''Paraphloeolaemus'' is a genus of
beetle
Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 describ ...
s in the family
Laemophloeidae
Laemophloeidae, "lined flat bark beetles," is a family in the superfamily Cucujoidea characterized by predominantly dorso-ventrally compressed bodies, head and pronotal discs bordered by ridges or grooves, and inverted male genitalia. Size range ...
. It was described in 2017,
[Thomas, M.C. 2017: A new Neotropical genus in the Laemophloeidae, with notes on ''Phloeolaemus'' Casey (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea). ''Insecta mundi'', (0541) ]
(PDF)
/ref> for two species of Neotropical laemophloeids that did not fit comfortably into existing genera. A possible third species is represented by a single damaged specimen that could not be described until additional specimens are found.
''Paraphloeolaemus'' species are small (1.1 mm-1.9 mm), broadly flattened, testaceous beetles with conspicuous pubescence, wide open procoxal cavities, a 5-5-5 tarsal formula
Tarsal formula is the number of segments of the tarsi, which has 3 numbers a-b-c, starting with the fore leg (a), then the middle leg (b), then the hind leg (c). For example, a tarsal formula of "5-5-4" as found in the Trictenotomidae means the ...
in both sexes, and a coiled flagellum in the male. Some specimens were collected at light, and one at rotting breadfruit. Otherwise, nothing is known of their biology or immature stages.
Currently included species and their known distribution are:
* ''Paraphloeolaemus vorticosus'' Thomas (South America)
* ''Paraphloeolaemus pterosiagon'' Thomas (Honduras)
* ''Paraphloeolaemus'' sp.? (Panama)
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q55628595
Laemophloeidae