Damaster blaptoides (English name)

Japanese: マイマイカブリ（英語表記）Damaster blaptoides

Coleoptera, Carabidae. Body length 30-65mm. Body is elongated, especially the head and prothorax. Antennae and legs are also elongated. Forewings are fused together and cannot open, and the tips are thin and pointed. Hindwings are degenerate and vestigial. Mobility is weak, and regional variation is significant. Because the appearance and color differ depending on the habitat, it was once divided into several species, but today it is considered to be one species, with several subspecies recognized. It is considered to be endemic to Japan, but there is a record of only one subspecies from Taiwan. The original subspecies is found in Kyushu, Shikoku, Chugoku, etc., and is large, entirely black, with a slight purple tinge on the shoulders of the upper wings, and lacking luster on the upper surface. The tips of the upper wings are elongated in a swallowtail shape. Those found in the Kinki region are small. Those found in the Kanto region are called Himemaimaikaburi Dbboxuroides , with a slightly shorter head and pronotum, a bluish hue, and short, needle-like projections on the tips of the upper wings. In the Chubu region, intermediate forms of all stages connecting these two types are found. From the northern Kanto region to the southern Tohoku region, the prosomum becomes more bluish, and in the central Tohoku region, it becomes reddish purple. These are called Koaomaikaburi Dbbaianus . On the other hand, Sado Island is home to Sadomaikaburi Dbcapito , which has a swollen head, a bluish purple prosomum, and no tail-like projections on the upper wings, while Awashima Island to the north is home to Aomaikaburi Dbfortunei , which resembles Koaomaikaburi but lacks a tail-like projection. Those found in the northern Tohoku region are called Kitakaburi Dbviridipennis , with a beautiful reddish purple prosomum, yellow-green upper wings, and no tail-like projections. The species found in Hokkaido is called Ezomai-kaburi Dbrugipennis , and has a green or copper-red prosom, purple elytra, and no tail. Both larvae and adults feed on snails, and the unique shape of the prosom is thought to be an adaptation to this habit. The old name was Biwa-mushi. (→ Ground beetle)

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

鞘翅目オサムシ科。体長 30～65mm。体は細長く，特に頭部と前胸は伸長する。触角，肢もともに細長い。前翅は左右融合して開くことができず，翅端は細くなりとがる。後翅は退化して痕跡的。移動力が弱く，地域変異が著しい。産地によって外形と色彩が異なるためかつては数種に分けられていたが，今日では 1種とされ，その下に数亜種が認められている。日本固有種と考えられるが，タイワン（台湾）からただ 1個体による亜種の記録がある。原亜種は九州地方，四国地方，中国地方などに産するもので，大型，全体黒色で，わずかに上翅肩部が紫色を帯び，上面は光沢を欠く。上翅端は燕尾状に伸長する。近畿地方に産するものは小型となる。関東地方のものはヒメマイマイカブリ D.b.oxuroides と呼ばれ，頭部と前胸背がやや短くなり，青みを帯び，上翅端の突起は短く針状である。中部地方ではこの 2型をつなぐあらゆる段階の中間型がみられる。北関東地方から東北地方南部にかけては前体部の青みが強くなり，さらに東北地方中部では紅紫色を帯びるようになる。これをコアオマイマイカブリ D.b.babaianus という。一方，佐渡島には頭部が肥大し，前体部が青紫色で上翅に尾状突起を欠くサドマイマイカブリ D.b.capito を産し，その北方の粟島にはコアオマイマイカブリに似るが尾状突起のないアオマイマイカブリ D.b.fortunei を産する。東北地方北部のものはキタカブリ D.b.viridipennis と呼ばれ，前体部は美しい紅紫色，上翅は黄緑色で尾状突起を欠く。北海道に産するものはエゾマイマイカブリ D.b.rugipennis といい，前体部は緑ないし銅赤色，上翅は紫色を帯び，尾状突起を欠く。幼虫，成虫ともにカタツムリを食べ，前体部の特異な形はこの習性への適応と考えられる。古名は琵琶虫。（→オサムシ）

出典　ブリタニカ国際大百科事典小項目事典ブリタニカ国際大百科事典小項目事典について　情報

<<: Maimonides, Moses; Moses ben Maimon

>>: Gypsy moth (English spelling)