Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Look at the beetle's body shape. You can define the top-down silhouette of one of these insects in a number of ways: slender and elongated, circular, oval-shaped, tapered forward or backward and descriptions of that nature. Some species of ladybeetle and minute bog beetles, for example, are quite round, almost describing a circle. By contrast, a leaf-mining leaf beetle shows an almost flat rear edge and roughly parallel sides to its posterior wing portion, with a comparatively small, tapered head.
Scrutinize the beetle's antennae. These, too, come in a broad range of shapes. Some are extremely and uniformly thin, while others are deeply serrated. Many kinds, such as the silken fungus beetle, have a bulbous, club-shaped end to their antennae. Through a magnifying glass, you may be able to count the number of segments or define the shape of the club end -- useful for in-depth identification.
Consider the insect's coloration and its pattern, which can be quite intricate and impressive, depending on the species. The sweet potato weevil is strikingly colored in glossy black and yellow. Ladybird beetles are famous for their red wings spotted prominently with black.
Examine the insect's head. Try to note whether the jaws protrude forward, roughly in line with the rest of the beetle's body, or whether they are oriented downward. For example, the various kinds of darkling beetles often have mandibles jutting ahead, while those of many of the fungus beetles point toward the ground.
Measure the insect, if that's feasible. Size can vary significantly within a given species due to age, physical condition and regional influence, but the characteristic may help differentiate when cross-referenced with other features.