1.




 Antennal club 3-8 segmented, symmetrical, usually lamellate (figs. 1-7). Head not covered by prothorax. Forecoxae large, strongly transverse or conical and projecting below prosternum. Foretibiae flattened with one or more teeth on outer edge. Tarsi with 5 distinct segments, none of which is lobed or densely pubescent

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7

Figures 1-7. Right antenna dorsal view of: (1) Diphyllostoma sp. (Diphyllostomatidae), (2) Platycerus sp. (Lucanidae), (3) Odontotaenius disjunctus (Passalidae), (4) Hybosorus illigeri (Hybosoridae), (5) Pleocoma sp. (Pleocomidae), (6) Bradycinetulus sp. (Geotrupidae), (7) Euphoria sp. (Scarabaeidae).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2 (1). Antennae with 11 segments (figs. 5,6)
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figures 5-6. Right antenna dorsal view of: (5) Pleocoma sp. (Pleocomidae), (6) Bradycinetulus sp. (Geotrupidae).
2'. Antennae with fewer than 11 segments (figs. 1-4, 7)



Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 7
Figures 1-4, 7. Right antenna dorsal view of: (1) Diphyllostoma sp. (Diphyllostomatidae), (2) Platycerus sp. (Lucanidae), (3) Odontotaenius disjunctus (Passalidae), (4) Hybosorus illigeri (Hybosoridae), (7) Euphoria sp. (Scarabaeidae).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3(2).  Antennal club with 4-7 elongate segments (fig. 5) Pleocomidae


Figure 5. Right antenna dorsal view of: Pleocoma sp. (Pleocomidae).

3'. Antennal club with 3 circular or oval segments (fig. 6) Geotrupidae


Figure 6. Right antenna dorsal view of: Bradycinetulus sp. (Geotrupidae).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4(2).
.

 Body capable of being rolled into a contracted sphere (fig. 8). Middle and posterior tibiae flattened and dilated Hybosoridae-
Ceratocanthinae


Figure 8. Ceratocanthus sp. lateral view (Ceratocanthidae).
4'.
.

 Body oblong, not capable of being rolled into a sphere. Middle and posterior tibiae not significantly flattened and dilated
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5 (4).

 Mesotibia at apex with longer spur pectinate along one edge (fig. 9) Ochodaeidae

Figure 9. Spur at apex of mesotibia of Ochodaeus sp. (Ocodaeidae) (pectinate).
5'. Mesotibia at apex with spurs simple, not pectinate (fig. 10)
6

Fig. 10. Spur at apex of mesotibia of Pleocoma sp. (Pleocomidae) (simple).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6 (5).
.

 Segments of antennal club not capable of being tightly closed together (figs. 1-3)

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figures 1-3. Right antenna dorsal view of: (1) Diphyllostoma sp. (Diphyllostomatidae), (2) Platycerus sp. (Lucanidae), (3) Odontotaenius disjunctus (Passalidae).
6' Segments of antennal club capable of being closed together (figs. 4-7)
9
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figures 4-7. Right antenna dorsal view of: (4) Hybosorus illigeri (Hybosoridae), (5) Pleocoma sp. (Pleocomidae), (6) Bradycinetulus sp. (Geotrupidae), (7) Euphoria sp. (Scarabaeidae).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7 (6).
.

 Mentum deeply emarginate (fig. 11). Head often with central, anterior horn (fig. 12)
Figure 11
Figure 12
Figure. 11. Ventral view of mentum (M) of Odontotaenius disjunctus (Passalidae) (apex deeply emarginate). Figure 12. Head of Odontotaenius disjunctus (Illiger).
 7'.

Mentum simple, not deeply emarginate (fig. 13). Head without central horn

Figure 13. Ventral view of mentum (M) of Lucanus sp. (Lucanidae) (apex simple, truncate).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8 (7).
.



 First antennal segment much longer than segments 2 and 3 together (figs. 2, 14). Antenna geniculate (fig. 2) (exception: straight or weakly geniculate in Ceruchus, fig. 14)
Figure 2
Figure 14
Figures 2, 14. Right antenna dorsal view of (2) Platycerus sp. (Lucanidae) and (14) Ceruchus piceus.
8'.
.

 First antennal segment subequal to segments 2 and 3 together (fig. 1). Antenna not geniculate (fig. 2)
Diphyllostomatidae
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figures 1, 2. Right antenna dorsal view of: (1) Diphyllostoma sp. (Diphyllostomatidae), (2) Platycerus sp. (Lucanidae).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9 (6).
.

 Antennal club with 3 segments, first segment hollowed out to receive second segment (fig. 4)

Figure 4. Right antenna dorsal view of  Hybosorus illigeri (Hybosoridae).
9'.
.

 Antennal club with 3-7 segments, first segment simple, not hollowed out to receive second segment (e.g., fig. 7)

Figure 7. Right antenna dorsal view of  Euphoria sp. (Scarabaeidae).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10 (9).
.

 Abdomen with 5 ventral sclerites (fig. 15). Dorsal surface roughened or tuberculate, not shining

Figure 15. Abdomen and posterior leg of  Omorgus sp. (Trogidae).
10'.
.

 Abdomen with 6 ventral sclerites (fig. 16). Dorsal surface variably sculptured, shining or not

Figure 16. Abdomen and posterior leg of  Copris sp. (Scarabaeidae).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
11 (10).
Antenna 9-segmented
 
11'.
Antenna 10-segmented

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
12 (11).
.
.
.

 Eyes not divided by canthus (fig. 17). Clypeus with sides narrowing to apex. Color brown, gray, or black. Metafemora and metatibia not enlarged, not covering abdomen

Figure 17. Dorsal view of head of Omorgus (eyes not divided by canthus).
12'.
.
.
.

 Eyes divided by prominent canthus (fig. 18). Clypeus with sides subparallel to divergent before apex. Color testaceous to light reddish brown. Metafemora and metatibia enlarged, covering most of abdomen

Figure 18. Dorsal view of head of Glaresis (eyes divided by prominent canthus).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
13 (10).
.
.

 Elytra shortened and widely divergent at apex, not covering pygidium (fig. 19) (except in L. lupina). Eighth abdominal segment with spiracle

Figure 19. Lichnanthe rathvoni LeConte (Glaphyridae).
13'.
.

 Elytra not shortened and widely divergent at apex, pygidium exposed or not. Eighth abdominal segment lacking spiracle
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
14 (13).
.

 Pygidium completely (or nearly so) covered by apex of elytra.
Length 1.5-13.0 mm
 
14'. Pygidium completely exposed. Length longer than 5.0 mm

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15 (14).
.

 Antennal insertion visible from above (clypeus with sides constricted medially just before eyes) (fig. 20)

Figure 20. Head and antenna (dorsal view) of Euphoria sp. showing clypeal sides constricted and with antennal insertion visible.
15'.
.
.

 Antennal insertion not visible from above (clypeus with sides not constricted)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
16 (15).
.


 Abdominal sternites distinctly narrowed at midline (fig. 16); length of all sternites shorter than length of metasternum. Scutellum usually hidden

Figure 16. Abdomen and posterior leg of Copris sp. (Scarabaeinae).
16'.
.
.

 Abdominal sternites normal, not narrowed at midline; length of all sternites longer than length of metasternum. Scutellum usually visible
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
17 (16).
.
.

 Claws of both middle and posterior tarsi unequal in length and independently movable (fig. 25) (exception: all legs in Leptohoplia with only claw or with one claw greatly reduced)
     
17'.
.
.

 Claws of both middle and posterior tarsi equal in length and not independently movable (figs. 26-28) (exception: posterior tarsi in Hoplia with only one claw)
Figure 25
Figure 26
Figure 27
Figure 28

Figures 25-28. (25) Claws of posterior tarsi of Anomala sp. (Rutelinae) (claws simple and unequal in length). Claws of posterior tarsi of: (26) Xyloryctes jamaicensis (Dynastinae) (claws simple and equal in length), (27) Polyphylla sp. (Melolonthinae), (28) Dichelonyx sp. (Melolonthinae) (claws cleft or toothed and equal in length).
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
18 (17).
.
.
.

 Claws of middle and posterior tarsi simple (fig. 26). Base of pronotum and elytra subequal in width. Apex of posterior tibia always with 2 spurs. Mandibles often exposed in dorsal view
     
18'.
.
.
.
.

 Claws of middle and posterior tarsi cleft, toothed (figs. 27-28), or simple (if simple, base of pronotum much narrower than base of elytra). Apex of posterior tibia with 1-2 spurs or spurs absent. Mandibles hidden in dorsal view
Figure 26
Figure 27
Figure 28
Figures 26-28. Claws of posterior tarsi of: (26) Xyloryctes jamaicensis (Dynastinae) (claws simple and equal in length), (27) Polyphylla sp. (Melolonthinae), (28) Dichelonyx sp. (Melolonthinae) (claws cleft or toothed and equal in length).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
19 (18).
.
.

 Mandibles and labrum projecting anteriorly beyond clypeus, visible in dorsal view. Metatibial spines separated by base of tarsomere 1 (fig. 29)
     
19'.
.
.

 Mandibles and labrum not projecting anteriorly beyond clypeus, not visible in dorsal view. Metatibial spines adjacent, not separated by base of tarsomere 1 (fig. 30)
Figure 29
Figure 30
Figures 29, 30. Metatibial apex showing metatibial spurs of: (29) Aegidium (spurs separated by base of tarsomere 1), (30) Ancognatha (spurs adjacent, not separated by tarsomere 1).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
20 (19).
.
.

Prosternal projection (posterior to procoxae) produced to level of procoxae, conical. Venter with abundant, long, tawny setae
 
20'.
.
.

 Prosternal projection (posterior to procoxae) triangular, produced to middle of procoxae. Venter without abundant, long setae