Key to the British Mycetophagidae
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1.
Width of head, measured across the eyes, about the same as that of the pronotum. Pronotum more or less quadrate, only weakly curved laterally and narrower at the base than the base of the elytra. Antennal club with 2 segments. Elytral striae strongly and deeply punctured. Entire insect testaceous to brown.
Head much narrower than the pronotum. Pronotum transverse; at the base about as wide as the base of the elytra. Antennae filiform, gradually thickened or with a 3-5 segmented club. Colour variable.
2.
Antennae filiform, distally thickened or with a club consisting of more than 3 segments.
Antennae with a 3 segmented club.
3.
Antennae filiform. Elytra with characteristic dark markings; a triangular mark at the base and a broad U-shaped band parallel to the margin. Dorsal surface with long, conspicuous pubescence.
Antennae gradually thickened distally or with a club consisting of more than 3 segments. Elytra with distinctly punctured striae and coloured marks.
4.
Entire beetle depressed. Pronotum broadest at the base and broader than the base of the elytra; with a smooth and strongly rounded lateral margin and perpendicular and sharp posterior angles. Dorsal surface black; the elytra with well-defined marks including a sub-humeral and a transverse sub-apical. Legs variable; yellow to almost black. Antennae with a distinct 3-segmented club.
Distinctly convex and usually strongly so. Pronotum finely crenulate laterally. Elytra without a transverse sub-apical mark.
5.
Elytra finely punctured; parallel, at the middle as wide as the base of the pronotum, sometimes with rows of erect pubescence giving the impression of striae. Entire beetle dark testaceous to red.
Elytra strongly punctured, not parallel-sided; broadest in front of the middle and wider than the pronotum.
Pronotum without basal fovea, the basal margin bisinuate. Antennomeres 4-6 equal, 9 and 10 quadrate and much longer than 8; 9 and 10 less transverse, forming a less distinct club. Head and pronotum dark red, elytra black with the base and an apical mark red. Upper surface very strongly punctured and with long, semi-erect pubescence. >3mm
6.
Pronotum with basal fovea and the basal margin almost straight. Antennomere 5 longer than 4 or 6 and 10 strongly transverse, the club more abrupt and distinct. Dark; almost black, with the sides of the pronotum and elytra to some extent reddish-yellow, or sometimes with the elytra entirely black. Elytra closely and moderately strongly punctured, the pubescence short and recumbent. <3mm
7.
Dorsal surface with dense and very fine punctation. Pubescence dense and very fine, recumbent and appearing silky. Terminal segment of the palps distinctly broader than the penultimate segment. Antennae with a broad and well-defined 4-segmented club. Dorsal colouration pale testaceous with ill-defined marks to the elytra, and the head generally a little darker than the elytra
Dorsal surface with dense and distinct punctation. Terminal segment of the palps at most slightly broader than the penultimate. Antennae different.
8.
Pronotum broadest in front of the base then gradually narrowed to the anterior angles, the lateral margin indistinctly bordered and the base as wide as the base of the elytra posterior to the shoulders. (Antennae gradually thickened towards the apex or with a 4-segmented club.
Pronotum broadest at the middle and narrowed towards the anterior and posterior angles; the base narrower than the base of the elytra posterior to the shoulders. (First and last metatarsal segments equal.)
9.
Antennae with a distinct 4-segmented club. Basal segment of the meta-tarsus about equal to the first segment. (Elytra with a humeral and sub-apical pale mark.)
Antennae with five larger apical segments. The basal tarsomere much longer than the terminal segment.
10.
Pronotum distinctly narrowed from the base to the anterior angles, shiny and finely punctured. Elytral interstices finely and diffusely punctured; each elytron with two large pale marks.
Pronotum less strongly narrowed from the base to the anterior angles, the surface wrinkled or with a mix of fine and coarse punctures, appearing less shiny. Elytral interstices densely punctured. Markings different.
11.
Terminal antennomere obviously shorter than the previous two combined. Elytra with several discreet pale marks, distinctive.
Terminal antennomere as long as the previous two combined. Pale markings on the elytra forming transverse fascia.
12.
Head black, pronotum testaceous; strongly and densely punctured. Elytra with two transverse pale maculae that usually do not join at the suture.
Head mostly pale, pronotum dark red-brown to black; the punctures dense and arranged into lines that give the impression of ridges. Elytra with numerous small and discreet pale markings.
13.
Habitus parallel-sided and oval. Eighth antennomere clearly broader than the seventh, the 4-segmented club is more abrupt and distinct. Terminal antennomere only slightly elongate. Basal segment of the pro-tarsi in the male broad; about 1.6X longer than wide, and about 1.6X wider than the second segment.
Habitus less parallel and more tapering. Eighth antennomere only slightly broader than the seventh, not forming an abrupt 4-segmented club. Terminal antennomere distinctly elongate; about 1.5X longer than the tenth. Basal segment of the pro-tarsi not distinctly broad; about 3.5X longer than wide.
14.
Elytral punctures distinct and dense to the apex. . Darker brown. Pubescence denser and recumbent, not so obvious along the lateral margins, more dense on the elytra so appearing more strongly striate.
Elytral punctures finer and less dense towards the apex. . Testaceous. Pubescence longer and semi-erect, clearly visible along the lateral margins, a little longer and less dense on the elytra.