What morphological detail, besides antennae structure, helps confirm an aquatic insect is a beetle rather than a true bug?
Answer
The presence of hardened elytra
When observing aquatic insects, especially those with long maxillary palps that might mimic certain true bugs (Hemiptera), a definitive characteristic must be used to confirm beetle identity (Order Coleoptera). The key feature confirming membership in Coleoptera is the presence of the hardened forewings, or elytra. Even if an insect possesses features that might suggest another order, the existence of these hardened coverings, which meet in a straight line down the back and serve to protect the membranous hindwings, instantly classifies the specimen as a beetle, overriding potential confusion caused by other features like palps or coloration.
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