Overview of dichotomous keys for the order Coleoptera
This section includes keys covering a significant portion of the order Coleoptera. Typically, these are keys covering multiple superfamilies or the entire order. The table contains information on keys found in online resources, publications, computer applications or published articles.
| Focus | Region | Source | Language | Description |
| Coleoptera | CEE | web: Coleonet.de | DE | Dichotomous keys have been compiled for a significant proportion of the Coleoptera of Central Europe. In the case of the family Carabidae, the key covers the whole of Europe, and in the case of the subfamily Trechinae, the whole world. |
| Coleoptera | UK | web: Mikes Insect Keys | EN | Dichotomous keys have been compiled for a significant portion of the Coleoptera of Great Britain, including an introductory key to the families. |
| Coleoptera | CA | web: Stored product beetles in Canada | EN | A dichotomous key to stored product pests of Canada. Many stored product pests are cosmopolitan in distribution, which is why this key is included here. On this page you will also find the key in PDF format, intended for printing. |
| Coleoptera | CEE | book: Klapálek, 1903 | CZ | The two-volume "Atlas of Central European Beetles" contains descriptions of a significant proportion of the beetles of Central Europe at the time of publication, in 1903. The atlas also includes simple dichotomous keys for individual tribes and genera. |
| Coleoptera | Europe | book: Calwer, 1883 / Calwer, 1893 | DE | C. G. Calwer’s “Käferbuch: Naturgeschichte der Käfer Europas” is a classic natural history publication that serves as a detailed guide and overview of European beetles. It also contains dichotomous keys for individual families, tribes and genera. The content naturally reflects the year of publication. |
| Coleoptera | CEE | book: Reitter 1908–1916 | DE | "Fauna Germanica" is a five-volume seminal work by the Austrian entomologist Edmund Reitter, published between 1908 and 1916. It is one of the most significant historical publications for the identification of beetles in Central Europe. It contains detailed descriptions of more than 3,500 species. |
| Coleoptera | CEE | book: Freude et al., 1964–2004 | DE | The book series "Die Käfer Mitteleuropas" (Beetles of Central Europe), also known by the authors’ names as Freude-Harde-Lohse, is regarded as a standard reference work, serving primarily as an identification key for all families and species of beetles found in Central Europe. It contains dichotomous identification keys supplemented by detailed pen-and-ink drawings. Brief information on distribution and habitat is provided for each species. |
| Coleoptera | CEE | book: Ganglbauer, 1892–1904 | DE | The book series "Ganglbauer: Die Käfer von Mitteleuropa (1892–1904)" is a classic, monumental work of German entomology, which deals with the systematics of beetles (Coleoptera), focusing on the morphology, taxonomy and distribution of species in Central Europe. |
| Coleoptera | CZ | book: Javorek, 1968 | CZ | "Pocket Atlas of Beetles with Identification Key (1968)" is a practical and concise version of the key, intended for the general public and students. It serves as a practical school aid for quick identification in the field. |
| Coleoptera | CZ | book: Javorek, 1947 | CZ | "Key to the Identification of Beetles of Czechoslovakia (1947)" is a monumental work spanning 951 pages, considered one of the most important Czech entomological handbooks of its time. The book serves as a comprehensive guide to the identification of beetles in the territory of what was then Czechoslovakia. It describes approximately 1,500 of the more common species of beetles. |
| Coleoptera | CZ | book: Balthasar et al., 1957 | CZ | The second volume of the publication "Key to the Fauna of Czechoslovakia", published in 1957 and edited by Josef Kratochvíl, focuses on selected groups of terrestrial invertebrates, specifically insects. The book serves as a specialist identification guide (key) for identifying animal species found in the territory of what was then Czechoslovakia. It also includes a treatment of selected groups within the order Coleoptera. |
| Coleoptera (larvae) |
World | book: Böving & Craighead, 1931 | EN | The book "An Illustrated Synopsis of the Principal Larval Forms of the Order Coleoptera", published in 1931 by Adam G. Böving and F. C. Craighead, is one of the most important works in the history of systematic entomology focusing on beetle larvae. The book contains an extensive 60-page identification key, which allows the identification of larvae down to the family and subfamily level. |
| Coleoptera (larvae) |
Europe | book: Klausnitzer et al., 1978 | DE | The book "Ordnung Coleoptera (Larven)" from 1978, whose main author is Bernhard Klausnitzer, serves as a key identification guide for beetle larvae within the European fauna. The book provides identification keys for beetle larvae at the genus and family levels. |
