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''Palaestes'' is a genus of beetles in the family Cucujidae. It contains eight currently recognized species. Like all members of the Cucujidae, adults are greatly dorso-ventrally compressed. All known species of ''Palaestes'' are brightly-colored red or yellow and black, and the males have curiously modified mandibles that look like ice tongs; female mandibles are not modified.〔Thomas, M. C., and R.A.B. Leschen. 2010. Cucujidae Latreille, 1802. p. 350-354. In: Leschen, R.A.B., R.G. Beutel, and J.F. Lawrence. Coleoptera, Beetles. Vol. 2: Morphology and Systematics (Elateroidea, Bostrichiformia, Cucujiformia partim). Handbook of Zoology. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin.〕 ''Palaestes'' shares with the Australian-New Zealand genus ''Platisus'' the character of the male genitalia, which lacks a flagellum, lying on its side in the abdomen, versus inverted in ''Cucujus'' and ''Pediacus''. The biology of ''Palaestes'' species is almost entirely unknown, as are the immature stages. They are presumed to be predacious like other cucujids for which the biology is better known. Specimens are uncommon in collections. The genus is confined to Central and South America.〔Sharp, D. 1899. Cucujidae. Biologia Centrali Americana, Coleoptera 2(1): 449-563.〕 Described species are: * ''Palaestes abruptus'' Sharp * ''Palaestes freyreissi'' Heyden in Maples * ''Palaestes nicaraguae'' Sharp * ''Palaestes nigriceps'' Waterhouse * ''Palaestes nigridens'' Sharp * ''Palaestes scutellaris'' Sharp * ''Palaestes tenuicornis'' Waterhouse * ''Palaestes variipes'' Sharp ==References== 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Palaestes」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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