1. Compound eyes divided into separate dorsal and ventral segments; second antennal segment elongate and scoop-shaped. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gyrinidae
Compound eyes undivided; antennae variable but without scoop-shaped second antennal segment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2. Head produced anteriorly as a rostrum; tarsal formula 4-4-4. . . . . . . . . . . . Curculionidae
Head not produced as a rostrum; tarsal formula variable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3. Elytra covering entire abdomen or exposing only part of last abdominal tergite.. . . . . . . . . .6
Elytra truncate, exposing at least 2 entire abdominal tergites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
4. Antennae with 11 (rarely 10) segments, terminal segment no longer than combinied length of 2 preceding segments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Staphylinidae
Antennae with 8 segments, terminal segment as long as combined length of 4 preceding segments; minute beetles, less han 1.5 mm long; hind coxal plates widely separated. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .Hydroscapidae (not known for Ohio)
5. Hind coxae expanded as broad flattened plates covering all or part of abdominal sternites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Haliplidae
Hind coxae sometimes extending posteriorly along midline but never as broad plates. . . . . 6
6. Hind coxae with medial portion extending posteriorly to divide 1st abdominal sternite into later sclerites; prothorax with distinct notopleral sutures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Hind coxae not extending posteriorly to divide 1st abdomainal sternite; notopleural sutures almost always absent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
7. Hind tarsi and usually tibiae flattened, streamlined and bearing loong stiff swimming bristles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Hind tibiae and tarsi cylindrical or subclindrical in cross section, without long, stiff swimming bristles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
8. Fore and middle tarsi with 5 segments, segment 4 similar in size to segment 3; scutellum concealed or exposed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Fore and middle sarsi with 4 segments or with segment 4 very small, concealed between lobes of segment 3; scutellum concealed except in Celina. . . . . . . . . . .. Dyticidae (in part)
9. Hind tarsi with 2 similar claws; scutellum concealed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Noteridae
Hind tarsi with single claw; if 2 claws,scutellum exposed. . . . . . . . . . . . Dyticidae (in part)
10. Abdomen with 5-6 visible sternites; antennal club with 3 segments. . . . . . . Hydrophilidae
Abdomen with 6-7 visible sternites; antennal club with 5 segments. . . . . . . . . Hydraenidae
11. Tarsal formula 5-5-5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Tarsal formula 5-5-4 or less. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chrysomelidae
12. Abdomen with 5-7 visible sternites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Abdomen with at east 8 visible sternites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lampyridae
13. Prosternum expanded anteriorly as prominent lobe beneath head, head usually contracted into thorax concealing antennnae and eyes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Prosternum not markedly expanded anteiorly beneath head, antennae clearly visible. . . . . 17
14. Antennae usually thick, with enlarged basal segment, about as long as head. . . . . . . . . . 15
Antennae filiform or serrate, much longer than head. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
15. Antennae with 10 or fewer segments; hind coxae contiguous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lutrochidae, Lutrochus laticeps
Antennae with 11 segments (hard to see); hind coxae separated. . . . . . Dryopidae (in part)
16. Anterior coxae transverse with trochantin visible; antennae (if visible) very short, thick, with enlarged basal segment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dryopidae (in part)
Anterior coxae round, trochantin concealed, antennae slender, filiform. . . .Elmidae (in part)
17. Tarsi with 4th segment deeply bilobed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . Scirtidae, Cyphon sp.
Tarsi usually filiform, 4th segment not bilobed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
18. Antennae never concealed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Antennae filiform or clavate, partly concealed within prosternum. . . . . . . .Elmidae(in part)
19. Abdomen with 6 or 7 sternites; maxillarly palp with 2nd segment longer than next 2 combined. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Psephenidae (in part)
Abdomen with 5 sternites; maxillary palp with 2nd segment much shorter than next 2 combined. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
20. Head with antennae inserted close together between eyes constricting clypeus from frons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Psephenidae (in part)
Head with antennae inserted below eyes, cont constricting clypeus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ptilodactylidae, Anchytarsus bicolor
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Key to Coleoptera Adult Families