Key for the identification of British Oedemeridae
There are ten species on the British list, some of which are conspicuous flower-feeders and so are often noticed. The updated key below should allow identification of all British species although confident diagnosis of some is only possible in males.
The Oedemeridae are one of the groups of beetles with thread-like antennae and a 2-lobed segment on the hind tarsus. Within this group they have this combination of features:
hind leg formed of four segments; front and middle legs with five
head lacking a distinct neck with the back of the head recessed into the thorax
pronotum longer than wide
elytra with three or four distinct longitudinal ridges
elytra usually either not fully covering the abdomen or not meeting along the middle, diverging from one another towards the tip
Free:
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Keywords:
Oedemeridae false blister beetles pollen-feeding beetles