Meloe coarctatus; oil beetle species
A specific species of oil beetle. The name is a biological term; in everyday contexts, it may be referred to simply as ツチハンミョウ (oil beetle) when the exact species is not important.
Meloe coarctatus can sometimes be seen in grassy areas in early spring.
This field guide has detailed information on the ecology of Meloe coarctatus.
General term for oil beetles (family Meloidae). ヒメツチハンミョウ is a specific species within this group.
Katakana spelling is standard for this species name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling is rare and mainly used in scientific or specialized contexts. It is usually written in kana.
Compound of 姫 (hime, 'small' or 'princess') + 土斑猫 (tsuchihanmyō, 'oil beetle'). The exact derivation is uncertain, but the name likely refers to its relatively small size compared to other oil beetles.