Kingdom Animalia Suborder Polyphaga Family Laemophloeidae Rank Genus | Class Insecta Superfamily Cucujoidea Phylum Arthropoda Order Beetle | |
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Similar Beetle, Lathropus, Laemophloeus, Laemophloeidae, Pediacus | ||
Placonotus is a genus of beetles in the family Laemophloeidae. There are 40 currently recognized species, known from all continents except Antarctica. Placonotus species are small (~2mm), elongate, flattened beetles, characterized by long filiform antennae, presence of a frontoclypeal suture, open anterior coxal cavities, and broadly rounded intercoxal process of abdominal ventrite III. Males have the 8th abdominal segment modified to form claspers used during mating. Adults and larvae are found under dead bark, where they feed on fungi. Currently recognized species are:
The genus has been treated taxonomically for several geographical regions: the New World; Africa; Europe; and India. The Asian, Pacific, and Australian faunas have not been worked and there are probably many unnassigned and undescribed species.