New key to Aleocharinae published

Just posted a key to genus of subfamily Aleocharinae in the Staphylinidae (Coleoptera). This is a large subfamily of the rove beetles which is often neglected by entomologists and I hope that this key may spark some interest.  You will find it at https://sites.google.com/site/mikesinsectkeys/Home/keys-to-coleoptera/staphylinidae.

Off to Dinton Pastures tomorrow for a day identifying Tachinidae (Diptera).  Should be good as I love learning from entomologists who know so much more than me.

New key to genus Cryptophagus published

I've just completed my translation and adaptation of a key for the British species of genus Cryptophagus.  This genus has a reputation amongst beetle-specialists of being one of the most difficult in our fauna.  If you experience any success with it or find that it fails at certain points please let me know.  You'll find the key at https://sites.google.com/site/mikesinsectkeys/Home/keys-to-coleoptera/cryptophagidae.

Reorganisation of the web site

One of these days I'll shell out some cash and buy my own web space for my online keys. As for now I'll stick on Google sites which gives me about 100MB of storage per site.  I have now got to the limit again so I have carved up the keys into their orders as follows

Keys to coleoptera (beetles)

Still at the original site https://sites.google.com/site/mikesinsectkeys/.  I am working on some other family keys at the moment and on keys from order to family to access the rest of the site.

Keys to diptera (true flies) 

These are published at https://sites.google.com/site/mikesinsectkeys2.  The keys here will be increased over time.  This was the order in which my interest in entomology started.  I have keys at home for all British families but have published relatively few.


Keys to hymenoptera (bees and wasps) and other orders

Now published at https://sites.google.com/site/mikesinsectkeyshymenoptera/.  I have done some work on some families of superfamily Chalcidoidea and on sawflies.


I am sorry that this is not at all ideal but until I buy my own web space this is how it will need to be.

Many thanks to those of you that have given me feedback.  Many have said they are finding the keys useful but I'd really love to have specific points so that the keys can be improved. I have described the keys as working documents so whenever things are pointed out I update the key and republish it.

Key to the beetle family Ptinidae published

After a long gap in my postings I thought I would restart with the new year.  Over the last couple of months I've been working on a key for the beetle family Ptinidae.  This has involved translating keys from the German and researching some of the species recently introduced to the British list not included in the German keys. The last thing was translating some descriptions from the Latin and Spanish which are added as appendices to the main key.  If you find the key useful then please let me know so I can improve it.  The key is published at https://sites.google.com/site/mikesinsectkeys/Home/keys-to-coleoptera/key-to-the-british-species-of-family-ptinidae.

Latest keys published

Here is a list of the new keys that have been published on my website.  These have appeared in late November and during December.
  
New beetle keys enabling the identification of a further 125 species

  Attelabidae - 2 species of a type of weevil

  Lampyridae - 3 species (glow-worms)

  Latridiidae  - 56 species (minute brown scavenger beetles)

  Monotomidae 23 species (root-eating beetles) 

  Mordellidae 17 species (tumbling flower beetles)

  Noteridae       2 species (water beetles)

  Rhynchitidae  17 species of a type of weevil

  Tetratomidae 4 species (polypore fungus beetles)

New fly key

   Ulidiidae 20 species of picture-winged flies

As usual if you find that they work, please let me know.  If you find any problems, such as terms used that are not explained or things that are unclear, again please let me know.

Dysdera crocata

Being called to the downstairs toilet to remove a spider, I found a species I hadn't seen before. Keying it through to family Dysderidae was very straightforward using the AIDGAP key to the families of British Families by Jones-Walters (1989), combining the six eyes with the long basal segment of the fangs (chelicerae).  The size of the male at 10 mm. and the detail of the palps led easily to Dysdera crocata.  It was difficult to photograph as I had to do a stack and it wouldn't always keep its legs still.  In addition it had to be taken through glass as I had given my word that it would not escape.  The image below was the best I could do.    

It will be released in the strawberry bed as its prey is predominantly woodlice and they are a bit of a problem there.

Those of you who are keen on identifying ground beetles may be interested that I have added a few more genus keys at https://sites.google.com/site/mikesinsectkeys/Home/keys-to-coleoptera/carabidae.  I would like to get these finished some time soon. 

Bothrideridae and Cucujidae published

A very pleasant week in north France with the family gave a little time to work on a couple more small families of beetles.  These are the families Bothrideridae (5 species) and Cucujidae (2 species).  The files on the website should enable identification of these species.  They can be found at https://sites.google.com/site/mikesinsectkeys/Home/keys-to-coleoptera/bothrideridae and /cucujidae.  As usual if you find anything that needs improving, doesn't work or does work please let me know. 

Bought home a leaf of Elaeagnus macrophylla from Hardelot and was delighted at the beauty of the scales on the leaf which are a characteristic of the family.  They are like miniature flowers on the leaf.  These are the scales on the top surface.  Those on the underneath are so dense you can't make out the individual scales.

                       Elaeagnus macrophylla - scales on the upper surface of a leaf