Hello all! I am new to inat forums so I do apologise if this has been asked before (I did a search but couldn’t find anything). Does anyone know of an online course for beetle identification? I am looking for something that covers all of the associated morphological terminology that will assist in…

I don’t know whether there’s a course that addresses what you’re looking for specifically, but here’s a listing of entomology courses available online from the American Entomological Society. It might be a good place to start looking: https://www.entsoc.org/resources/education/online-courses

There’s a well known, in person course every year https://www.amnh.org/research/southwestern-research-station/courses/coleoptera-course You could also message one of the top identifiers on iNat for recommendations.

Thank you! I will check out both although unfortunately an in person course in the US isn’t much use to me as I live in Australia. Entomology isn’t as big here sadly so opportunities are limited. I would love to do some of the US courses such as 4-H but unfortunately its a bit of a travel commitmen…

[image] nutsaboutnature: course in the US isn’t much use to me as I live in Australia. In that case you might see if there is a corresponding entomological society in your country and ask there. They may be able to point you toward more locally relevant info.

If you have a book that has keys to genus (or at least family) it should have a substantial glossary that goes over the morphological/anatomical terminology used in the keys. I imagine that would be “Australian Beetles” by Lawrence & Slipinski which should get you to genus. Once you get there, you…

Okay I think I have the same issue. I have an extensive library of both books and reprints (including Slipinski vol. 1/2 and the three cermabycid books by Slipinski and Escalona) as well as a digital selection of more modern papers. I really struggle to follow keys and a lot are very vague and hard…

Track down The Torre-Bueno glossary of entomology. There may be a PDF around or get the paper. It’s very useful for deciphering keys in unfamiliar taxa. As you’ve discovered, terminology gets recycled with slightly, or significant, differences in meaning. Torre-Bueno won’t solve every problem bu…

[image] tallastro: As you’ve discovered, terminology gets recycled with slightly, or significant, differences in meaning. To make matters worse, different terminology is used for the same structures in different taxa. I’m surprised that the elytra of earwigs are even allowed to be called elyt…

Advanced Coelopteran Identification course

Nature Talk

joerich July 2, 2024, 12:20am 5

I just saw this on Nature/Forum about four subjects above yours. There may be something for you

https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/online-nature-courses-symposia-theme-days-lectures-events/51460/6

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Advanced Coelopteran Identification course

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