Key

Helpful Hints: 1.) Use the anatomical atlas, found here and at the top of Features list in the key, to locate features used in the key on your specimen. All of the structures mentioned in the key are shown on the atlas. 2.) Begin by determining the sex of the specimen you are working with. Males have an extra round supplementary segment, easily seen in ventral view (see anatomical atlas). By doing this, the key will automatically hide characters that do not pertain to the sex of your specimen. 3.) Begin working through the key by selecting the character state of features you can easily see (e.g. elytra coloration, antennae shape, depressions on the male 5th ventrite). 4.) If you’re not sure where to start, you can use the ‘Best’ tool located on the tool bar and denoted by a magic wand. This will automatically show you which features you should address next, allowing you to make a species determination more efficiently. If the best tool takes you to a character you cannot see or are uncertain about, you can skip it and go to the next best character using the next best tool (yellow arrow pointing right). 5.) Double click on thumbnail images to enlarge them. Suggestions regarding how to view features are given in the image captions once the image is opened. 6.) When you’re unsure of a character, you can either choose multiple states or skip the character completely.

Guide to using Lucid key (click here)