Key to families of the suborder Archostemata

(English)
Alexander Kirejtshuk
1 a. Body elongate and narrow with shortened elytra, leaving 5-6 tergites uncovered; prothorax without
lateral edges, distinct notopleural and sternopleural sutures; abdomen with 6-7 ventrites; elytra with
diffuse true punctation; maxillary lobes reduced . . . Micromalthidae Barber, 1913
1 b. Body more or less oval with complete elytra, completely covering abdominal tergites; prothorax with
distinct lateral edges, notopleural and sternopleural sutures; abdomen with 5 ventrites or also with a
small ventrite 6; elytra as a rule with seriate remnants of primary cell or rows of punctures (only
Crowsoniella Pace, 1976 with indistinct rows of punctures); maxillary lobes raised or reduced . . . 2
2 (1) a. Elytra with trace of primary membrane between thickened veins . . . 3
2 (1) b. Elytra with true punctation, i.e. without trace of primary membrane between heavily sclerotized
veins . . . 5
3 (2) a. Procoxal cavities contiguous; abdominal ventrites rather flattened; antennal insertions lateral;
tarsomere 4 simple; thoracic underside without grooves for reception of legs; maxillary lobes reduced
. . . Ommatidae Sharp et Muir, 1912
3 (2) b. Procoxal cavities separated; abdominal ventrites more or less convex . . . 4
4 (3) a. Prosternum with raised intercoxal process which is narrower than procoxae; antennal insertions
dorsal; tarsomere 4 lobed beneath; thoracic underside with distinct grooves for reception of legs;
maxillary lobes well raised . . . Cupedidae Laporte, 1836
4 (3) b. Prosternum without distinct intercoxal process and distance between procoxae not narrower than
procoxae; antennal insertions lateral; tarsomere 4 simple; thoracic underside without traced grooves
for reception of legs . . . Triadocupedidae Ponomarenko, 1966
5 (2) a. Prosternum with distinct process between coxae; metepisternum narrowed posteriorly; abdomen
with 5 visible ventrites; antennae with 7 segments; labrum fused with frons; elytra with indistinct rows
of punctures; maxillary lobes reduced . . . Crowsonielliidae Iablokoff-Khnzoryan, 1983
5 (2) b. Prosternum without process between contiguous coxae; metepisternum widened posteriorly;
abdomen with 6 visible ventrites; antennae with 11 segments; large and free labrum clearly exposed
from under frons; elytra with regular rows of dense punctures; maxillary lobes well raised . . .
Jurodidae Ponomarenko, 1985

Key to families of water beetles of Russia (imago)

A.G. Kireitshuk

(fragment of the Key to

freshwater invertebrates
of Russia and adjacent lands)

1(16). Abdomen with 6-7 ventrites (visible sternites) of which the first three are fused (but with noticeable
sutures) and ventrite 1 in the middle is completely cut by metacoxae and is visible only between
them and also on the sides (in aquatic forms it is not movable and fused with metathorax) or
abdomen with 4 ventrites, of which ventrite 1 is half of abdomen and metacoxae completely fused
medially do not reach even middle of ventrite 1 (Noteridae: Phreatodytinae); notopleural sutures
distinct; tarsi 5-5-5 (sometimes with very small tarsomere 4: Dytiscidae, subfam. Hydroporinae) . . .
suborder Adephaga
2(5). Terrestrial species with running and walking legs, frequently at water edge; body with long sensitive
setae; metacoxae normally do not reach epipleura on the sides, so that metathorax on the sides
contacts venrite 1; antennae bare or with pubescent antennomeres 3-5.
3(4). Metacoxae do not reach epipleura of elytra, so that metepimer on the sides contacts ventrite 1;
antennae, beginning with antennomeres 3-5 in dense recumbent hairs . . . Carabidae - ground
beetles (. 1: 1, 2)
Ground beetles are among the most abundant groups of open living
beetles, to a certain extent associated with humid habitats including strands
of water bodies. These include species of the genera Cicindela, Nebria,
Pelophila, Omophron, Blethisa, Elaphrus, Diplous, Dyschirius, Asaphidion,
Bembidion, Tachys, Perileptus, Lasiotrechus, Elaphius, Masuzoa,
Thalassophilus, Agonum, Loxoncus, Stenolophus, Dicheirotrichus,
Anthracus, Demetrias, Phylorhizus, Apristus, Brachinus, etc.
4(3). Metacoxae attain epipleura of elytra, so that metepimer does not contact ventrite 1 on the sides;
antennae bare, without recumbent pubescence, with only few setae . . . Trachypachidae
(Table ???)
Trachypachys zettestedti (Gyllenhal, 1827) is distributed in North-
Eastern Europe (including Fennoscandia), in Siberia up to Magadan,
Khabarovsk and Primorskiy Krays, Sakhalin, Korea, China. Inhabits near
water, feeding on springstails; larvae possibly amphibiotic.
5(2). Species of aquatic appearance, normally with swimming setae on legs, but the body without long
sensitive setae; metacoxae contact epipleura of elytra; antennae always completely bare,
smooth, without setae.
6(7). Metacoxae extended into large femoral plates, completely covering base of abdomen;
metathorax in front of the metacoxae with transverse suture, sometimes represented by row of
punctures; antennae filamentous and appear to be 10-segmented (although in reality they are
11-segmented); elytra with obvious rows of punctures; body small, streamlined not longer than 5
mm . . . Haliplidae - Crawling water beetles (Table ???39: 1, 2) (p. ???)
Forms actively swimming in water.
7(6). Metacoxae without femoral plates; transversal suture on the metathorax pronounced, elytra
without regular rows of dots.
8(9). 8(9). Legs of walking type, without swimming hairs; metathorax with transverse suture . . .
Amphizoidae (Table ???63: 1)
In many characters are similar with predaceous diving beetles, but
legs, prothorax and coxal cavities as in ground beetles. Beetles and
larvae mostly live in water although aggregate also in humid areas off
riversides of mountain streams. In Asia there are 3 species one of
which - Amphizoa sinica Yu et Stork, 1991 - is recorded from Kirin
(North-Eastern China).
9(8). Legs with swimming hairs on tibia and tarsi, normally strongly modified for swimming.
10(11). Metathorax with transverse paracoxal suture; legs convex; hind legs when swimming move
in turn; antennae 11-segmented . . . Hygrobiidae (Table 38: 1, 2)
Forms moving across the bottom. Larvae and adults are
predacious, live in lentic waters of Western and Central Europe
(including Odessa Region and Carpathians), rare - Hydrobia hermanni
(F., 1775) (syn. tarda Herbst, 1779) reddish brown tubby, convex
beetles (8.5-10 mm) scutum, large serrated spot on each elytrum and
underside are black. Head not retracted into pronotum with strongly
convex rounded eyes. In their habitus reminiscent of representatives
of fam. Dytiscidae. Elytra on underside with stridulation apparatus
used to make rattling sound. Larvae fusiform, slightly hump-shaped;
their last abdominal segment with long process and two urogomphi of
the same length; thoracic and 3 abdominal sternites bear gill
filaments; legs with swimming hairs and 2 claws; mandibles without
 hollow for sucking and without denticulate protrusion. Feed on
oligochaetes and small crustaceans.
11(10). Metathorax without transverse paracoxal suture; eyes do not project from the smooth
contour of the head; hind legs during swimming move simultaneously.
12(13). Eyes divided completely by edge of head; antennae very short and thick with very large
antennomere 2; forelegs raptorial, much longer than short and wide swimming legs, mid and
hind; abdomen with 7 ventrites (of which 1st and 2nd became fused without suture), ventrite
8 sometimes visible from under the 7th. . . . Gyrinidae - Whirligig beetles (Table 60)
(p. ???)
Forms actively swimming, frequently near water surface.
13(12). Eyes not divided or incompletely divided; antennae long, filamentous or seta-shaped,
sometimes fusiform or clavate, 11-segmented with normally developed antennomere 2; mid
and hind legs are longer than forelegs; abdomen with 6 ventrites; actively swimming in
water.
14(15). Dorsum strongly convex, underside flattened; metepisterna do not reach mesocoxae
considerably; mesepisterna are not distinct; body is not longer than 5 mm. . . . Noteridae -
Noterids (syn. Phreatodytidae) (Table 55) (p. ???)
Lentic, slightly swampy water bodies.
15(14). Dorsum is slightly more convex or not more convex than underside; metepisterna reach
or nearly reach mesocoxae; mesepisterna distinct; body sizes diverse . . . Dytiscidae -
Predaceous diving beetles (Table ???) (p. ???)
Actively swimming forms in freshwaters and brackish waters.
16(1). Abdomen with 5-7 ventrites, part of these may be fused (though with visible sutures),
but ventrite 1 is not divided by metacoxae and is never fused with metathorax, although
sometimes its middle is covered by lobes of long metacoxae; combination of other
characters is different.
17(22). Prothorax with notable notopleural sutures between propleura and hypomeres
protruding outside; body very small (0.5-1.5mm); tarsi 3-4-segmented . . . suborder
Myxophaga
18(19). Elytra shortened, leave exposed abdominal apex; antennae 9-segmented with large
last segment; body moderately concave; tarsi 3-segmented. Approximately 1.5 mm . . .
Hydroscaphidae (Table 1: 3)
Adults and larvae in mountain streams on filamentous algae
in Western Europe, Transcaucasia, in Taiwan and possible in the
south of the Russian Far East (Genus Hydroscapha Leconte,
1874).
19(18). Elytra not shortened, cover abdomen completely; antennae 11-segmented; body
strongly convex.
20(21). Antennae with 3-segmented club and narrow antennomeres of flagellum; procoxae
are brought together and distance between mesocoxae is more than three-times wider
than between procoxae; tibiae extended towards apices; tarsi 3-segmented. 0.50-0.75
mm. . . . Microsporidae ( (Table ???1: 4, 5) )
Microsporus obsidianus Kolenati, 1846 (syn. acaroides
Waltl, 1838) inhabits sand, mud, beneath stones, among plant
roots, in moss, in litter at edges of water bodies in the south of
Eastern Europe, and also in Central and South Europe and in
Turkey.
21(20). Antennae with segments extending toward the apex nearly evenly; procoxae as
widely separated from each other as mesocoxae; tibiae moderately narrow; tarsi 4-
segmented.1.4-1.7 mm . . . Torridincolidae (Table 38: 9-13)
Adult beetles and larvae on wet stones, washed by water
and covered by mucus - algophages - species of the genus
Satonius Endroedy-Younga, 1997 have been noted in the
north of Honshu in Japan, and also in provinces Anhwei and
Fujian (eastern China).
22(17). Prothorax without notopleural sutures, or with protruding propleura in the form of
an open slit; body varied; when small, notopleural sutures are absent; tarsi 4-5-
segmented. . . . suborder Polyphaga
23(54). All tarsi 5-5-5, less frequently 4-4-4, but in the latter cases segments constituting
them are simple; antennae diverse, but head never with rostrum.
24(35). Maxillary palpi longer than antennae or of approximately the same length;
antennae clavate, 6-9 segmented, with long main segment and 3-5 segmented finely
setose club; mid and hind legs swimming.
25(26). Abdomen with 6-7 ventrites; antennae 9-segmented, with 5 segmented setose
club; body usually small and elongated . . . Hydraenidae - Hydraenids (Table ???)
(p. ???)
Beetles slowly moving in water or along strands of water
bodies, feeding on algae.
26(25). Abdomen with 5 ventrites; antennae normally 9-segmented, less frequently 7-8-
segmented with 3 segmented elongated club, covered with fine setae (when
antennae are 7-segmented), although seem to be 6-segmented, the club is 4-
segmented and only scapus remains without pubescence; body is varied, more
frequently oval and not very small. Inhabit different (aquatic and humid terrestrial)
conditions, frequently swim in water.
27(28). Antennae seem to be 6-segmented (actually they are 7-segmented) with haired
5 last antennomeres (antennomere 1 only is not pubescent); body of moderate size
(5.7-7.0 mm); anterior edge of the head with wide cavity . . . Spercheidae
(Table ???)
Spercheus emarginatus (Schaller, 1783) body brown to
nearly black, its maximum width is at the middle of elytra;
anterior margin of the forehead with angular cavity in male
and with rounded cavity in female. Beetles are normally
covered with layer of ground. Occurs in Russia nearly
everywhere. Northern and Central Europe, Caucasus,
Kazakhstan, Middle Asia, North America. In strands and in
shallow lentic and slowly running water bodies with rich
vegetation normally near plant roots.
28(27). Antennae 7-9-segmented (never appear to be 6-segmented), only with 3 last
antennomeres haired; body sizes different; anterior edge of the head straight or
with weak narrow cavity.
29(30). Procoxae widely separated, fused with trochanter, submerged into strongly
reduced prothorax, their depressions are closed behind; scutellum very small,
hardly visible; body small (1.1-2.1 mm) and very compact (squat and convex),
black; pronotum and elytra with very coarse knobby sculpture; longitudinal rows
of punctures are pronounced on elytra . . . Georissidae (Table ???)
Adults and larvae in silt and mud on strands, in
Russia and adjacent territories five species that are
difficult to distinguish belonging to the genus Geroissus
Latreille, 1809.
30(29). Procoxae at most moderately separated, but not fused with trochantin and not
submerged into moderately developed prothorax; scutellum moderately
developed; body normally larger, but its sculpture is less coarse.
31(32). Procoxal cavities distinctly closed behind; body elongated and strongly
narrowed at the base of the pronotum and elytra; pronotum is nearly wider than
longer . . . Hydrochidae (Table ???)
32(33). Procoxal cavities not closed behind; body as a rule oval, or, when elongated
and narrowed at the base of pronotum and elytra, pronotum is distinctly
transverse.
33(34). Pronotum with distinct longitudinal grooves; body evenly outlined and
somewhat narrowed at pronotal and elytral base . . . Helophoridae (Table ???)
(p.???)
34(33). Pronotum without longitudinal grooves; body with smooth outlines and only
rarely slightly narrowed at the base of pronotum and elytra . . . Hydrophilidae -
Water scavenger beetles (Table ???) (p. ???)
35(24). Maxillary palpi much shorter than antennae or, if longer, antennae have
different structure and with different number of segments; mid and hind legs
non-swimming.
36(37). Body elongated with normally strongly moveable abdomen with 6-7 ventrites
and is capable of freely bending upwards and downwards; elytra in nearly all of
them relatively shortened, normally leaving 4-6 distal tergites of abdomen
uncovered; antennae are mostly filamentous or bead-shaped, less frequently
thickening or clavate . . . Staphylinidae - Rove beetles ( Table 1: 6, 7)
Among the most numerous groups of beetles with
diverse bionomy, including many forms, common along
strands, inhabiting mud at water edge, on vegetation
projecting from water or on half-immersed plant remains;
of the genera Lesta, Deleaster, Ancyrophorus,
Carpelinus, Planeustomus, Bledius, Stenus, Dianous,
Paederus, Scopaeus, Lathrobium, Achenium,
Platyprosopus, Philonthus, Gabrius, Erichsonius,
Neobisnius, Quedius, Acylophorus, Atanygnathus,
Deinopsis, Gymnusa, Mallaena, Pronomaea,
Hygronoma, Falagria, Tachyusa, Gnypeta, Brachyusa,
Tomoglossa, Atheta, Alianta, Calodera, Tetralaucopora,
Ocalea, Deubelia, Ocyusa, Hygropora, Devia,
Aleochara, etc.
37(36). Body more frequently oval and compact or when somewhat elongated
combination of other characters is different: abdomen consists at most of 5
immovable or slightly moveable ventrites (only in the majority of Psephenidae
there are 6-7 extremely wide ventrites); elytra are never shortened.
38(39). Tarsi 4-4-4; body of moderate sizes (3.0-7.5 mm), moderately elongated
somewhat convex, brown with pattern on dorsal sclerites; puncture pattern of
the upper part is delicate and dispersed; antennae with 3-5-segmented club
. . . Heteroceridae - Variegated mud-loving beetles (Table ???) (p. ???)
Inhabit in crevices, holes in mud, litter along
strands.
39(38). Tarsi 5-5-5 (sometimes tarsomere 4 lies in cavity of 3rd and tarsi appear to
be 4-4-4: Ptilodactylidae).
40(41). Body elongated and flattened from above, dark with light pronotum, and
sometimes also with scutellum; bases of antennae are brought together
closely; pronotum partly covers head with very large eyes and its posterior
angles are distinctly retracted backwards; elytra soft, with confused puncture
pattern; abdomen of both sexes with fluorescing organs on the last segments;
tarsi with moderately long last segment . . . Lampyridae - Fireflies ( Table 1:
8, 9)
Adult beetles near water bodies and larvae of at
least a few species of genus Luciola Castelneau,
1833 (L. cruciata Motschulsky, 1854; L. lateralis
Motschulsky, 1860; L. mongolica Motschulsky, 1800)
are predators preying also on gastropod molluscs at
shallow depth near water edge.
41(40). Body unicolourous and, when elongated, never flattened from above and
when head not visible from above it is bent downwards or retracted into
 prothoracic segment; bases of antennae not brought together or brought
together slightly; fluorescing organs never developed; combination of other
characters different.
42(43). Body streamlined, drop-shaped, equally convex dorsally and ventrally;
head strongly retracted into prothoracic segment, so that mouthparts and
10-segmented antennae are covered by protruding part of prothorax . . .
Limnichidae - Minute marsh-loving beetles (Table ???) (p. ???)
aquatic and strand forms.
43(42). Body elongated or, if oval, not drop-shaped and not evenly convex
dorsally and ventrally, more or less flattened (especially ventrally); head
not retracted or slightly retracted into prothoracic segment, so that
mouthparts and antennae are not completely covered or are not covered
by protruding part of prothorax.
44(47). Body strongly sclerotized, roughly sculptured with longitudinal keels and
rows of punctures; antennae short, ear-shaped or clavate with at least
inflated last segment; prothorax long with a small collar covering base of
head, and with wide intercoxal process.
45(46). Legs moderately long normally with long tarsi; trochantin of procoxae is
visible from outwards; antennae ear-shaped . . . Dryopidae (Table ???)
(p. ???)
Forms, crawling along substrate, sometimes on
plants or beneath stones.
46(45). Legs very long, with elongated tarsi, particularly long last segment;
trochantin of forecoxae concealed; antennae non-ear-shaped . . .
Elmidae (Table ???) (p. ???)
Terrestrial or aquatic forms, sometimes going
out of water.
47(44). Body weakly or moderately sclerotized, finely sculptured, with small
dots; elytra without longitudinal rows of punctures or keels, sometimes
with longitudinal rows of small punctures or with 5 thin longitudinal
grooves; antennae filamentous, crest-shaped or with indistinct club of
separated segments; prothorax very short, without collar and with
narrow intercoxal process.
48(49). Elytra strongly dilated backwards; if moderately dilated, have 5
longitudinal grooves on each elytron; head not bent or moderately bent
downwards; abdomen with 6-7 ventrites (in Eubria Germar, 1818 - with
5), transverse; femora always narrow; tibia with weak or not developed
spurs; all tarsomeres narrow and simple, normally elongated, but
tarsomere 1 longer than three subsequent taken together (in Eubria
tarsomere 1 not shorter than 4 subsequent ones taken together) . . .
Psephenidae
Eubria palustris Germar, 1818 (Table 1: 10) -
rare in Europe, adults inhabit near water and
swamp vegetation, and larvae on submerged
vegetation; adults of other species out of water,
larvae near stones of quickly running rivers;
Metaeopsephus coreanicus Deleve, 1967 (Table
1: 11-14) (Primorskiy Kray) and also more than
30 species in adjacent countries of the
Palearctic subregion with subtropical climate
(China, Korea and Japan)
49(48). Elytra not dilated or slightly dilated backwards with diffuse
puncturation, without longitudinal grooves or at most with longitudinal
rows of fine puncture; abdomen with 5 ventrites, elongated.
50(51). Protarsi very short nearly three times as short as tibia; metacoxae
are closed medially; sternonotal suture of prothorax not completely
fused and its process is relatively wide; mentum large and nearly
completely covers mouthparts . . . Decliniidae
Declinia relicta Nikitsky, Lawrence,
Kirejtshuk et Gratshev, 1989 (Table ????) - 3.5-
5.5 mm. Body rufous brown with relatively
darkened upper part (up to black); elytra with
confused dotted pattern; antennomeres 6-11
slightly flattened triangularly dilated. 2nd
species described from Honshu. Mode of life is
apparently similar to that of Scirtids.
51(50). Protarsi long or moderately short, but less three times are shorter
than tibia; hind coxae are narrowly though distinctly set apart;
sternonotal suture of prothorax completely fused, its process very
narrow; mentum small and does not cover mouthparts.
52(53). Antennae longer, reach beyond the middle of elytra; femora in
jumping forms very thick; tibia with relatively strongly developed
spurs, all tarsomeres simple and tarsomeres 1-4 with weak lobes;
head hypognathous and retracted into prothoracic segment . . .
Ptilodactylidae (Table ????)
Beetles of average and relatively large
sizes, Occur outside water bodies and larvae
are amphibiotic or inhabit strongly moisturised
decaying substrates including litter along
stream strands. Two species are indicated for
Kurile Islands: Drupeus vittipennis Lewis,
1895 and Pseudoepilicha niponnicus (Lewis,
1895). More than 20 species are noted from
Japan, Korea, and China.
53(52). Antennae short, do not reach the middle of elytra; femora in
jumping forms very thick; tibia with relatively strongly developed
spurs; tarsomere 1 relatively large, thicker than 2nd, 3rd and 5th,
longer than 3 subsequent ones taken together (on the hind legs
frequently longer than 4 subsequent ones taken together), only the
4th one is lobed; head is strongly bent downwards . . . Scirtidae -
Marsh beetles (syn. Helodidae) (Table ???) (p. ???)
Inhabit vegetation near water bodies.
54(23). All tarsi 4-4-4 (or false five-segmented), with 2-lobed tarsomere
3; antennae filamentous or when clavate at the same time are also
geniculate and head is with rostrum; forms inhabiting near water
bodies.
55(56). Head without rostrum; antennae not geniculate and without club,
filamentous or beadlike; body naked, elytra with epipleura and
normally with dotted grooves or rows of dots . . . Chrysomelida -
Leaf beetles, subfamily Donaciinae (Table ???) (p. ???)
56(55). Head with rostrum; antennae geniculate and clavate; body
normally covered by squamae, elytra withoung distinct epipleura
and frequently have diffuse puncturation.
57(58). Body small: 1.5-3 mm, relatively rounded; antennae geniculate,
with loose elongate 3-segmented club, nearly equal in length to 5-
segmented flagellum; trochanters long, widely separate femal base
and coxa; procoxae close to the anterior edge of prothorax;
scutellum not visible; elytra with punctured grooves; body without
 scales in relatively dense light pubescence, light brown to black
. . . Apionidae, subfam. Nanophyinae (Table ???)
On near water plants. In Russia
approximately 20 species, larvae and
pupae in fruit and galls mostly on
Lythraceae, one species (Nanophyes
japonicus Roelofs, 1879) in the south of
the Far East on Trapa spp.
58(57). Sizes: 1.5 to 15 mm; antennal club relatively compact,
indistinctly 4 segmented or non-segmented, flagelli 7-segmented,
less frequently 6-segmented (5-segmented in species of the
genus Gymnetron of the family Curculionidae); trochanters thin,
do not separate femur from coxa completely.
59(60). Body elongated, fusiform, with very dense integument; without
scales, 7-15 mm in length; rostrum slightly shorter than
pronotum; weakly curved, strongly and sharply dilated and
thickened in its major part, antennae attached on the underside
of dilated part of rostrum, their base not visible from above,
covered with dilation of rostrum; scape (elongated 1st segment)
of antennae long directed beneath eyes, their apex reaches far
behind posterior edge; antennal Club very compact, non-
segmented, major part of club shining, bare; short apical part dull,
blunt-coned or elongate . . . Dryophthoridae, subfam.
Sphenophoridae (Table ????)
Adult beetles feed on plants and
frequently occur on strands. Larvae and
pupae in rootstock of reed, cat's-tail and
rush. In the south of Russia 4 species of
the genus Sphenophorus Schoenherr,
1838.
60(59). Body of varied shape normally not large, up to 7 mm,
frequently with relatively dense, sometimes continuous scale
cover; rostrum without sharp nodular extension at the base;
antennae normally attached on dorsum of rostrum, their base is
relatively remote from eyes; lateral surface of rostrum with
distinct groove for insertion of scape, its apex not reaching
behind posterior margins of eye; club of antennae normally
distinctly segmented or, if its base shining and bare, is distinctly
different from pubescent apical part (in Eubrychius velutus
Beck, 1817) apex of scape does not reach eyes; body is very
short and strongly convex in continuous cover of light scales;
rostrum thick and short, pronotum with lateral tubercles and 2
denticles on the antrior edge . . . Curculionidae (Table ???)