the form of a rigid beak, antennae not short

and bristley, body never looks like a thorn. . . . . . . . . . go to 8

8a

7b

Wings with many cross veins

NEUROPTERA
(Lacewings)

8b

7b

Wings without many cross veins

PSOCOPTERA
(Bark lice)

9a

5b

Front and hind wings similar in size and shape. . . . . . . . . . . go

to 10

9b

5b

Front and hind wings not similar in size and shape. . . . . . . . .

.go to 12

10a

9a

Antennae always short and bristley

ODONATA

(Dragonflies & Damselflies)

10b

9a

Antennae never short and bristley. . . . . . . . . . go to 11

11a

10b

Wings held flat over abdomen when at rest, last abdominal

segment not enlarged, usually found in colonies
ISOPTERA
(Termites)

11b

10b

Wings not held flat over abdomen when at rest, males with the
last abdominal segment enlarged like a scorpion's stinger and
held over the body, not found in colonies
MECOPTERA
(Scorpionflies)

12a

9b

Body very soft, without a narrow "waist". . . . . . . . . . go to 13

12b

9b

Body not exceptionally soft, often with a narrow "waist"

HYMENOPTERA
(Bees & Wasps)

13a

12a

Hind wings wider than front wings, folded underneath like a fan
PLECOPTERA
(Stoneflies)

13b

12a

Hind wings much smaller than front wings, not folded

underneath like a fan

EPHEMEROPTERA
(Mayflies)

14a

3b

Sucking mouthparts in the form of a rigid beak, front wings with

clear tips (hemelytra), overlapping at rest, revealing a
triangular panel on the back (scutellum)
HETEROPTERA
(True Bugs)

14b

3b

Chewing mouthparts, front wings without clear tips. . . . . . . . . .

go to 15

15a

14b

Rigid front wings (elytra) meet in a straight line down the

middle of the back
COLEOPTERA
(Beetles)

15b

14b

Front wings not as above. . . . . . . . . . go to 16

16a

15b

Head visible from above. . . . . . . . . . go to 17

16b

15b

Head hidden from above by a hoodlike structure (pronotum)

BLATTARIA
(Cockroaches)

17a

16a

Front legs strong with prominent spines for grasping prey, hind
legs long and slender
MANTODEA
(Mantids)

17b

16a

Front legs without spines or with weak spines, the femora of

the hind legs are enlarged for jumping
ORTHOPTERA
(Grasshoppers & Crickets)

Dichotomous Keys - Text Format.

Arthropods - Key B: Arthropods with Six Legs, with Tiny or Missing Wings.
Tips: Only adult arthropods are included, and certain uncommon orders are not
included. To use a key, read both descriptions in a couplet (for instance, 1a and
1b). Decide which sounds most like your critter, and move to the next couplet
indicated. Should you reach a dead-end, use the numbers in parentheses to
backtrack until you reach a couplet that you felt unsure about, and try following the
other path. Some orders are found more than once in the keys, because the
arthropods occur in different forms.
STEP FROM CHARACTERS

ORDER / CLASS

1a

Does not resemble a twig. . . . . . . . . . go to 2

1b

Slow-moving, resembles a twig

PHASMIDA
(Walking sticks)

2a

1a

Body very soft. . . . . . . . . . go to 3

2b

1a

Body not exceptionally soft. . . . . . . . . . go to 8

2a

Mouthparts hidden within head, usually with a

springlike structure (furcula) on the underside of
the abdomen used for jumping

3a

COLLEMBOLA
(Springtails)
3b

2a

External mouthparts, without a

structure
on
the
underside
abdomen. . . . . . . . . . go to 4

4a

3b

Visible projections at the

abdomen. . . . . . . . . . go to 5

4b

3b

No visible projections at the tip of the abdomen. .

. . . . . . . . go to 6

5a

4a

Long flattened body, tip of abdomen with 2 - 3

long tails (cerci, and if a third tail is present, a
median caudal filament)

tip

springlike
of
the
of

the

THYSANURA
(Silverfish)

5b

4a

Small pear-shaped body, tip of abdomen has two

short projections (cornicles), some individuals
have wings
HOMOPTERA
(Aphids)

6a

4b

Usually found in colonies with many individuals

(soldier caste), some of which have very large
heads and mandibles (soldier caste) or
mouthparts that look like a tube (nasuti caste)
ISOPTERA
(Termites)

6b

7a

4b

Tiny insects that may be found in groups of

many individuals, but they all have the same kind
of mouthparts . . . . . . . . . . go to 7

6b

Chewing mouthparts, relatively long antennae,

when individuals have wings the wings never
have fringes of hair
PSOCOPTERA
(Bark lice)

7b

6b

Sucking mouthparts, fairly short antennae,

adults may actually have barely visible wings
with fringes of hair
THYSANOPTERA
(Thrips)

8a

2b

Body with a narrow "waist," antennae usually

have a bend in the middle
HYMENOPTERA
(Ants & Wingless wasps)

8b

2b

Body without a narrow "waist", antennae don't

usually have a bend in the middle. . . . . . . . . . go
to 9

9a

8b

Tiny jumping parasites found on mammals or

birds, where they suck blood
SIPHONAPTERA
(Fleas)

9b

8b

Not found on mammals or birds, chewing

mouthparts. . . . . . . . . . go to 10

10a

9b

Prominent "pincers" at the tip of the abdomen

(cerci)
DERMAPTERA
(Earwigs)

10b

9b

Without "pincers" at the tip of the abdomen

COLEOPTERA
(Beetles)

Dichotomous Keys - Text Format

Arthropods - Key C: Arthropods with More Than Six Legs.
Tips: Only adult arthropods are included, and certain uncommon
orders are not included. To use a key, read both descriptions in a
couplet (for instance, 1a and 1b). Decide which sounds most like your
critter, and move to the next couplet indicated. Should you reach a
dead-end, use the numbers in parentheses to backtrack until you reach
a couplet that you felt unsure about, and try following the other path.
Some orders are found more than once in the keys, because the
arthropods occur in different forms.

STEP FROM FEATURES

ORDER / CLASS

1a

Four pairs of legs. . . . . . . . . . go to 2

1b

More
than
four
legs. . . . . . . . . . go to 6

pairs

of

2a

1a

Abdomen
with
distinct
segments. . . . . . . . . . go to 3

2b

1a

Abdomen without distinct segments. .

. . . . . . . . go to 5

3a

2a

Conspicuous "pincers" (pedipalps) in

front of shorter legs. . . . . . . . . . go to
4

3b

2a

Without "pincers," long and slender

legs
OPILIONES
(Daddy-Longlegs)

4a

3a

Fairly large, the abdomen ends in a

stinger
SCORPIONES
(Scorpions)

4b

3a

Small, the abdomen does not end in

a stinger
PSEUDOSCORPIONES
(Pseudoscorpions)

5a

2b

Body clearly divided into two main

parts
(cephalothorax
and
abdomen)
ARANEAE
(Spiders)

5b

2b

Oval-shaped body not divided into

two main parts
ACARI
(Mites & Ticks)

6a

1b

Seven pairs of tiny legs, some roll up

into balls
ISOPODA
(Pillbugs, sowbugs)

6b

1b

More than seven pairs of legs, they

don't roll up into balls. . . . . . . . . . go
to 7

7a

6b

Tiny bodies, 10 - 12 pairs of legs

SYMPHYLA
(Symphylans)

7b

6b

Bodies often fairly large, with > 15

pairs of legs. . . . . . . . . . go to 8

8a

7b

Flattened bodies, with one pair of

legs attached to each body segment
CHILOPODA
(Centipedes)

8b

7b

Bodies usually tubelike, with two

pairs of legs attached to each body
segment
DIPLOPODA
(Millipedes)

Dichotomous Keys - Text Format

Keys To Common Families Of Heteroptera (True Bugs)

SUBKEY A: Common Families Of Terrestrial Heteroptera (Terrestrial Bugs)

No.

From
No.

Description

Go to

Name

A short beak tucks into a groove between the front legs

1a

Reduviidae
(Assassin and Ambush
Bugs)
The beak doesn't tuck into a groove between the front legs

1b

2a

1b

The front wings have a lacy pattern; the pronotum is pointed at the
base

Tingidae
(Lace Bugs)
2b

1b

The front wings don't have a lacy pattern; the pronotum is not
pointed at the base

10

3a

2b

The body is very slender with threadlike legs and antennae

Berytidae
(Stilt Bugs)
3b

2b

The body and legs are somewhat broader

4a

3b

The large scutellum extends at least halfway to the end of the

abdomen; the antennae have five segments

4b

3b

The scutellum extends less than halfway to the end of the

abdomen; the antennae have four segments

5a

4a

The scutellum is usually triangular (if rounded, it does not reach

the end of the abdomen)

5b

4a

The scutellum is rounded at the bottom and almost reaches the

end of the abdomen

6a

5a

The tibiae have strong spines

Cydnidae
(Burrower Bugs)

6b

5a

The tibiae don't have strong spines

Pentatomidae
(Stink Bugs)

11

7a

5b

The body is shiny black and < 8 mm long

Thyreocoridae
(Negro Bugs)

7b

5b

The body is usually brownish and > 8 mm long

Scutelleridae
(Shield-backed Bugs)
8a

4b

The body is extremely flat and rather broad

8b

4b

The body is not extremely flat and broad

10

9a

8a

Wings are present but they do not cover the entire abdomen

Aradidae
(Flat Bugs)
9b

8a

Wings are missing

Cimicidae

12

(Bed Bugs)

10a

8b

The tiny bodies are black and white; the clear parts of the front
wings lack defined veins

Anthocoridae
(Minute Pirate Bugs)
10b

8b

The clear parts of the front wings have some well-defined veins

11

11a

10b

The clear parts of the front wings have five or fewer longitudinal
veins

12

11b

10b

The clear parts of the front wings have more than five longitudinal
veins

13

12a

11a

The clear parts of the front wings have one or two closed cells;
ocelli are missing

Miridae
(Plant Bugs)

12b

11a

The clear parts of the front wings do not have closed cells; ocelli
are present

Lygaeidae
(Seed Bugs)
13a

11b

Ocelli are present

14

13b

11b

Ocelli are missing

16

13

14a

13a

The body is often less than 10 mm long and pale in color

(sometimes up to 14 mm long and red and black); and does not
produce an odor

Rhopalidae
(Scentless Plant Bugs)
14b

13a

The body is usually > 10 mm long, dark in color, and produces a

strong odor

15a

14b

The head is narrower than the pronotum

15

Coreidae
(Leaf-footed Bugs)

15b

14b

The head is about as wide as the pronotum

Alydidae
(Broad-headed Bugs)

14

16a

13b

The body is usually dark in color, slender, and less than 11 mm

long

Nabidae
(Damsel Bugs)
16b

17a

13b

The body is often brightly colored, somewhat broad, and greater

than11 mm long

16b

The upper surface of the pronotum is convex and its sides do not
look 'pinched' flat, the underside of the last abdominal segment of
the female has a longitudinal slit

17

Largidae
(Largid Bugs)

17b

16b

The upper surface of the pronotum is not convex and its sides
look 'pinched' flat, the underside of the last abdominal segment of
the female does not have a longitudinal slit
Pyrrhocoridae
(Red Bugs, Cotton
Stainers)

SUBKEY B: Common Families Of Aquatic and Semiaquatic Heteroptera (Water and Shore
Bugs)

No. From

Description

Go
15

Name

No.

To

1a

The antennae are shorter than the head and usually concealed

1b

The antennae are at least as long as the head and usually visible

2a

1a

The body resembles a small toad; found at the edges of ponds or

streams
Gelastocoridae
(Toad Bugs)

2b

1a

The body doesn't resemble a toad

3a

2b

The long cerci form a breathing tube

Nepidae
(Water Scorpions)
3b

2b

The cerci are short or missing

4a

3b

The front femora are enlarged; the body is flat and rather broad

4b

3b

The front femora are not enlarged; The body is not flat and broad

5a

4a

The body is less than 16 mm long and oval

Naucoridae
(Creeping Water Bugs)

16

5b

4a

The body is at least 20 mm long and somewhat elongated

Belostomatidae
(Giant Water Bugs)

6a

4b

The tarsi of the front legs look like "scoops"

Corixidae
(Water Boatman)
6b

4b

The tarsi of the front legs do not look like "scoops"

7a

6b

The body is at least 5 mm long

Notonectidae
(Backswimmers)
7b

6b

The tiny body is less than 3.5 mm long

17

Pleidae
(Pygmy Backswimmers)
8a

1b

The long, narrow body is usually at least 5 mm long; the legs are
long and very slender

8b

1b

The broader body is usually less than 5 mm long; the legs are
not extremely long and slender

10

9a

8a

The front legs are much shorter than the mid and hind legs; the
head is short

Gerridae
(Water Striders)

9b

8a

The front legs are about as long as the mid and hind legs; the
head is about as long as the front femora

Hydrometridae
(Water Measurers)

10a

8b

The body is usually greenish or yellowish

Mesoveliidae
(Water Treaders)

18

10b

8b

The body is usually dark or black and white

11a

10b

The clear parts of the front wings have four or five closed cells

11

Saldidae
(Shore Bugs)
11b

10b

When wings are present, the clear parts of the front wings do not
have four or five closed cells

12a

11b

The body looks like that of a miniature water strider and is not
covered with velvety hairs

12

Veliidae
(Riffle Bugs)

12b

11b

The body does not look like that of a miniature water strider and
is covered with velvety hairs

Hebriidae
(Velvet Water Bugs)

Dichotomous Keys - Text Format

Keys To Common Families Of Neuroptera (Lacewings, Antlions, etc.)
19

No. From

Description

Go to

Name

The front and hind wings are both narrow

where they attach to the body

1a

The hind wings have a conspicuous "heel"

where they attach to the body

1b

2a

1b

The body is usually at least 25 mm long; ocelli

are present

Corydalidae
(Dobsonflies, Fishflies)

2b

1b

The body is usually < 25 mm long; ocelli are

missing
Sialidae
(Alderflies)

3a

1a

The prothorax is exceptionally long (like a

mantid)

3b

1a

The prothorax is not exceptionally long

20

4a

3a

The front legs are enlarged and attached to

the prothorax near the head
Mantispidae
(Mantidflies)

4b

3a

The front legs are not enlarged and are

attached to the prothorax near the middle legs
(Snakeflies)

5a

4b

Ocelli are present

Raphidiidae
(Raphidid Snakeflies)

5b

4b

Ocelli are missing

Inocelliidae
(Inocellid Snakeflies)

6a

3b

The antennae are clubbed

6b

3b

The antennae are filiform, moniliform, or

pectinate

7a

6a

The antennae are much shorter than the body

Myrmeleontidae
(Antlions)

7b

6b

The antennae are about as long as the body

Ascalaphidae
(Owlflies)

8a

6b

Many cross veins fork before reaching the

front edge of the wing (spread the wings to

21

Hemerobiidae

check which is the front edge

(Brown Lacewings)

Few cross veins fork before reaching the front

edge of the wing

8b

6b

9a

8b

The body is usually greenish in color; these

are found on plants

Chrysopidae
(Green Lacewings)

9b

8b

The body is usually brownish in color; these

are found near ponds or streams

Sisyridae
(Spongillaflies)

Dichotomous Keys - Text Format

Key to common families of Orthoptera (Grasshoppers & Crickets).
No. From
1a

Description

Go to

The front femora are almost as long and thick as

the hind femora

22

Name

The hind femora are much longer and thicker than

the front femora

1b

2a

1a

The front tibiae are modified into scoops for

digging
Gryllotalpidae
(Mole Crickets)

2b

1a

The front tibiae are enlarged, but not modified into

scoops
Gryllacridadae
(Jerusalem Crickets)

3a

1b

The pronotum extends to cover the abdomen

Tetrigidae
(Pygmy Grasshoppers)
3b

1b

The pronotum does not cover the abdomen

4a

3b

The body is 4-10 mm long; the end of the abdomen

has two pairs of projections

Tridactylidae
(Pygmy Mole Crickets)

4b

3b

The body is usually >10 mm long, the end of the

abdomen has one pair of projections (cerci)

23

4b

The antennae are short (usually less than half as

long as the body); auditory organs, when present,
are on he sides of the first abdominal segment

5b

4b

The antennae are long (usually at least as long as

the body); auditory organs, when present, are on
the front tibiae

6a

5a

The antennae are shorter than the front femora;

wings are missing

5a

Eumasticidae
(Monkey Grasshoppers)

6b

5a

The antennae are longer than the front femora;

wings are present
Acrididae
(Short-horned Grasshoppers)

7a

5b

The wings are missing; the body is humpbacked

Gryllacridadae
(Cave Crickets)
7b

5b

The wings are present but sometimes small; the

body is not usually humpbacked

8a

7a

The ovipositor is shaped like a needle; the body is

often brown

Gryllidae
(Crickets)

24

8b

7b

The ovipositor is flattened like a sword; the body is

usually green

Tettigoniidae
(Long-horned Grasshoppers, Katydids)

25