Flat bark beetle - Flat bark beetle

Japanese: ヒラタムシ(平虫) - ヒラタムシ（英語表記）flat bark beetle

A general term for insects in the family Cuculidae of the order Coleoptera. As the name suggests, they have flat bodies, and many species live under the bark of dead trees. Several hundred species are known worldwide, with around 20 known in Japan. Their bodies are long and slender, with both sides somewhat parallel. Their antennae are thread-like, and the distal segment is often thicker. Their legs have five segments, but in males, only the hind legs have four segments. Body length is 2-30 mm. The larvae also have flat bodies, with a pair of tail projections at the end of the torso (the ninth abdominal segment). Their thoracic legs are well developed. Species such as the blue flathead beetle Cucujus mniszechii , the red flathead beetle C. coccinatus , the smaller flathead beetle Uleiota arborea , the long-horned flathead beetle Dendrophagus longicornis , and the black-necked flathead beetle Pediacus japonicus all live under the bark, and their adults and larvae prey on insects and other creatures.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

甲虫目ヒラタムシ科Cucujidaeの昆虫の総称。その名のように体が扁平で，枯木の樹皮下に生息する種が多い。世界に数百種，日本からは20種あまりが知られる。体は細長く，両側がやや平行。触角は糸状で，先方の節がしばしば太まる。脚の跗節（ふせつ）は5節からなるが，雄では後脚のみ4節となる。体長2～30mm。幼虫の体も扁平で，胴部の末端(第9腹節)は1対の尾突起となる。胸脚は発達している。ルリヒラタムシCucujus mniszechii，ベニヒラタムシC.coccinatus，ヒメヒラタムシUleiota arborea，ヒゲナガヒメヒラタムシDendrophagus longicornis，クロムネキカワヒラタムシPediacus japonicusなどは，いずれも樹皮下に生息し，成虫，幼虫が昆虫などを捕食する。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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