Using the key to Christmas Beetles of NSW

Christmas Beetles
of New South Wales

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Glossary

Using the key

Handling specimens

Christmas beetles are relatively hard and can be handled easily when alive, for identification with a hand lens. However, handling is likely to wear off pubescence or break off legs, both of which are important for identification.

Equipment needed

For accurate identification to species, the key requires a high magnification hand lens or low magnification microscope.

The knowledge required

This key is written for people with no prior knowledge of Christmas Beetles. To help with understanding the terminology an extensive glossary is supplied.

The glossary can be accessed via the general information icon at the top of the page or via any of the numerous notes pages.

It is strongly recommended that the first time user reads the accompanying notes pages. The notes are accessed by selecting the circular icon next to the state.

Using Lucid Player

The user interface of Lucid Player is a four panel window. The top two panels are devoted to characters and their states. The bottom two are devoted to taxa.

The top left panel displays the characters and a list of variations (the states). When a character and its associated state are selected they are listed in the upper right panel.

When a character state is selected, the taxa that do not satisfy the criteria of that state are moved to the lower left hand panel. When the list of taxa in the right hand panel is reduced to one, the keying process is complete.

Learn how to use the key by simply opening it and trying various characters. The key cannot be broken or modified, so clicking on the icons will help you understand how the key operates.

Guessing

It is best not to guess. If you are still unsure after reading the notes then it is best to leave that character and investigate one of the other characters.