Insects for ID please

[poschiavanus]

Originally Posted by JRsbugs

I think you got it with Dascillus cervinus posch, this one has some antennal segments missing as menitoned at the bottom.

http://thewcg.org.uk/Dascillidae/0305G.htm

I need an FSC key.

Janet

An excellent link. Demonstrates how much one can see if one goes through systematically.

I think the FSC Beetle key is one of their best. It's pretty straightforward and relies on only a few characteristics: which means I can usually remember to look at them in the field. It's also inexpensive at around GBP 5.

Keys are generally a pain: a good way of inducing frustration if used to try and identify a creature. They are much better if regarded as a very concise distillation of lots of experience. In reality people who regularly use keys probably do 90% of their identification by jizz, and use the keys as memory joggers or to sort out features to split between a few species. This usually means that they are not very user-friendly. You also have to get used to a key before they become useful (practising on other people's photos on WAB is what I do ).

BUT, it's hard to think of a viable alternative for identifying things one does not know at all.

I'll now be looking out for this beetle!

[JRsbugs]

I agree about keys, they can be useful as a last resort but those I have seen can be a pain. It takes a little more experience to recognise what the keys are about but can be a good aid to jog the brain into awareness.

I tend to go on nouse first, then check out some critical details if necessary. If I ever get really into beetles I might get the key! I'm finding more beetles than ever now with the macro facility so who knows!

They are out there, just need to be found.