# Key to Insect Orders - Revised

> Interactive key for identifying insect orders with biological and structural information. (iPhone/iPad app by LucidMobile.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/key-to-insect-orders-revised/id1411110163 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [LucidMobile](https://appshunter.io/developer/898685479)
- Category: Reference, Education
- Price: $1.99
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 11.0 · 33 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2019-02-08
- Data updated: 2026-08-16
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/key-to-insect-orders-revised/id1411110163/reviews.md

## What is Key to Insect Orders?

Insects make up the vast bulk of species diversity, with just over a million described species organized into about thirty major subgroups called orders.  Orders are in turn divided into families, families are divided into genera, and genera are divided into species. Properly defined; orders, families and genera are each groups of species that have descended from a unique common ancestor, as a result of which they share similar structural characteristics and have certain biological attributes in common.

Not all insect orders are equal in species number; some have just a few hundred species while the larger orders have hundreds of thousands of species. Most insects are in just four large orders: Diptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera. The range of structural characteristics and biological features tends to be broader in the more species-rich orders.

Predictions about the biology, behaviour and ecology of an insect can often be made once you know its order. But how can you know the order to which an insect belongs? Insects can be identified in various ways. Comparing a specimen with a book of illustrations of identified insects is one way. Using a printed key is another way. This Lucid Mobile key combines the advantages of these methods and adds a new dimension of simplicity and power to the process of identification.

This simple key aims to identify most common adult insects to the level of order. It has been designed for a range of users, including advanced secondary students, beginning undergraduates and others interested in entomology, and includes information about the structure and biology of insects as well as their identifying features. Three of the groups included in this key (Protura, Collembola and Diplura) are six-legged arthropods treated as insects in the vernacular sense, but now usually formally classified in their own order, outside the order Insecta. 

How can you tell if an insect is an adult so it can be identified using this key? That is a simple question without a simple answer. If your insect has fully-developed, functional wings then it is an adult. However, some adult insects have reduced, non-functional wings and others have no wings at all. In these cases the adult forms have fully developed genitalia at the apex of the abdomen. Many, but not all, nymphal or immature forms are identifiable using the same features used to identify adults.

The 'Key to Insect Orders' was originally created by staff at the Department of Entomology at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia (Gordon Gordh; David Yeates; Tony Young; Sue McGrath), based on the simplified keys to insect Order found in Collecting, Preserving and Classifying Insects by E.C. Dahms, G.B. Monteith and S. Monteith (Queensland Museum, 1979), Worms to Wasps by M.S. Harvey and A.L. Yen (Oxford University Press, 1989) and A Field Guide to Insects in Australia by P. Zborowski and R. Storey (Reed Books, 1995).

This new edition of Insect Orders has been revised by Professor Steve Marshall at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

This app was created using the Lucid suite of tools, for more information please visit https://www.lucidcentral.org

## Key features

- Identify insects to order level
- Interactive identification key
- Information on insect structure
- Details on insect biology
- Covers common adult insects
- Includes Protura, Collembola, and Diplura

## Chart rankings

- #193 in Top Paid · Reference (US App Store)

## Recent user reviews (2 of 2)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/key-to-insect-orders-revised/id1411110163/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Doesn’t seem to work on my iPhone

*2021-03-11*

Before purchasing this app I checked that it was compatible with my phone, and it said it was.  But out of the 5 items in the menu, only the “Identify” tool  works. The other 4 items seem totally dead, which means I can’t read the section about how to use the key. 
Very disappointing.

**Developer response:** Thanks for the feedback, we have just released an update to fix this bug.

### 4/5 — Key functions work, but some minor UI issues

*2020-08-18*

I’m a big fan of this app (and its previous version), and Prof. Marshall - I own many of his books.  The identification key works properly, but the rest of the buttons on the home page (‘Insect orders’, ‘Using the key’, ‘Fact sheets’, and ‘About the app’) do nothing. The fact sheets are available from the key, however, so all of the information is still available. It just looks like some of the plumbing to the Lucid framework on the “Home page” may be missing. Overall, fantastic app.

## Frequently asked questions about Key to Insect Orders

### What is the main purpose of Key to Insect Orders?

The primary goal of Key to Insect Orders is to help users identify common adult insects to the level of their order. It provides an interactive key and detailed information on insect structure and biology to aid in this identification process.

### Who is the target audience for Key to Insect Orders?

This app is designed for advanced secondary students, beginning undergraduates, and individuals with a general interest in entomology. It aims to simplify the process of insect identification for these groups.

### How does Key to Insect Orders help identify insects?

It uses an interactive key that guides users through a series of questions based on an insect's characteristics. This process, combined with the app's information on insect structure and biology, leads to the identification of the insect's order.

### Does Key to Insect Orders include information on insect development stages?

While the key focuses on adult insects, the description mentions that many nymphal or immature forms can be identified using the same features as adults. It also touches on how to determine if an insect is an adult.

### What is the price of Key to Insect Orders?

Key to Insect Orders is a paid application, priced at $1.99. This one-time purchase grants access to all its identification features and information.

### What devices is Key to Insect Orders available on?

Key to Insect Orders is available for iOS devices, including iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It is designed to run on these Apple platforms.

### How often is Key to Insect Orders updated?

The latest version of Key to Insect Orders is 0.2.1, which was last updated on March 26, 2021. Future updates may introduce new features or content.

### Does Key to Insect Orders have ads?

No, Key to Insect Orders does not contain advertisements. As a paid application, it offers an ad-free experience for users.

## Version history (last 2 releases)

### 0.2.1 — 2021-03-26

Updated to the latest Lucid engine which includes several bug fixes

### 0.1.1 — 2019-02-08

No release notes.

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-16.*