Flatbug - Flatbug (English spelling)

A general term for insects in the order Hemiptera, suborder Heteroptera, family Aradidae, and one of these. The body is extremely flat, reaching a maximum length of 20 mm at most. The antennae are four segments, with each segment strongly constricted. They lack eyes, and the proboscis has three segments. The tarsus of the legs has two segments. They live under the bark of rotting trees or on mushrooms, and are fungus-eating. They are broadly classified into those with proboscises longer than the head and those with shorter proboscises. The wings vary in length, and even in the long ones, some are mostly membranous.

The flat-toothed stink bug, Aradus consentanus, is about 6 mm long and its entire body is a dull light brown color. It is found throughout Japan, mainly in mountainous areas. It inhabits rotting trees such as birch and firewood. The common saw-toothed stink bug, A. orientalis, and others are also known to exist in various regions.

[Masami Hayashi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

昆虫綱半翅(はんし)目異翅亜目ヒラタカメムシ科Aradidaeの昆虫の総称、およびそのなかの1種。体はきわめて扁平(へんぺい)で、大きくても体長はせいぜい20ミリ。触角は四節からなり、各節間は強くくびれる。単眼を欠き、口吻(こうふん)は三節。脚(あし)の跗節(ふせつ)は二節。朽ち木の樹皮下やキノコ上に生活し、食菌性である。口吻の長さが頭部より長いものと、短いものに大きく分類される。はねは長短いろいろで、長いものでも大部分が膜質となるものがある。

　ヒラタカメムシAradus consentanusは体長約6ミリで、体全体が光沢のない淡褐色を帯びる。日本全土に分布し、おもに山地性。シラカバなどの朽ち木や薪(まき)にすむ。また、各地に普通のノコギリヒラタカメムシA. orientalisほかが知られる。

［林　正美］

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