Sap beetles - sap beetles (English spelling)

A general term for insects of the family Nitidulidae in the order Coleoptera of the class Insecta. Approximately 2,800 species are known worldwide, and there are approximately 200 species in Japan, including unrecorded species. The largest species in Japan, the four-spotted Nitidulid, reaches a body length of 14 mm, but most species are 2 to 5 mm. Most insects are oval and relatively flat, but there are also hemispherical and elongated species with several abdominal segments exposed, resembling rove beetles. The antennae have several terminal segments that spread out to form a bulbous rod, the base of the front legs is horizontal with subbases visible, and the tarsus has five or four segments. Lifestyles vary greatly depending on the group, and they are found on flowers, fruits, sap, mushrooms, rotting wood, decaying animal matter, ant nests, etc., and sometimes form large colonies. Some are notorious pests of stored foods such as grains. The larvae of many species in the subfamily Celastrus are natural enemies of bark beetles, and insects in the subfamily Celastrus also prey on scale insects. Celastrus nigricans gather on citrus flowers, causing them to drop flowers and damaging the fruit.

[Hisamatsu Sadanari]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

昆虫綱甲虫目ケシキスイ科Nitidulidaeの昆虫の総称。世界中に分布し、約2800種が知られ、日本には未記録種を含めて約200種いる。日本最大種のヨツボシケシキスイは体長14ミリメートルに達するが、大半の種は2～5ミリメートルである。楕円(だえん)形で比較的平らな虫が多いが、半球形や、腹節が数節露出して、ハネカクシに似た細長い種もいる。触角は末端数節が広がって球桿(きゅうかん)部をつくり、前脚(まえあし)の基節は横長で亜基節がみえ、跗節(ふせつ)は5節または4節。生活様式はグループによって大差があり、花、果実、樹液、キノコ、朽ち木、腐敗動物質、アリの巣などでみられ、ときに大集団をつくる。穀類など貯蔵食品の著名害虫もいる。オニケシキスイ亜科の多くの種は、幼虫がキクイムシの天敵で、タマキスイ亜科の虫もカイガラムシを捕食する。ヒメヒラタケシキスイは柑橘(かんきつ)類の花に集来し、落花させたり、実に傷をつける。

［久松定成］

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