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How to Identify a Black Beetle Native to Mississippi

Coleoptera, common name beetles, makes up the largest order in the entire animal kingdom. In Mississippi, you're likely to find hundreds of species of beetles, many of them black. Identifying the particular species of a beetle requires you to study it long enough to get specific characteristics so you can make an informed determination. If all else fails in trying to identify which species of black beetle you have found, consider contacting Mississippi State University's Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology for an expert's opinion.

Things You'll Need

Plastic cup
Thick paper
Ruler or common object for size
Field guide

Instructions

- 1
  Capture the beetle. You can either pick the beetle up with your hand or place a clear cup over it and then slide a thick piece of paper under the cup for stability.
- 2
  Study the beetle and take note of any distinguishing characteristics. These might include antennae shape and length, hairs on the body or legs, how the wings fold or look or any markings such as spots or lines. Examples of Mississippi black beetles with distinguishing characteristics include weevils with their long, down-curved snouts and long-horned beetles (tree borers) with their long, often curved antennae.
- 3
  Measure the beetle either with a ruler or by a common object such as a coin. Beetles are so diverse that size is a major factor in determining species or family. Beetles range from about 1/16 inch to more than 5 inches in length.
- 4
  Write down all the information about the beetle you have found, and include where you found the beetle (inside, on a certain flower, in the dirt or wherever it might have been).
- 5
  Photograph the beetle if you have a camera. A picture will help you to go back and study various characteristics.
- 6
  Consult a field guide on Mississippi or North American insects. Without looking through pictures or getting an expert's opinion, it can be nearly impossible to identify a beetle, because of their diversity. You can also do a detailed search on the Internet. An example of a search would be "site:.edu Mississippi black beetles on trees" or any other detail.

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