How to use the key

This tutorial contains basic instructions to help new users of Lucid get started. It is not meant to be a comprehensive help file. You can access the Lucid Help file any time after opening the key, by clicking on the "Help" icon on the toolbar (last icon on the right).

This tool offers a Javascript-based interactive key built using Lucid3 software. Lucid3 is software for creating and using interactive identification keys. Lucid is developed by Identic in Brisbane, Australia. Visit the Lucidcentral website for more information on Lucid and Lucid3.

Any modern web browser can be used, such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, or Safari. Javascript must be enabled.

An interactive matrix key is quite different from a traditional dichotomous key. Please consult these Best Practices on occasion to pick up new tips and tricks for using the interactive key.

Web pages such as fact sheets attached to entities in Lucid keys may be considered pop-ups by certain browsers (such as Internet Explorer). If your browser blocks pop-ups, you will need to allow pop-ups for this Lucid tool in your browser's Internet settings.

Getting started

Screen windows

A Lucid key has four panels.

The upper left window, Features Available, lists the identification features and feature states to choose from.
The upper right window, Entities Remaining, lists the available taxa.
The lower left window, Features Chosen, lists which feature states are currently selected.
The lower right window, Entities Discarded, lists the taxa that have been discarded based on the features that have been selected.

Features available

"Features" are characters used to identify the entities. Each feature has at least two states (character states), which correspond to different forms a feature can exhibit. The feature states in this key are illustrated to help you understand them.

Do not feel compelled to select features in any particular order. Interactive keys are specifically designed to let the user start anywhere. If you have a damaged specimen, you may find features for undamaged parts of the body.

As you proceed through this lace bug key, you may find some of Lucid's functions, such as the "Best" function (magic wand icon) helpful.

Navigating the key

The feature hierarchical tree can be expanded by clicking the "+" next to a feature or grouping feature (or by clicking the “Expand Tree” button at the top).

Feature states are selected by clicking once in the check box to the left of the state. Clicking the state a second time deselects the state. As feature states are selected, the entities that do not have those features will be moved into the Entities Discarded panel.

All entities and feature states are illustrated. You can toggle whether to display illustration thumbnails or icons using the buttons at the top.

Clicking on the image thumbnail (or image icon if thumbnails are not displayed) brings up a larger size image.

All entities are also linked to fact sheets for the taxon. Clicking the small grey “page” icon next to the entity thumbnail will open the fact sheet in a new browser window. In this key just one image is provided for each entity; you can find the full gallery of images for each entity in the fact sheets.

Images provided do not necessarily reflect all known morphological variation for a particular feature or entity. Every diagnosis should be confirmed by carefully reviewing the information provided on the fact sheet associated with the genus.

In order to maximize their value and validity, some specialized terms appear in the key and fact sheets. A glossary is linked to the fact sheets to assist the user in understanding such terms.

If unsure of the correct state of a given feature, it is often better to try a different feature before selecting a state you are unsure about. For more hints on navigating the key, see this best practices page.