Dichotomous Key/Hexapoda

1

 * Wings
 * Present - 12
 * Not present - 2

2

 * Lifestyle
 * Parasitic - 3
 * Not parasitic - 4

3

 * Legs
 * Hind legs adapted for jumping - ../Siphonaptera/
 * No legs adapted for jumping - ../Phthiraptera/

4

 * Cerci
 * Present - 5
 * Not present - 6

5

 * Orientation of cerci
 * Pointing towards tailing end of body - ../Archeognatha/
 * Outer two cerci point away from body - ../Thysanura/

6

 * Mouthparts
 * Mouthparts external and easily visible - 9
 * Mouthparts not easily visible - 7

7

 * Presence of eyes
 * Simple eyes present - ../Collembola/
 * No eyes present - 8

8

 * Antennae
 * Not present - ../Protura/
 * Present - ../Diplura/

9

 * Mouthparts
 * Adapted for sucking - ../Hemiptera/
 * Adapted for chewing - 10

10

 * Pincer-like cerci on abdomen
 * Present - ../Dermaptera/
 * Not present - 11

11

 * Forelegs
 * Forelegs raptatorial - ../Mantodea/
 * Forelegs not raptatorial - 13

12

 * Number of wings
 * One pair - 17
 * Two pairs - 18

13

 * Narrow waist
 * Present - ../Hymenoptera/
 * Not present - 14

14

 * Body shape
 * long and thin - ../Phasmatodea/
 * Round and stout - 15

15

 * Body width
 * Flattened - ../Blattodea/
 * Not flattened - 16

16

 * Social structure
 * Solitary - ../Psocoptera/
 * Social - ../Isoptera/

17

 * Wings
 * Forewings reduced to knobs - ../Strepsiptera/
 * Hindwings reduced to knobs - ../Diptera/

18

 * Forewings
 * Membranous - 19
 * Not membranous - 31

19

 * Wing texture and color
 * Covered in scales or hairs - 37
 * Transparent - 20

20

 * Tail-like appendages
 * Present - 21
 * Not present - 23

21

 * Comparative wing size
 * Roughly equal - 22
 * Forewings much larger than hindwings - ../Ephemeroptera/

22

 * Comparative cerci size
 * Both abdominal cerci approximately equal in size - ../Plecoptera/
 * Abdominal cerci unequal in size - ../Embioptera/

23

 * Wing venation
 * Extensive - 28
 * Minor - 24

24

 * Narrow waist
 * Present - ../Hymenoptera/
 * Not present - 25

25

 * Wing texture
 * Fringed with hairs - ../Thysanoptera/
 * Not fringed with hairs - 26

26

 * Mouthparts
 * Chewing - 27
 * Sucking - ../Hemiptera/

27

 * Position of wings at rest
 * Held flat against body - ../Isoptera/
 * Held over body - ../Psocoptera/

28

 * Position of wings at rest
 * Held away from body - ../Odonata/
 * Held against body - 29

29

 * Beak-like head
 * Present - ../Mecoptera/
 * Not present - 30

30

 * Main wing veins
 * Forked near end - ../Neuroptera/
 * Not forked near end - ../Megaloptera/

31

 * Mouthparts
 * Sucking - ../Hemiptera/
 * Chewing - 32

32

 * Forewings hardened
 * Forewings hard - 33
 * Forewings not hardened (may be leathery) - 34

33

 * Abdominal pincers
 * Present - ../Dermaptera/
 * Not present - ../Coleoptera/

34

 * Hind legs
 * Adapted for jumping - ../Orthoptera/
 * Not adapted for jumping -

35

 * Forelegs
 * Raptatorial - ../Mantodea/
 * Not raptatorial -

36

 * Body shape
 * Broadly flattened - ../Blattodea/
 * Long and skinny - ../Phasmatodea/

37

 * Wing covering
 * Scales - ../Lepidoptera/
 * Hairs - ../Trichoptera/