Plaesius javanus

Plaesius javanus, the Jepson's beetle, is a species of clown beetles belonging to the family Histeridae.[1]

Plaesius javanus
Plaesius javanus from Mentawai Islands. Museum specimen
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Histeridae
Genus: Plaesius
Species:
P. javanus
Binomial name
Plaesius javanus
Erichson, 1834

Description

Plaesius javanus can reach a length of about 14–15 millimetres (0.55–0.59 in). These beetles have a glossy black body, with long and curved jaws and short antennae. Frontlegs are thin and expanded laterally. Elytra show 4–6 longitudinal grooves. Two abdominal rear segments are exposed.[2][3]

These predatory histerid beetles have been introduced in some countries for the control of the banana weevil borer (Cosmopolites sordidus).[2][4]

Distribution

This species is native to Southeastern Asia and Indonesia.[2]

Bibliography
  • Mazur, Slawomir (1997) A world catalogue of the Histeridae (Coleoptera: Histeroidea), Genus, International Journal of Invertebrate Taxonomy (Supplement)(1996), database, NODC Taxonomic Code
  • Ôhara, Masahiro, and Slawomir Mazur (2000) A revision of the genera of the tribe Platysomatini (Coleoptera, Histerida, Histerinae). Part 3. Redescriptions of the type species of Althanus, Caenolister, Idister, Diister, Placodes, Plaesius, Hyposolenus and Aulacosternus. Insecta Matsumurana (N.S.), vol. 57

References
  1. Catalogue of life
  2. Cook Islands Biodiversity Database
  3. Museum Hokudai
  4. Hasyim, A. (2003). "Prey potential of the predatory histerid beetle Plaesius javanus to control banana weevil borer, Cosmopolites sordidus Germar". Jurnal Stigma. 11 (2): 165–169.


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