CUCUJIDAE Author: John F. Lawrence, 2001. Classification Suborder Polyphaga, Series Cucujiformia, Superfamily Cucujoidea. Description Antenae with 11 segments, filiform, or with a 3 segments club. Antennal insertions exposed or concealed. Visible portion of procoxa transverse with the trochantin at least partly exposed. Procoxal cavity externally open and internally open. Mesocoxae separated by more than 1 coxal width, with mesocoxal cavity laterally open. Tarsal formula 5-5-5 or 5-5-4 in all males, . Number of ventrites 5 without ventrites connate. Body length 2.5-4.5 (Pediacus) or 13-16 mm (Palaestes). Elongate, parallel-sided and flattened, pubescent and smaller (Pediacus) or glabrous and larger, with large, strongly curved, slender mandibles (Palaestes). Quick identification Cucujidae contains only two Central American genera: Palaestes and Pediacus. These are highly flattened small to moderate sized beetles, with 5-5-4 tarsi in the male. Genera occurring in Costa Rica Palaestes, Pediacus. © CSIRO Emtomology, 1999 Palaestes © CSIRO Emtomology, 1999 Pediacus Derechos Reservados INBio. Copyrights INBio