How to use the key

Flower Chafers
of New South Wales

About this key
How to use the Key
Is the specimen a
Flower Chafer?
Glossary
References
Acknowledgements

Start Key

How to use the key

Handling specimens

Flower chafers 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 the tips of the legs, both of which are important.

The equipment needed

For accurate identification the key requires a hand lens or low magnification microscope, although most species are identifiable from their colour patterns alone.

The knowledge required

This key is written for people with no prior knowledge of flower chafers. To help with understanding 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 satisfy the criteria of that state are moved to the left hand panel. When the list of taxa in the right hand panel is reduced to one, the keying process is complete.

Images attached to states and taxa are usually the same as those contained in the notes pages, though with a greater resolution. Consequently, they are a larger file size and may take longer to download.

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.