Insect Key Part 1

David A Kendall BSc PhD
Consulting Entomologist

Shortcut to the main groups of insects and other arthropods...

Insect Identification

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1a.	Insect with wings (though forewings may be partly or entirely stiffened as 'wing-covers' or 'wing-cases' and not used in flight)	2
1b.	Insect without wings (though some forms may retain vestigial wings resembling small scales or pads)	Part 3 of the Key

2a.	One pair of wings	3
2b.	Two pairs of wings	Part 2 of the Key
(insect with one pair of wings)
3a.	Dorsal surface of the prothorax extended backwards over the abdomen; hind-legs enlarged and modified for jumping; insect grasshopper-like in general appearance	Orthoptera
3b.	Insect not like this	4

4a.	Wings horny or leathery (stiffened) and not used for flying	5
4b.	Wings membranous (flexible) and used for flying	6

5a.	Wings overlapping at least a little in the centre-line and with obvious veins present	Phasmida
5b.	Wings (elytra) meeting in the centre-line (sometimes fused together) and without veins (elytra may have longitudinal grooves or striae which should not be confused with veins)	Coleoptera

6a.	Abdomen with one or more long terminal appendages	7
6b.	Abdomen without terminal appendages	8

7a.	Wings with only one forked vein; antennae relatively long; small insect usually less than 5 mm long	Hemiptera
7b.	Wings with many veins; antennae short; larger insect	Ephemeroptera

8a.	Thorax with a pair of club-shaped structures (halteres) lying just in front of the wings	Strepsiptera
8b.	Thorax with a pair of club-shaped structures (halteres) lying just behind the wings (may be hidden by body hairs and other structures)	Diptera

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