*SHOW Families of British Beetles - 6 October 2012. 
 
*CHARACTER LIST 
 
#1. <family nomenclature:>/
 
#2. <colloquial family names:>/
 
#3. adults <head-to-tail body length>/
       mm long/
 
#4. adult body length/maximum body width/
 
#5. elytral length/pronotal length <ratio>/
 
#6. base of prothorax <whether much narrower than elytral bases>/
       1. not or scarcely narrower than the combined elytral bases/
       2. distinctly narrower than the combined elytral bases/
 
#7. greatest prothoracic width <whether much narrower than greatest elytral
          width>/
       1. not narrower or only slightly narrower than the greatest elytral
          width/
       2. distinctly narrower than greatest elytral width/
 
#8. <elongate> body <whether widest immediately behind the thorax, or
          distally>/
       1. noticeably widest immediately behind the thorax/
       2. noticeably widest at the rear/
       3. not noticeably widest either behind the thorax, or at the rear/
 
#9. beetles <body shape, viewed from above>/
       1. <more or less> round/
       2. oval/
       3. elongate-oval/
       4. elongate/
       5. slender/
 
#10. beetles <whether terrapin-shaped, with clear and flattened margins>/
       1. terrapin-like in shape, with flattened and clear margins to
          thorax and elytra <\i{}Peltidae\i0{}>/
       2. not terrapin-like in shape, and without flattened and clear
          margins to both thorax and elytra <<implicit>>/
 
#11. beetles <overall body shape: flattened, convex or cylindric>/
       1. dorsally flattened/
       2. dorsally somewhat convex/
       3. dorsally strongly convex/
       4. <more or less> cylindric/
 
#12. beetles <asymmetric humping>/
       1. asymmetrically humped, and tapered to the rear
          <\i{}Rhipiphoridae\i0{}>/
       2. not asymmetrically humped and tapered <<implicit>>/
 
#13. beetles <presence of ventral cavities>/
       1. having ventral body cavities into which the legs fold to conform
          with the general body surface/
       2. without ventral body cavities for reception of the legs/
 
#14. beetles <whether necked>/
       1. conspicuously necked <distinctly narrowed between head and
          thorax>/
       2. not necked/
 
#15. beetles <whether waisted>/
       1. not waisted <parallel-sided, or rounded>/
       2. somewhat waisted/
       3. conspicuously waisted/
 
#16. beetles <long- or short-legged>/
       1. conspicuously long-legged/
       2. neither particularly long- nor short-legged/
       3. decidedly short-legged/
 
#17. beetles <colour>/
 
#18. beetles <brightly coloured or marked>/
       1. exhibiting bright warning colours/
       2. without warning colouration <<implicit>>/
 
#19. beetles <luminescence>/
       1. luminescent from distal abdominal sternites/
       2. not luminescent/
 
#20. upper surfaces of body <vestiture>/
       1. glabrous or subglabrous/
       2. non-glabrous <clothed with distinct hairs, setae or scales>/
 
#21. upper surfaces of body <vestiture, whether including stiff, erect
          bristles>/
       1. exhibiting stiff, erect, dark bristles/
       2. not bristly <without stiff, erect, dark bristles>/
 
#22. upper surfaces of body <vestiture, whether including scales or
          scale-like setae>/
       1. exhibiting scales or scale-like setae/
       2. with neither scales nor scale-like setae/
 
#23. the underside of the beetle <presence of hydrofuge hairs>/
       1. exhibiting a plastron of hydrofuge hairs, detectable as a bubble
          when the insect is submerged/
       2. without a plastron of hydrofuge hairs <implicit>/
 
#24. beetles <whether conglobulating>/
       1. rolling into a ball <conglobulating> when alarmed/
       2. not conglobulating <<implicit>>/
 
#25. beetles <whether clicking>/
       1. clicking and jumping to right themselves when inverted/
       2. not clicking and jumping <<implicit>>/
 
#26. beetles <presence of rostrum: see Notes>/
       1. equipped with a rostrum/
       2. without a rostrum <<implicit>>/
 
#27. beetles <whether prognathous>/
       1. prognathous/
       2. not prognathous/
 
#28. the head <of the beetle, whether visible from above>/
       1. covered by the thorax <i.e., when the beetle is viewed from
          above>/
       2. not covered by the thorax <<implicit>>/
 
#29. inclination of the head <from occipital foramen to mouth cavity,
          inclination from the longitudinal axis of the body in the living
          beetle>/
       1. slight <at an angle of less than 45 degrees from the longitudinal
          axis of the beetles body>/
       2. strong <at 45 to 90 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the
          beetles body>/
       3. very strong <more than 90 degrees from the longitudinal axis of
          the beetles body>/
 
#30. compound eyes <presence>/
       1. present <<implicit>>/
       2. absent/
 
#31. compound eyes <apparent number>/
       1. two, entire <<implicit>>/
       2. ostensibly four <the oft-encounterd partial division into an
          upper and lower eye being complete>/
 
#32. compound eyes <whether strongly protuberant>/
       1. strongly protuberant/
       2. not strongly protuberant/
 
#33. compound eyes <whether notched to accommodate antenna>/
       1. accommodating the antennae in an anterior notch/
       2. <occasionally notched, but> not accommodating the antennae in a
          notch <<implicit>>/
 
#34. compound eyes <pubescent or not>/
       1. bristly <with interfacetal setae>/
       2. without <interfacetal> bristles/
 
#35. compound eyes <finely or coarsely facetted>/
       1. finely facetted/
       2. coarsely facetted/
 
#36. ocelli <presence>/
       1. present/
       2. absent/
 
#37. ocelli <when present, number>/
       1. solitary/
       2. paired/
 
#38. the frons <whether transversely ridged>/
       1. with a transverse ridge between the eyes/
       2. without a transverse ridge between the eyes/
 
#39. the labrum <upper lip, visibility>/
       1. at least partly visible in antero-dorsal <or dorsal> view/
       2. concealed beneath the clypeus <apparently absent>/
 
#40. labrum <texture>/
       1. mostly moderately to heavily sclerotized <exlusive of base and
          apex>/
       2. mostly membranous or only very lightly sclerotized/
 
#41. mandibles <presence>/
       1. present <implicit>/
       2. absent or vestigial/
 
#42. mandibles <presence of mola>/
       1. with a well developed mola/
       2. with a reduced mola/
       3. without a mola/
 
#43. mandibles <prosthecae, presence and degree of development>/
       1. with well developed prosthecae/
       2. with reduced prosthecae/
       3. without prosthecae/
 
#44. the mandibular apices <teeth or lobes>/
       1. simple <without teeth or lobes, truncate or rounded>/
       2. bidentate or bilobed/
       3. multidentate or multilobed/
 
#45. the incisor edges of the mandibles <teeth>/
       1. simple/
       2. with a single tooth/
       3. with two or more teeth/
 
#46. the maxillae <apical structures, additional to the palp>/
       1. with distinct galea and lacinia apically to the palp/
       2. with a single apical structure additional to the palp/
       3. comprising the palp, without conspicuous apical lobes/
 
#47. the maxillae <whether with stylet-like lobes>/
       1. with stylet-like lobes/
       2. without stylet-like lobes <implicit>/
 
#48. the maxillary palps <whether normal>/
       1. normal, flexible/
       2. if visible, short and rigid/
 
#49. the maxillary palps <elongation>/
       1. conspicuously elongated, often longer than the antennae/
       2. not especially elongated <<implicit>>/
 
#50. the apical segment of the maxillary palps <shape>/
       1. cylindrical to fusiform/
       2. somewhat expanded and truncate to subtriangular/
       3. securiform to cultriform <axe- to knife-shaped>/
       4. aciculate/
 
#51. the apical segment of the labial palps <shape>/
       1. more or less expanded apically/
       2. not expanded apically <cylindrical to fusiform>/
 
#52. antennae <length relative to length of insect>/
       1. very short <less than a fifth of the insects head to tail
          length; antenna/insect length = 0.1-0.2>/
       2. short <less than half of the insects head to tail length;
          antenna/insect length = 0.2-0.4>/
       3. about half the insect's head to tail length <antenna/insect
          length = 0.4-0.6>/
       4. long, but not exceeding the insects head to tail length <more
          than half the insect's length; antenna/insect length = 0.6-1.0>/
       5. longer than the insect's head to tail length <antenna/insect
          length = 1.0+>/
 
#53. antennae <whether strongly asymmetric>/
       1. strongly asymmetric/
       2. not strongly asymmetric <<implicit>>/
 
#54. antennae <whether elbowed>/
       1. conspicuously elbowed <bent>/
       2. not elbowed <<implicit>>/
 
#55. antennae <number of segments>/
       segmented/
 
#56. antennae <whether hairy>/
       1. hairy/
       2. not hairy/
 
#57. antennae <of beetles, presence of an elongate scape>/
       1. with the first segment (scape) much-elongated <a single,
          elongated basal segment>/
       2. without a much-elongated scape (though it is often longer than
          the adjoining, second segment) <implicit>/
 
#58. antennal scape <whether swollen>/
       1. swollen/
       2. not swollen <<implicit>>/
 
#59. antennae <shape>/
       1. filiform <including moniliform>/
       2. gradually expanding towards the apex <clavate>/
       3. clubbed/
       4. serrate/
       5. pectinate <or bipectinate>/
       6. plumose or biplumose/
 
#60. antennal clubs <whether lamellate (laminate)>/
       1. lamellate <laminate>/
       2. not lamellate <<implicit>>/
 
#61. antennal clubs <number of segments>/
       segmented/
 
#62. antennal clubs <detailed construction>/
       1. spherical, comprising two small basal segments and a large
          terminal one <\i{}Cerylonidae\i0{}>/
       2. not comprising two small basal segments and a large terminal one
          <<implicit>>/
 
#63. antennal clubs <whether preceded by acupular segment>/
       1. preceded by a cupule/
       2. without a cupule <<implicit>>/
 
#64. antennal segment 8 <within the club, whether smaller than 7 and 9>/
       1. <markedly> smaller than segments 7 and 9 <\i{}Leiodidae\i0{}>/
       2. not <markedly> smaller than 7 and 9 <<implicit>>/
 
#65. antennal insertions <whether visible from above>/
       1. visible from above/
       2. hidden from above/
 
#66. antennal insertions <whether covered by extensions from the frons>/
       1. hidden by lateral extensions of the frons
          <\i{}Tenebrionidae\i0{}>/
       2. not hidden by lateral extensions of the frons/
 
#67. antennal insertions <whether located in fossae>/
       1. countersunk within saucer-like fossae/
       2. not in fossae <flush or raised>/
 
#68. cervical sclerites <presence>/
       1. present/
       2. absent/
 
#69. prothorax <length relative to width>/
       1. shorter than wide/
       2. about as long as wide/
       3. longer than wide/
 
#70. pronotal length/maximum pronotal width <ratio>/
 
#71. the pronotum <presence of lateral keels (pronotal carinae) separating
          the disc from the hypomeron on each side>/
       1. with lateral keels (pronotal carinae)/
       2. without lateral keels/
 
#72. the pronotal keels <complete or incomplete>/
       1. complete/
       2. incomplete/
 
#73. posterior edge of the pronotum <whether crenulate>/
       1. distinctly crenulate/
       2. not crenulate <implicit>/
 
#74. prothorax <whether hooded, with large bumps>/
       1. hooded and concealing the head, its front covered with large
          bumps <\i{}Bostrychidae\i0{}>/
       2. not hooded with anterior bumps <<implicit>>/
 
#75. prothorax <of elongate beetle> at its widest <width relative that of
          the to abdomen>/
       1. markedly narrower than the adjoining part of the abdomen/
       2. not markedly narrower than the adjoining part of the abdomen/
 
#76. prothorax <whether with produced front corners>/
       1. having the front corners produced, or with serrated sides
          <\i{}Silvanidae\i0{}>/
       2. with neither produced front corners nor serrated sides/
 
#77. prothorax <presence of notopleural sutures>/
       1. with notopleural sutures/
       2. without notopleural sutures/
 
#78. hind corners of the thorax <whether pointed>/
       1. extended rearwards into sharp points/
       2. not extended rearwards into sharp points/
 
#79. scutellum <presence, development>/
       1. conspicuous <well developed>/
       2. highly reduced/
       3. absent <or obscured>/
 
#80. scutellum <elevation>/
       1. elevated abruptly and fairly sharply above the mesoscutum in
          lateral view/
       2. not elevated/
 
#81. scutellum anteriorly <shape>/
       1. simple/
       2. <one-> notched/
       3. crenulate/
 
#82. scutellum posteriorly <shape>/
       1. narrowly rounded or acute/
       2. broadly rounded or obtusely angulate/
       3. truncate/
       4. emarginate/
 
#83. prosternal process <presence or absence>/
       1. present/
       2. absent/
 
#84. the prosternal process <when complete, whether interrupted>/
       1. interrupted/
       2. entire <not interrupted <implicit>>/
 
#85. the prosternal process <presence>/
       1. complete <implicit>/
       2. incomplete <not traversing the fossae>/
 
#86. prosternal process <extent of posterior extension between the
          countersunk coxae>/
       1. falling short of the mesoventrite/
       2. slightly overlapping the mesoventrite/
       3. moderately or strongly overlapping the mesoventrite/
       4. concealing most or all of the mesoventrite/
 
#87. metaventrite <mesosternum, whether exhibiting a transverse groove>/
       1. with a transverse groove/
       2. without a transverse groove/
 
#88. mid- and hind-legs <whether much modified>/
       1. oar-like and much shorter than the fore-legs, which are elongated
          and modified for grasping prey <\i{}Gyrinidae\i0{}>/
       2. not as in \i{}Gyrinidae\i0{} (q.v.) <<implicit>>/
 
#89. the fore-leg coxae <procoxae, attachment>/
       1. countersunk in procoxal cavities <implicit>/
       2. attached externally, in the absence of procoxal cavities/
 
#90. the fore-leg coxal cavities <closed or open behind>/
       1. open behind externally/
       2. closed behind externally/
 
#91. the fore-leg coxal cavities <extent of closure>/
       1. broadly open/
       2. narrowly open/
       3. narrowly closed/
       4. broadly closed/
 
#92. the fore-leg coxal cavities <separation>/
       1. medianly confluent <contiguous>/
       2. narrowly separated/
       3. quite widely separated/
 
#93. the fore-leg coxal cavities <shape>/
       1. strongly transverse/
       2. slightly transverse/
       3. circular to longer than wide/
 
#94. the fore-leg coxal cavities <presence of lateral extensions>/
       1. with narrow lateral extensions/
       2. without lateral extensions/
 
#95. the fore-leg coxal cavities <whether closed or open internally>/
       1. internally open/
       2. internally closed by a slender bar/
       3. broadly closed internally/
 
#96. the mid-leg coxae <mesocoxae, attachment>/
       1. countersunk in mesocoxal cavities/
       2. attached externally, in the absence of mesocoxal cavities/
 
#97. the mesocoxae separated by <amount>/
       1. less than the shortest diameter of the cavity/
       2. more than the shortest diameter of the cavity/
 
#98. the mid-leg coxal <mesocoxal> cavities <separation>/
       1. contiguous/
       2. narrowly separated/
       3. moderately to widely separated <by at least 0.4 times the
          shortest diameter of the cavity>/
 
#99. the mid-leg coxal <mesocoxal> cavities <obliquity>/
       1. not or scarcely oblique/
       2. markedly oblique/
 
#100. the mid-leg <mesocoxal> cavities <whether open laterally>/
       1. open laterally/
       2. closed laterally/
 
#101. hind-leg coxae <extent of separation>/
       1. contiguous or narrowly separated/
       2. widely separated <by at least half the greatest coxal diameter>/
 
#102. the hind-leg coxae <metacoxae, enlargement>/
       1. much enlarged/
       2. not much enlarged/
 
#103. hind-leg coxae <metacoxae, lateral extension>/
       1. extending laterally to meet the elytra <or sides of the body>/
       2. not markedly extended laterally <not meeting the elytra>/
 
#104. hind-leg coxae <metacoxae of beetles, whether moveable. Applicable,
          with caution, only to living specimens>/
       1. moveable <<implicit>>/
       2. immoveably fixed to the metasternum and dividing the first
          abdominal sternite/
 
#105. hind-leg coxae <whether posteriorly shaped to receive the femur>/
       1. posteriorly shaped <e.g., declinate or concave> to receive the
          retracted femur/
       2. not shaped posteriorly to receive the femur <<riskily implicit>>/
 
#106. hind-leg coxae <whether expanded and plate-like>/
       1. produced behind into flat plates which conceal the hind femora
          when retracted/
       2. not concealing the hind femora <<implicit>>/
 
#107. hind-leg coxae <whether their inner parts are fused into a flat
          longitudinal keel>/
       1. constituting longitudinal plates that are fused to one another
          and joined with the metasternum, endowing the beetle ventrally
          with a flat, median longitudinal keel/
       2. not incorporated with the metasternum in a flat, median
          longitudinal keel <<implicit>>/
 
#108. hind-leg coxae <whether steeply, transversely declined>/
       1. with a steep transverse declivity against which the femur
          retracts/
       2. without the steep transverse declivity characteristic of
          Dryopoidea/
 
#109. apparent tarsal segmentation (fore-, mid-, hind-leg: ignoring any
          small cylindrical segments obscured by lobes on those preceding
          them)/
       1. 0, 5, 5/
       2. 5, 5, 5/
       3. 5, 5, 4/
       4. 4, 4, 4/
       5. 4, 4, 3/
       6. 3, 4, 4/
       7. 3, 3, 3/
       8. 5, 4, 4/
       9. 4, 4, 5/
       10. 5, 3, 3/
       11. 4, 3, 3/
       12. 0-2, 3, 3/
 
#110. the tarsi <presence of bilobed segments>/
       1. exhibiting <one or more> bilobed segments/
       2. without bilobed segments/
 
#111. the tarsi <presence and location of hidden segments>/
       1. with a tiny penultimate segment hidden by distal lobing of the
          fourth and fused to the fifth/
       2. with a tiny basal segment that is hard to detect/
       3. without hidden segments/
 
#112. the front tarsi <reduction>/
       1. present and well developed <<implicit>>/
       2. reduced or absent/
 
#113. front tarsi <number of segments, relative to mid-tarsi>/
       1. with <at least> as many segments as the mid-tarsi/
       2. with one segment fewer than the mid-tarsi/
 
#114. front tarsi <number of segments, including any hidden segments>/
       1. 3-segmented/
       2. 4-segmented/
       3. 5-segmented/
 
#115. mid-leg tarsi <total number of segments, including any hidden
          segments>/
       1. 3-segmented/
       2. 4-segmented/
       3. 5-segmented/
 
#116. mid-leg tarsi <readily visible versus hidden segments>/
       1. with 5 segments, all conspicuous/
       2. with 4 obvious segments, plus a reduced penultimate one/
       3. with 4 segments, all easily seen/
       4. with 3 obvious segments plus a reduced penultimate one/
       5. with 3 segments, all easily seen/
       6. with fewer than three segments/
 
#117. the penultimate segment <of the mid-leg tarsi, relative lengths of
          penultimate and antepenultimate segments>/
       1. distinctly shorter than the antepenultimate one/
       2. not <distinctly> shorter than the antepenultimate one/
 
#118. the claws of the mid-leg tarsi <whether appendaged>/
       1. with an appendage <on each>/
       2. not appendaged/
 
#119. the appendages of the claws of the mid-leg tarsi <type>/
       1. not or only lightly sclerotized <usually pubescent>/
       2. heavily sclerotized, blade-like/
       3. heavily sclerotized, spine-like or bristle-like/
 
#120. the claws of the mid-leg tarsi <whether simple or ornamented>/
       1. simple/
       2. one-toothed or bifid/
       3. serrate, denticulate or pectinate/
 
#121. the claws of the mid-leg tarsi <whether associated with an empodium>/
       1. with an empodium between them <with or without bristles>/
       2. without an associated empodium/
 
#122. hind tarsi <presence of swimming hairs>/
       1. equipped with swimming hairs <sometimes requiring careful
          observation>/
       2. without swimming hairs <implicit>/
 
#123. hind tarsi <number of segments, relative to mid-tarsi>/
       1. with <at least> as many segments as the mid-tarsi/
       2. with one segment fewer than the mid-tarsi/
 
#124. hind tarsi <number of segments, including any hidden segments>/
       1. 3-segmented/
       2. 4-segmented/
       3. 5-segmented/
 
#125. hind tarsi <of beetles, whether modified for swimming>/
       1. flattened and oar-like for swimming/
       2. not flattened and oar-like <<implicit>>/
 
#126. <adult> elytra <presence>/
       1. present <<implicit>>/
       2. absent/
 
#127. elytral length/maximum width across the elytra <i.e., with the elytra
          closed>/
 
#128. elytra <whether unusually elongate and tapered>/
       1. individually distinctly tapered to their apices <markedly
          posteriorly separated when closed>/
       2. not individually tapered <<implicit>>/
 
#129. elytra <when closed, whether meeting on the mid-line>/
       1. meeting along the length of the mid-line <<implicit>>/
       2. not meeting along the full length of the mid-line/
 
#130. elytra <when closed, length relative to abdomen>/
       1. covering most to all of the abdomen <<implicit>>/
       2. short, exposing several <(2-)3-6> terminal abdominal tergites/
       3. greatly reduced <vestigial>/
 
#131. elytra <when closed> exposing <number of abdominal tergites>/
       1. no more than part of the terminal tergite <pygidium>/
       2. at least one but fewer than three complete abdominal tergites/
       3. at least three complete abdominal tergites/
 
#132. the pygidium <exposure>/
       1. at least partly exposed beyond the long elytra/
       2. entirely concealed by the ends of the elytra even when viewed
          from behind/
 
#133. <short> elytra <whether truncate>/
       1. truncate/
       2. not truncate/
 
#134. elytra <hard or soft>/
       1. hard/
       2. soft/
 
#135. elytra <glossy or dull>/
       1. glossy/
       2. dull/
 
#136. elytra <iridescent or not>/
       1. iridescent/
       2. not iridescent <<implicit>>/
 
#137. elytra <whether smooth>/
       1. rough/
       2. tuberculate/
       3. spiny/
       4. ribbed/
       5. smooth/
 
#138. elytra <vestiture - glabrous or not>/
       1. non-glabrous <i.e., with hairs, bristles or scales>/
       2. glabrous/
 
#139. elytra <presence of striae>/
       1. striate/
       2. without striae/
 
#140. elytra <longitudinal rows of impressed punctures or striae>/
       1. <each> with six or more longitudinal lines of punctures/
       2. <each> with six or more impressed striae/
       3. apunctate, irregularly punctate, or each with fewer than 6
          longitudinal lines of punctures or impressed striae/
 
#141. the lines of punctures or striae per elytron when more than 5/
       1. 6-7/
       2. 8/
       3. 9/
       4. 10/
       5. 11/
       6. 12 or more/
 
#142. scutellary striole <of elytra, presence>/
       1. present/
       2. absent/
 
#143. elytra <presence of epipleura>/
       1. with epipleura/
       2. without epipleura/
 
#144. elytral epipleura <extent>/
       1. reaching to the tips of the elytra/
       2. falling short of the elytral tips/
 
#145. <hind, metathoracic> wings <presence>/
       1. well developed <presumed propellant>/
       2. absent or much reduced/
 
#146. <hind, metathoracic> wings <spiral rolling>/
       1. with the apical part spirally rolled/
       2. not apically rolled <<implicit>>/
 
#147. <hind, metathoracic> wings <absence of venation>/
       1. veined <<implicit>>/
       2. without veins/
 
#148. <hind, metathoracic> wings <fringing>/
       1. fringed with long hairs on the hind margin/
       2. not fringed <<implicit>>/
 
#149. <hind, metathoracic> hindwings <anal lobe>/
       1. with an anal lobe/
       2. without an anal lobe/
 
#150. <hind, metathoracic> hindwings <presence of a medial fleck>/
       1. with a medial fleck/
       2. without a medial fleck/
 
#151. the medial fleck of the hindwings <when present, bisection>/
       1. bisected by a vein/
       2. not bisected by a vein/
 
#152. abdominal tergites <number>/
 
#153. the end of the abdomen <extension-pointed>/
       1. extended as a long, narrow point beyond the ends of the truncate
          elytra/
       2. not extended as a long, narrow point beyond the ends of the
          elytra/
 
#154. <exposed> abdominal sternites <= ventrites: number>/
 
#155. <exposed> abdominal sternites <articulation>/
       1. all articulated and moveable/
       2. comprising both fused and moveable components/
       3. all fused and immoveable/
 
#156. <exposed> basal abdominal sternites <= connate ventrites> immovably
          joined <number>/
 
#157. abdominal segment 8 <with or without functional spiracles>/
       1. with apparently functional spiracles/
       2. apparently without functional spiracles/
 
#158. the male external genitalia <aedeagus \i{}sensu lato\i0{}, form>/
       1. trilobate/
       2. bilobate/
       3. histeroid/
       4. buprestoid/
       5. adephagan/
       6. staphylinoid/
       7. bostrichoid/
       8. cucujiform/
       9. tenebrionoid/
       10. chrysomeloid/
       11. curculionoid/
       12. not classified/
 
#159. <whether adults aquatic: water-beetles or land dwellers>/
       1. Water beetles/
       2. Land dwellers <<implicit>>/
 
#160. beetles <water beetles, adult locomotion>/
       1. free-swimming and diving strongly, with the main thrust delivered
          by the specially adapted hind legs, moving clumsily on land/
       2. surface swimmers with the main thrust delivered by the
          specialised middle legs, moving clumsily on land (Whirligigs)/
       3. walking in water or free-swimming by conventional ambulatory
          motion of the legs, not diving strongly/
 
#161. aquatic beetles <mode of locomotion in the water>/
       1. rowing by parallel-simultaneous leg movements/
       2. moving in the water by <conventional> alternate, walking leg
          movements <not rowing>/
 
#162. beetles <aquatic, acquisition and transport of air>/
       1. respiring under water via air which is collected posteriorly and
          stored directly under the elytra/
       2. replenishing air for respiration beneath the elytra indirectly
          from that acquired and held in a ventral plastron <(q.v.), which
          may be visible as a bubble on the underside when submerged>/
 
#163. beetles <aquatic, posture for replenishing air supply>/
       1. regularly posing tail first at the water surface to replenish
          air/
       2. regularly posing head first at the water surface to replenish
          air/
       3. not noticeably posing regularly at the water surface to replenish
          air/
 
#164. beetles <aquatic, how air is collected>/
       1. collecting air at the water surface by exserting the tip of the
          abdomen through the surface film/
       2. collecting air at the water surface by exserting one antenna to
          achieve a continuum of air with the ventral plastron/
       3. replenishing air in the ventral plastron by exserting both
          antennae at the water surface/
       4. incorporating bubbles of oxygen directly into the <ventral>
          plastron/
 
#165. adults <whether predacious>/
       1. predacious <specify prey>/
       2. not predacious/
 
#166. <non-aquatic> adults <habitat>/
       1. on living vegetation/
       2. in decaying plant material/
       3. in rotting wood/
       4. in dried plant material/
       5. under bark/
       6. on lichens/
       7. associated with fungi/
       8. associated with dung/
       9. associated with carrion/
       10. on shed fur or feathers <in nests or burrows>/
       11. associated with flowers/
       12. under stones/
       13. in stored plant products/
 
#167. <non-predacious> adults <diet>/
       1. necrophagous/
       2. feeding on dried animal remains/
       3. phytophagous <live plant material: specify kinds>/
       4. consuming decaying plant material <other than wood>/
       5. eating dried plant material or stored plant products/
       6. boring into living wood/
       7. consuming rotting wood/
       8. boring into dead wood/
       9. mycetophagous <specify>/
       10. coprophagous/
       11. parasitic <specify>/
 
#168. mature larvae <general size>/
       1. minute (less than 3 mm long)/
       2. small to medium-sized <more than 3 and less than 15 mm long>/
       3. relatively large <at least 15 mm long>/
 
#169. the larvae <general form>/
       1. campodeiform/
       2. eruciform/
       3. scarabaeiform/
       4. apodous/
 
#170. the larvae <outline shape, viewed from above>/
       1. strongly flattened and disc-like/
       2. neither strongly flattened nor disc-like <implicit>/
 
#171. the larvae <shape, viewed from above>/
       1. elongate and more or less parallel-sided/
       2. oblong to ovate <not parallel-sided>/
 
#172. the larvae <whether C-shaped in lateral view>/
       1. C-shaped in lateral view <strongly curved ventrally>/
       2. not C-shaped <more or less straight ventrally: implicit>/
 
#173. body <of the larva, shape in cross-section>/
       1. circular in cross-section/
       2. somewhat flattened/
       3. strongly flattened/
 
#174. vestiture of the larva <nature>/
       1. restricted to fine hairs or setae/
       2. not restricted to fine hairs or setae <e.g., including bristles,
          scales, expanded or complex hairs>/
 
#175. the larvae <dorsal pigmentation>/
       1. dorsally heavily pigmented or sclerotized/
       2. dorsally only very lightly pigmented or sclerotized/
 
#176. the larvae <ventral pigmentation>/
       1. ventrally more or less heavily pigmented/
       2. ventrally only very lightly pigmented/
 
#177. the antennae of the larva <number of segments>/
       segmented/
 
#178. the antennae of the larva <length relative to the width of the head>/
       1. less than 0.15 x the <maximum> width of the head/
       2. 0.15-0.5 x the head width/
       3. more than 0.5 x the width of the head/
 
#179. stemmata <ocelli, presence>/
       1. present/
       2. absent/
 
#180. stemmata <on either side of the larval head, number>/
       on either side of the head/
 
#181. the <mature> larval fronto-clypeus <of the head, extension>/
       1. much extended forwardly/
       2. not extended forwardly <<dubiously implicit>>/
 
#182. frontoclypeal suture of the larva between frons and clypeus
          <presence>/
       1. indistinct or absent/
       2. distinct/
 
#183. the labrum and head capsule of the larva <distinction>/
       1. separated by a complete suture/
       2. partly fused, with an incomplete suture/
       3. completely fused, with no suture apparent/
 
#184. apices of the mandibles of the larva <toothing or lobing>/
       1. with a single lobe or tooth/
       2. bilobed or bidentate/
       3. trilobed or tridentate/
       4. multilobed or multidentate/
 
#185. the maxillary palps of the larva <number of segments>/
       segmented/
 
#186. the labium of the larva <presence of a ligula>/
       1. without ligula between the palps/
       2. with a short ligula between the palps/
       3. with a ligula at least as long as the palps/
 
#187. labial palps of the larva <development, segmentation>/
       1. present and segmented/
       2. absent or non-segmented <reduced to the basal palpiger>/
 
#188. labial palps of the larva <number of segments>/
       segmented/
 
#189. mesothoracic legs of the larva <development>/
       1. present and segmented/
       2. much reduced or absent <non-segmented>/
 
#190. the mesothoracic legs of the larva <number of segments>/
       segmented/
 
#191. the tarsi of the larva <number of claws>/
       1. 1-clawed/
       2. 2-clawed/
 
#192. the mesothoracic legs of the larva <number of movable claws>/
       1. with 1 movable claw/
       2. with 2 movable claws/
 
#193. visible abdominal segments of the larva <number>/
 
#194. tergum 9 of the abdomen of the larva <ventral extension>/
       1. entirely dorsal/
       2. extending to the underside/
       3. completely ventral <LW to pursue this>/
 
#195. the abdomen of the larva <presence of functional spiracles on
          anterior segments>/
       1. having functional spiracles on anterior segments/
       2. with functional spiracles confined to the <posterior pair on> the
          eighth segment/
 
#196. the abdomen of the larva <whether spiracles borne on lateral
          spiracular tubes>/
       1. with the spiracles on the eighth segment borne at the ends of
          spiracular tubes/
       2. with anterior and 8th-segmental spiracles borne at the ends of a
          series of spiracular tubes/
       3. without spiracular tubes/
 
#197. the larvae <presence of abdominal gills>/
       1. with abdominal gills/
       2. without abdominal gills <implicit>/
 
#198. the larvae <presence and form of gills>/
       1. with dorsal, balloon-like tracheal gills on abdominal segments
          1-8/
       2. with long and narrow lateral gills on abdominal segments 1-7/
       3. with long and narrow lateral gills on abdominal segments 1-9/
       4. with ventral abdominal gill tufts on abdominal segments 1-3/
       5. with ventral abdominal gill tufts on abdominal segments 1-4/
       6. with anal <abdominal> gill tufts/
 
#199. the abdominal apex of the larva <presence of a respiratory chamber>/
       1. with a respiratory chamber, formed from the 8th and 9th terga and
          enclosing a pair of enlarged spiracles/
       2. without a respiratory chamber/
 
#200. abdominal tergum 8 of the larva <armature, spiracles>/
       1. bearing a single median process with a pair of spiracles at its
          apex/
       2. bearing a single <simple> median process without apical
          spiracles/
       3. bearing a pair of processes, each with an apical spiracle/
       4. without amature <lacking processes>/
 
#201. the posterior segments of the larva <presence of swimming hairs>/
       1. with swimming hairs/
       2. without swimming hairs/
 
#202. the last abdominal segment of the larva <presence of cerci
          (urogomphi)>/
       1. with cerci <urogomphi>/
       2. without cerci/
 
#203. the last abdominal segment of the larva <presence of a median spine>/
       1. with a long, median spine <\i{}Hygrobia\i0{}>/
       2. without a long median spine <<implicit>>/
 
#204. larvae <whether aquatic>/
       1. aquatic/
       2. non-aquatic <<implicit>>/
 
#205. larvae <whether predacious>/
       1. predacious/
       2. not predacious/
 
#206. larvae <non-aquatic habitat>/
       1. on living vegetation/
       2. in decaying plant material/
       3. in rotting wood/
       4. in dried plant material/
       5. in or under bark/
       6. on lichens/
       7. in fungi/
       8. in dung/
       9. in carrion/
       10. in shed fur or feathers <in nests or burrows>/
       11. associated with flowers/
       12. under stones/
       13. in stored plant products/
       14. in the soil/
 
#207. larvae <non-predaceous, diet>/
       1. necrophagous/
       2. feeding on dried animal remains/
       3. phytophagous <live plant material: specify kinds>/
       4. consuming decaying plant material <other than wood>/
       5. eating dried plant material or stored plant products/
       6. boring into living wood/
       7. consuming rotting wood/
       8. boring into dead wood/
       9. mycetophagous <specify>/
       10. coprophagous/
       11. parasitic <specify>/
 
#208. <descriptive comments on larvae>/
 
#209. Suborder <cf. Unwin, 1984>/
       1. Adephaga/
       2. Myxophaga/
       3. Polyphaga/
 
#210. Infraorder <of Polyphaga>/
       1. Bostrichiformia/
       2. Cucujiformia/
       3. Elateriformia/
       4. Scarabaeiformia/
       5. Staphyliniformia/
 
#211. Superfamily <cf. Unwin, 1984>/
       1. Bostrichoidea/
       2. Buprestoidea/
       3. Byrrhoidea/
       4. Cantharoidea/
       5. Caraboidea/
       6. Chrysomeloidea/
       7. Cleroidea/
       8. Cucujoidea/
       9. Curculionoidea/
       10. Dascilloidea/
       11. Dermestoidea/
       12. Dryopoidea/
       13. Elateroidea/
       14. Eucinetoidea/
       15. Lymexyloidea/
       16. Sphaeroidea/
       17. Histeroidea/
       18. Hydrophiloidea/
       19. Scarabaeoidea/
       20. Staphilinoidea/
       21. Tenebrionoidea/
 
#212. <species worldwide, number>/
       species worldwide/
 
#213. <genera worldwide, number>/
       genera/
 
#214. <number of species in Britain:>/
       species/
 
#215. genera <number in Britain>/
 
#216. <genera in Britain:>/
 
#217. e.g., <scientific and common names of British representatives>/
 
#218. <general descriptive comments on adults:>/
 
#219. abbreviated taxon name:/
 
#220. <illustrations:>/
