Lab: Creating a Dichotomous Key To Identify Species of Beetles

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Lab Partner:_______________________________________________________

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Introduction: If you find an insect you have never seen before, how could you discover its identity?
Many field guides help you match up the characteristics of your specimen with those of
similar organisms using a dichotomous key. This identification key uses a series of paired
comparisons to sort organisms into smaller and smaller groups.
Purpose: To construct a dichotomous key to identify species of beetles.
Pre-Lab Questions:
1. What characteristics do all insects have in common? (2 marks)
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2. Name two characteristics that scientists use to tell insects apart. (2 marks)
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3. How can you use the characteristics of beetles to classify them? Give examples. (3 marks)
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Method:
1. Use the diagram (Figure 1) of the dichotomous tree on the next page as a reference to create your
dichotomous key for classifying beetles. You should copy this diagram onto a separate piece of paper.
2. Study the illustration of 18 beetles on the page given to you.
3. Select one characteristic and sort the beetles into two groups based on whether they have the
characteristic or not.

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Method: (continued)

Figure 1: A dichotomous tree structure.

4. List each beetles number under either group 1 or group 2 on your diagram of the dichotomous tree.
5. Record the characteristic that identifies each group.
6. Select another characteristic of each subgroup, and repeat steps 4 and 5 for the next level down on your
diagram.
7. Continue to subdivide the groups until you have 18 groups with one beetle in each. Give your
dichotomous tree an appropriate title following this method: Figure 1: Title which describes
figure. (2 marks)
8. Using the characteristics shown on your diagram, construct a dichotomous key that someone could use
to identify any beetle from the original large group. Give your dichotomous key an appropriate title
following this method: Table 1: Title which describes table. (4 marks)
a) To do this, create a series of numbered steps with the first step showing the first characteristic used.
b) At each step, off two choices for classifying the beetle based on a single characteristic. For
example, you may have use the characteristic antennae longer than front legs as your first
dividing characteristic. The first numbered step in your key would be (1a) antennae longer than
front legs or (1b) antennae not longer than front legs.
c) Use the sample keys you have in your notes and in the lab on Using a Dichotomous Key for the
classification of the salamander species.
9. Exchange your key with another lab group. Use the other lab groups key to classify one beetle, and
record all the characteristics of the species you chose.

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Analyze and Interpret:

1. Did the other lab group produce a dichotomous key identical to yours? Explain why or why not.
(2 marks)
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2. Which beetle characteristics were not useful for creating your key? Explain why. (2 marks)
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Discussion:
1. Why does a key offer two choices at each step and not more than two? (2 marks)
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2. In your own words, define dichotomous key. (1 mark)
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Communication: (4 marks)
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Printing and writing is neat and legible or word processed.

Tables and figures are neatly drawn with ruler or word processed. Printing used in tables and figures.
Tables and figures are numbered and have a proper title.
Spelling and grammar is correct. Complete sentences are used.