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Home , Attelabidae, Belidae, Bostrichidae, Bothrideridae, Brentidae, Buprestidae

Common Families 1. , Metallic Wood-boring • Generally elongate, broadly flattened, or narrowly cylindrical • Usually metallic with iridescent underneath • antennae serrate with 11 antennomeres • Tarsal formula 5-5-5, claws equal in size • Abdomen with five ventrites, first two fused together Similar families: , Elateridae, Where/how to collect: Most active during hottest part of the day, found resting on trunks or /foliage. Woodland found sunning on dead/dying tree trunks/limbs.

2. Cantharidae, Soldier Beetles • Long, soft bodied beetles, often resembling • Head NOT completely concealed under pronotum; but DOES often droop when pinned • Antennae long, usually filiform with 11 antennomeres • Pronotum flat and usually wider than head • Elytra are soft • Tarsal formula 5-5-5 • Abdomen with seven or eight ventrites Similar families: , , Lampyridae, , , Meloidae, Cerambycidae Where/how to collect: Found feeding or mating on flowers during the day. Goldenrod Soldier Beetles, Chauliognathus pensylvanicus, is the most common Cantharnid in Kansas and commonly found in great numbers on Goldenrod in late summer/early fall.

3. Carabidae, Ground beetles - • Elongate, flattened, or almost cylindrical • Generally hairless and somewhat tapered at both ends • Antennae filiform or moniliform with 11 antennomeres • Pronotum generally narrower than elytra • Elytra always completely covering the abdomen • Hind trochanter large and often offset from femur • Tarsal formula 5-5-5 • Abdomen usually with six ventrites, first ventrite divided by hind coxae Similar families: Lucanidae, , , , Tenebrionidae, Oedemeridae, , , Cerambycidae, Where/how to collect: Under , rocks, boards, logs; along banks of streams, rivers, and ponds. Generally found on or very near the ground.

1 4. Cerambycidae, Longhorn Beetles • Extremely variable in shape and size • Antennae at least half as long as the body, but often as long as or longer • Eyes usually notched at base of antennae • Tarsal formula 5-5-5, but appear 4-4-4 • Abdomen with five ventricles Similar families: Lucanidae, Cantharidae, , Oedemeridae, , some Chrysomelidae Where/how to collect: On flowers or nearby vegetation; nocturnal species will be attracted to lights; specifically in open areas around wooded areas.

5. Chrysomelidae, Leaf Beetles • EXTREMELY variable in size/shape and hard to characterize • Antennae with 11 antennomeres, but highly variable in style • Tarsal formula 5-5-5, but appear 4-4-4 Similar families: ,, Erotylidae, , , Tenebrionidae, , Cerambycidae, , Where/how to collect: Can be found on a wide variety of vegetation and collected using sweep nets, beat sheets, hand collecting, emerging from seeds/pods.

6. Cleridae, Checkered beetles • Generally elongate, narrow, somewhat cylindrical • Often covered in bristly setae • Broad heads with bulging eyes • Pronotum narrower than elytra, generally longer than wide • Antennae with 9-11 antennomeres • Tarsal formula 5-5-5 • Abdomen with five or six ventricles Similar families: Micromalthidae, Cantharidae, Melyridae, Pyrochroidae, Salpingidae, Anthicidae, Where/how to collect: Can be found on flowers, , and other vegetation. Several species attracted to lights. Some species will also be attracted to carrion and dried meats.

7. Coccinellidae, Lady- beetles • Typically oval and convex, often colored red and black • Antennae clavate, with 7-11 antennomeres • Prothorax convex, wider than long • Tarsal formula 4-4-4, but appear 3-3-3 • Abdomen with five to seven ventrites Similar families: , , Erotylidae, , Endomychidae, Corylophidae, Chrysomelidae Where/how to collect: Hand collect on flowering , especially those which have aphids on them. Also found while sweeping/beating a variety of plants.

2 8. Curculionidae, True • INCREDIBLY diverse, largest of beetles • Broadly oval, long, and cylindrical • Antennae clubbed and elbowed with 11 antennomeres • Antennae fit into groove along snout • Tarsal formula 5-5-5, but often appear 4-4-4 • Abdomen with five ventrites, first two usually fused Similar families: Salpingidae, , , Attelabidae, Brentidae Where/how to collect: Most easily collected by sweeting/beating a variety of foliage. Some species attracted to lights. Many species will play dead when disturbed and resemble seeds.

9. Elateridae, Click Beetles • Long, somewhat flattened • Generally brown or black, sometimes with distinctive markings • Often covered in setae or scales • Prothorax flattened and ridged on sides with sharp, backwards pointing posterior angles • Tarsal formula 5-5-5 • Abdomen with five ventrites, 1-4 fused together Similar families: Buprestidae, Eucnemidae, Throscidae, Erotylidae, , Where/how to collect: Sweeping and beating forested/wooded areas around edges. Some species attracted to lights.

10. Gyrinidae, Whirlygig beetles -Adephaga • Oval, flattened, and uniformly dark or black • Antennae short and clubbed, with 8-11 antennomeres • Eyes distinctly divided • Tarsal formula 5-5-5, middle and hind legs flattened and paddle-like • Abdomen with six ventrites Similar families: None. Divided eyes and paddle-like legs are distinctive Where/how to collect: Generally on the surface of slow moving streams or other bodies of water. Erratic movements can make them hard to collect, but using an aquatic/fishtank net is most effective.

11. Lampyridae, Fireflies • Soft-bodied and flattened • Head covered by pronotum that is nearly as wide as elytra • Antennae filiform or serrate, with 11 antennomeres • Tarsal formula 5-5-5 • Abdomen with seven (male) or 8 (female) ventrites • Often with bioluminescent organs on last abdominal segments Similar families: Lycidae, Phengodidae, Omethidae, Cantharidae

3 Where/how to collect: Easily catchable starting at dusk during the summer months. Can be collected in the air as well on as vegetation. Use to hone in on individuals.

12. Lucanidae, Stag beetles • Robust, oval or elongate, somewhat flattened to nearly cylindrical • Usually dull, shiny black to reddish-brown • Mandibles prominent and visible from above – usually more developed in males • Antennae variable with 10 antennomeres • Pronotum narrower at base than elytra and lack ridges, grooves, horns, or projections • Tarsal formula 5-5-5 • Abdomen with five ventrites Similar families: Carabidae, , , , , , Tenebrionidae Where/how to collect: Most active in late spring through midsummer in moist, wooded . Most species fly at dusk and early evening. Can be found walking up tree trunks or on downed logs.

13. Meloidae, Blister Beetles • Typically elongate, soft-bodied, variable in coloration • Antennae usually filiform or moniliform with 11 antennomeres • Pronotum usually narrower than both head and elytra • Eltrya soft • Tarsal formula 5-5-4 • Abdomen with six ventrites Similar families: Cantharidae, Tenebrionidae, Stenotrachelidae, Oedemeridae, Pyrochoridae, Anthicidae Where/how to collect: Typically found mating or feeding on flowers in spring/summer. Collect by hand, sweeping, beating. Some attracted to light, flightless species collected in pitfall traps.

14. , Bess beetles • Large, shiny black • Horned in both sexes • Elytra distinctly deeply grooved • Antennae lamellate with 10 thick antennomere • Tarsal formaula 5-5-5, claws simple and equal • Abdomen with five ventrites Similar families: Lucanidae Where/how to collect: Most active in late spring/early summer. Commonly found under bark in rotting hardwood and logs/snags.

4 15. Scarabaeidae, Scarab beetles • Oval-oblong bodies, somewhat flattened or cylindrical • Color variable from black to brown to orange to metallic green, yellow, and more. Often with blotched or striped patterns. • Lamellate antennae with 8-10 antennomeres; can spread out like a fan at ends. • Pronotum variable, can be ornamented with horns or other structures. • Tarsal formula 5-5-5, claws variable • Abdomen with six ventrites Similar families: Lucanidae, Glaresidae, Trogidae, , Ochodaeidae, , Where/how to collect: Nocturnal species strongly attracted to lights. Can easily be caught by sweeping/beating. Sap feeders can be attracted to handing traps baited with rotting fruit. Dung beetles can be caught in pitfall traps baited with feces.

16. , Carrion and Burying beetles • Strongly flattened and mostly black, although often with yellow, orange, or reddish markings on pronotum and elytra • Antennae with 11 antennomeres and are either gradually or abruptly clubbed • Pronotum broader than head • Elytra never grooved, but either smooth or rough, sometimes with longitudinal ridges or branched ribs • Tarsal formula 5-5-5, simple claws equal in size • Abdomen with six (female) or seven (males) ventrites Similar families: Where/how to collect: On or under vertebrate carcasses

17. Staphylinidae, Rove beetles • Diverse in form • Many species are have long, slender, flexible abdomens • Antennae filiform or clavate • Elytra short leaving five to six absominal tergites exposed • Smaller species have three to five tergites exposed • Tarsal formula usually 5-5-5 or 3-3-3, but can also be 2-2-2, 4-4-4, 4-5-5, or 4-4-5 • Abdomen with six or seven ventrites Similar families: Micromalthidae, Cleridae, Cantharidae, Phengodidae, Nitidulidae, Meloidae, Cerambycidae may have shorter elytra, but antennae and overall appearance distinguish from Staphylinidae Where/how to collect: Can be found in/under dung, carrion. bark, fungi, or by sweeping flowers and other vegetation

18. Tenebrionidae, Darkling Beetles • Very diverse in form, ranging from elongate and cylindrical to slightly flattened, to oblong and convex • Strongly notched eyes

5 • Moniliform or clavate antennae with generally 11 antennomeres; bases of antennae tucked under ridge at the front of the head • Tarsal formula 5-5-4 • Abdomen with five ventrites, 1-3 fused Similar families: Carabidae, Erotylidae, , Melandryidae, Zopheridae Where/how to collect: Can be found under stones or bark during the day; at bases of trees and shrubs. Found on tree trunks, woody fungi, and other surfaces at night. Can also be found by sweeping vegetation, caught in light, Lindgren funnel, Malaise, and pitfall traps.

Not as Common/Overlooked 1. Anthicidae, Antlike Beetles • Antlike in appearance • Anetnnae with 11 antennomeres, usually filiform, serrate, or weakly clubbed • Pronotum narrower at base than elytra • Elytra covered in short hairs • Tarsal formula 5-5-4 • Abdomen with five ventrites Similar families: Staphylinidae, , Cleridae, Pyrochroidae, Aderidae, Orsodacnidae, Chrysomelidae Where/how to collect: Found on exposed ground in riparian habitats or along shores; can be found beating or sweeping vegetation, especially oaks, willows, and grasses. Can also be attracted to traps baited with cantharidin (from blister beetles) or attracted to lights

2. Bostrichidae, Branch-boring Beetles • Narrow to broadly cylindrical bodies • Pronotum strongly convex and hood-like, with head deflected downward • Antennae with 11 antennomeres and clubbed • Pronotum sometimes rough, toothed, or with projections • Tarsal formula 5-5-5, claws equal in size and toothed • Abdomen with five ventrites Similar families: Endecatomidae, Ptinidae, , Zopheridae, Curculionidae Where/how to collect: Commonly found at lights or beat from dead branches

3. , Flat Bark Beetles -oblong • Strongly flattened and somewhat rectangular • Head broad and triangular • Pronotum shorter than wide, somewhat square • Moniliform antennae with 11 antennomeres • Tarsal formula in males 5-5-4, female 5-5-5 • Abdomen with five ventrites • THREE North American species Similar families: Silvanidaea, , Laemophloeidae

6 Where/how to collect: Under loose bark of dead or decomposing and deciduous hardwoods

4. , Reticulated Beetles -oblong • Slender, strongly flattened • Covered in broad, scale-like setae • Head and pronotum narrower than elytra • Antennae thick and filiform with 11 antennomeres • Tarsal formula 5-5-5, claws simple • Abdomen with five overlapping ventrites • FOUR species in North America Similar families: Lycidae, Chrysomelidae Where/how to collect: Late spring/early summer in old decaying logs and stumps, beaten from dead branches, sometimes common at lights

5. , Skin Beetles • Usually oblong or oval • Elytra covered in black, brown, tan, and white setae or scales • Single simple eye between compound eyes • Antennae with 9-11 antennomeres • Pronotum broader than long, narrowed at head, underside with groove for antennae • Tarsal formula 5-5-5, claws simple and equal in size • Abdomen with five or seven ventrites Similar families: , Scirtidae, , Ptinidae, Zopheridae, Chrysomelidae Where/how to collect: Often hand- or sweep-collected on flowers, often found indoors of homes and other buildings with products, found on or under carcasses, sometimes taken at lights

6. , Riffle Beetles • Elongate or oval, long legs and large claws • Antennae filiform or clavate with 8-11 antennomeres • Prothorax broader than head, broadly pointed in front • Tarsal formula 5-5-5, with large and equal claws • Abdomen with five ventrites Similar families: , , Lutrochidae, Limnichidae, Psephenidae Where/how to collect: Found on vegetation and debris in the riffle areas of small gravelly and rocky streams; under rocks in the current; often in large numbers at lights near streams

7. Erotylidae, Pleasing and lizard beetles • Elongate-oval or broadly oval, or slender and straight-sided • Often reddish-brown or black, sometimes with contrasting coloration markings

7 • Antennae with 11 antennomeres, sometimes forming a club • Tarsal formula 5-5-5, appears 4-4-4; claws simple and equal in size • Abdomen with five distinct ventrites Similar families: Buprestidae, Eucnemidae, Elateridae, , Nitidulidae, Endomychidae, Coccinellidae, Zopheridae, Tenebrionidae, Chrysomelidae Where/how to collect: On or near woody or soft fungi on snags and logs; sometimes attracted to lights

8. , Variegated Mud-loving beetles • Long, robust, somewhat flattened, usually dark • Elytra have zig-zag markings • Antennae short, usually with 11 antennomeres, but could have 9 • Pronotum broader than head, but narrower or equal to elytra • Legs with rake-like rows of spines • Tarsal formula 4-4-4, claws large • Abdomen with five ventrites Similar families: None. Protuding mandibles, flattened body, zig-zag patches of setae, rake-like legs are distinctive Where/how to collect: In muddy banks of streams, pounds, and lakes; sandbars in streams/rivers; splashing water onto shore/sand will often drive beetles out of their burrows

9. Histerdae, Clown beetles • Generally small, oval, convex or flat • Shiny black sometimes with distinct red, reddish, blue or green markings • Antennae geniculate with 11 antennomeres • Coxae widely separated • Tarsal formula 5-5-5 or 5-5-4 • Abdomen with five ventrites Similar families: , Leiodidae, Staphylinidae, Scarabaeidae, Kateretidae, Nitidulidae Where/how to collect: Found under dead , dung, or rotting vegetation; on tree wounds, or under the bark of recently dead or dying hardwoods and . Baiting pitfall traps with carrion is highly efficient.

10. Hybosoridae, Scavenger & Pill Scarabs • Shiny light brown, black, greenish black, or purpleish • Antennae lamellate with 9-10 antennomeres • Tarsal formula 5-5-5, claws simple and equal • Abdomen with six ventrites Similar families: Geotrupidae, Scarabaeidae Where/how to collect: Nocturnal and attracted to lights in summer; often found in carrion or dung

8 11. Leiodidae, Round Fungus Beetles • Small, oval • Distinguished from other beetles by noticeable smaller eighth antennomere • Tarsal formula usually 5-5-5, but sometimes 5-5-4, 5-4-4, or 4-4-4 • Abdomen with six ventrites Similar families: None, combination of body shape and clavate antennae with reduced antommere 8 distinct Where/how to collect: Primarily in wooded habitats; can be lured to pitfall traps baited with carrion or dung; extract from leaf litter using Burlese funnel

12. Lycidae, Net-winged Beetles • Soft-bodied and flattened • Loose-fitting elytra are often black with red or orange markings • Antennae with 11 flattened antennomeres • Tarsal formula 5-5-5, claws simple and equal • Abdomen with seven (female) or eight (male) ventrites Similar families: Cupedidae, Phengodidae, Lampyridae, Cantharidae, Chrysomelidae Where/how to collect: Sweeping or beating vegetation in spring or summer

13. , Root-eating Beetles -oblong • Elongate, narrow bodies • Last abdominal segment exposed beyond tip of elytra • with 10 antennoemeres • Abdomen with five ventrites Similar families: Nitidulidae, , Zopheridae Where/how to collect: In rotting wood or under stones; may be attracted to molasses traps

14. , Tumbling Flower Beetles • Humpbacked and wedge-shaped body • Long, narrow, pointed abdomen extending well beyond elytra • Antennae with 11 antennomeres, can be serrate, clavate, or filiform • Tarsal formula 5-5-4, claws equal, but toothed • Abdomen with five ventrites Similar families: , Where/how to collect: Wary, but can be collected from flowers by hand or sweep net; Malaise and flight intercept traps can be used for species that do not visit flowers

15. Nitidulidae, Sap Beetles • Elongate and robust or broadly oval or slightly flattened • Antennae clubbed with 11 antennomeres, 9-11 usually forming club • Pronotum wider than long • Elytra usually short and without grooves

9 • Tarsal formula 5-5-5 • Abdomen with five ventrites Similar families: Hydrophilidae, , Leiodidae, Staphylinidae, Scirtidae, , Nosodendridae, Dernestidae, Trogossitidae, Erotylidae, Phalacridae, Kateretidae, Cybocephalidae, Corylophidae, , Chrysomelidae Where/how to collect: In flower or leaf litter, at sap flows on tree trunks, on decaying fruits and fungi; several species attracted to lights; pitfall traps baited with malt or molasses also effective for some species

16. Nosodendridae, Wounded-tree Beetles • Oval, compact, convex, black • Flattened front legs • Distinct clubbed antennae with three antennomeres under pronotum • Abdomen with five ventrites not fused • TWO species in North America Similar families: Leiodidae, Sciritidae, Byrrhidae, , Ptinidae, Erotylidae, Nitiduludae, Zopheridae Where/how to collect: In/around slime flux flows on the trunks of deciduous hardwoods; or in sap-soaked soil or lead litter

17. Ochodaeidae, Sand-loving Scarabs • Round, somewhat convex • Reddish-brown, covered in short erect hairs • Bulging eyes and distinct mandibles • Antennae lamellate with 10 antennomeres, 8-10 forming compact club • Tarsal formula 5-5-5, claws simple and equal • Abdomen with six ventrites Similar families: Lucanidae, Geotrupidae, Scarabaeidae Where/how to collect: Adults nocturnal and attracted to lights in summer; can be dug up from burrows on bare ground along forested trails and road tracks

18. Passandridae, Parasitic Flat Bark Beetles -oblong • Elongate and strongly flattened • Dark reddish-brown in color • Antennae moniliform with 11 antennomeres • Pronotum longer than wide, slightly narrower at base than elytra • Tarsal formula 5-5-5, claws simple and equal • Abdomen with five ventrites • THREE species in North America Similar families: Carabidae, , Cucujidae, Laemophloeidae, Zopheridae, Tenebrionidae Where/how to collect: Under bark and at lights; sometimes found in Malaise traps

10 19. Phengodidae, Beetles • Males often elongate and flattened • Pale orangeish or orangish brown • Conspicuous sickle-shaped mandibles • Antennae plumose with 12 antennomeres • Tarsal formula 5-5-5, claws equal and simple • Abdomen with seven ventrites Similar families: Lycidae, Lampyridae, Omethidae, Cantharidae, Pyrochoridae Where/how to collect: Males readily attracted to lights in summer in carious wooded habitats

20. Ptinidae, Death-watch & Spider Beetles • Short with head strongly pointed down • Antennae with 11 antennomeres; often clubbed and often lopsided, especially in males • Often clothed in fine scales or setae • Tarsal formula 5-5-5, claws equal and simple • Abdomen with five ventrites Similar families: Dermistidae, Endecatomidae, Bostrichidae, Ciidae, Curculionidae Where/how to collect: Death-watch beetles usually collected in small numbers at lights or by beating and sweeping vegetation or by rearing from infested wood; Spider beetles found in stored organic products and related debris

21. Rhipiceridae, Cicada Parasite Beetles • Long, convex, coarsely and deeply punctuated • Reddish-brown to black • Antennae with 11 antennomeres, distinctly fan-shaped in males, serrate in females • Pronotum narrowed behind head, becoming wider, but still narrower than base of elytra • Tarsal formula 5-5-5, each tarsomere distinctly heart-shaped and padded; claws equal and simple • Abdomen with five ventrites • FIVE species in North America Similar families: None. Fan-shaped antennae of males, elongate body form, and lobed and padded tarsi are distinct Where/how to collect: Collect from tree trunks; can also be seen flying in the spring and early summer into fall

22. Ripiphoridae, Ripiphorid Beetles • Elongate oval or wedge shaped • Black and orange, red, or yellow in coloration • Antennae with 11 antennomeres (10 in some females), flabellate, serrate, or pectinate • Elytra smooth, without grooves

11 • Tarsal formula 5-5-4 • Abdomen usually with five ventrites Similar families: Melandryidae, Mordellidae, also Where/how to collect: Rare to collect due to short flight periods; sweep netting of adults on flowers and low vegetation in daytime, particularly plants attractive to and

23. , Polypore Fungus Beetles • Obling to ovate, somewhat flattened • Eyes notched • Antennal bases slightly hidden from above • Tarsal formula 5-5-4 • Abdomen with five ventrites Similar families: Eucinetidae, Mycetophagidae, Melandryidae, Tenebrionidae Where/how to collect: At night on fungi or under bark of fungus covered stumps or logs; sometimes attracted to lights

24. Trogidae, Hide Beetles • Oval and convex, rough • Reddish-brown, brown-gray, or black • Often encrusted with dirt • Anetnnae lamellate with 10 antennomeres • Pronotum squarish or rectangular • Elytra strongly ridged or covered with rows of small raised bumps • Tarsal formula 5-5-5; claws equal and simple • Abdomen with five ventrites • Similar families: Lucanidae, Scarabaeidae, Endecatomidae, Tenebrionidae • Where/how to collect: Most commonly collected at lights, but also on or under aged carcasses or in animal nests

25. Trogossitidae, Bark-gnawing Beetles • Body style varies from elongate and somewhat convex to slightly flattened or cylindrical to oblong oval and flattened, to round and convex • Antennae clubbed with 11 antennomeres • Pronotum wider than head, squarish, or wider than long • Tarsal formula 5-5-5, claws simple and equal in size • Abdomen with five ventrites, not fused Similar families: Carabidae, Zopheridae Where/how to collect: Beneath bark of dead conifers and broadleaf trees during the day; on dead branches, logs, and stumps at night

Typically Misidentified 1. Anthribidae, Fungus Weevils • Broad flat rostrum, with grooves underneath • Antennae straight, not elbowed • Tarsal formula 5-5-5, but appears 4-4-4

12 • Abdomen with ventrites 1-4 fused Similar families: , Salpingidae, Nemonychidae, , Attelabidae, Brentidae, Curculionidae Where/how to collect: Beat dead/diseased branches, especially when fungus is evident; take flight quickly; some can be collected in Malaise traps

2. Brentidae, Straight-snouted & Pear-shaped Weevils • Difficult to characterize as a family with adults • Body long and slender, stout and pear-shaped, antlike, or large and robust • Antennae usually straight, occasionally elbowed or genticulate, attached to side at middle of rostrum • Tarsal formula 5-5-5 • Abdomen with first two ventrites fused and longer than ventrites 3 and 4 Similar families: Nemonychidae, Anthribidae, Belidae, Attelabidae, Curculionidae Where/how to collect: Under bark or on trunks of dead or dying trees at night; or by sweeping flowers and vegetation; many species attracted to lights

3. , Predaceous Diving beetles -Adephaga • Oval and streamlined • Usually reddish-brown to black or pale, with or without distinct markings • Moniliform antennae with 11 antennomeres • Tarsal formula 5-5-5, often appears 4-4-4; claws never toothed • Abdomen with six ventrites Similar families: Gyrinidae, , , Hydrophilidae Where/how to collect: Sometimes common at lights in spring and summer; on exposed and shaded vegetation in shallows of ponds, lakes, and other standing bodies of water

4. Geotrupidae, Earth-boring Scarabs • Oval or round, strongly convex • Yellowish or reddish-brown, brown, black, shiny black, with metallic blue, green or purple • Head often with distinct horn, tubercle, or ridge • Antennae with 11 antennomeres • Tarsal formula 5-5-5, legs adapted for digging; tarsal claws equal in size and simple • Abdomen with six ventrites Similar families: Easily distinguished from other Scarabaeoids by antennae Where/how to collect: Many are nocturnal and attracted to lights; can be attracted to pitfall traps baited with human or feces; also fermenting malt or molasses

5. Haliplidae, Crawling Water beetles -Adephaga • Yellowish or brownish-yellow with black spots • Body oval and broadly tapered at each end • Antennae with 11 antennomeres, 3-11 long and filiform

13 • Elytra cover abdomen completely, each with 10 or more rows of large, dark punctures • Tarsal formula 5-5-5 Similar families: Noteridae, Dysticidae Where/how to collect: Crawling and feeding on mats of stringy green algae and other submerged vegetation in ditches, streams, ponds, and other slow moving bodies of water; some fly at night

6. Hydrophilidae, Water scavenger beetles • Broadly oval, distinctly convex on top and flattened underneath • Black, black with brownish markings, or sometimes greenish or green markings • Antennae with 6-10 antennomeres, last three forming a club • Tarsal formula 5-5-5, 5-4-4, rarely 4-5-5 • Abdomen usually with five, rarely six ventrites Similar families: Noteridae, Dysticidae, Hydraenidae, Scarabaeidae, Elmidae, Phalacridae Where/how to collect: Sweeping through shallow, vegetated margins of slow moving water sources; disturbing submerged organic debris and algae; well-lit areas around bodies of water will attract adults, often in large numbers

7. Melyridae, Soft-winged Flower Beetles • Typically blue, black, or green with red, yellow, or orange markings • Head broad with bulging eyes • Antennae filiform with 11 antennomeres, but sometimes appears to be 10 • Tarsal formula 5-5-5; claws simple or toothed • Abdomen with five or six ventrites Similar families: Micromalthidae, Cantharnidae, Cleridae, Chrysomelide Where/how to collect: Most collected from flowers or other vegetation by hand or sweeping/beating

8. Noteridae, Burrowing Water Beetles -Adephaga • Small, smooth, shiny, streamlined • Broadly to elongate oval and convex • Reddish-brown to black • Antennae serrate with 11 antennomeres • Front tibiae usually with a strong hook or curved spine • Tarsal formula 5-5-5 • Abdomen with five ventrites Similar families: Haliplidae, Dysticidae, Hydrophilidae Where/how to collect: Vigorous sweeping through emergent or decaying vegetation; also on mats of vegetation along pond and lake edges; attracted to lights in spring and summer

9. Oedemeridae, False Blister Beetles • Elongate, slender, and soft-bodied

14 • Colors range from black, brown, or gray to yellowish-brown; sometimes yellow, orange, or red markings on pronotum or elytra • Filiform antennae with 11 antennomeres • Tarsal formula 5-5-4 Similar families: Cantharidae, Meloidae, Cerambycidae Where/how to collect: Sweeping vegetation, especially flower heads and leaves; driftwood along beaches and rivers; some attracted to lights

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