A matrix key to the Ips bark beetles of the World (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

Identification of Ips, especially from trade interceptions remains difficult because identification keys are
limited to particular world regions. Digital interactive keys offer an efficient and versatile route to
diagnostics that also capture intersexual variation. We coded more than 52 species level taxa of world
Ipini into a matrix-based identification tool using both readily-observed and hidden characters. We
made further refinements during the testing stage to avoid common sources of identification failure.
The richly illustrated key, on a LUCID platform, offers quick reliable identification of Ips specimens. We53
find that this tool is often more rapid and user-friendly than existing dichotomous keys because users
have more choice of characters.