coleopterans; beetles
Obsolete taxonomic term for the order Coleoptera. In modern Japanese, 甲虫 (こうちゅう) or 甲虫類 (こうちゅうるい) is used instead.
See also: カブトムシ (かぶとむし)
In old entomological literature, the taxonomic name 鞘翅類 is used.
From 鞘 (しょう, 'sheath') + 翅 (し, 'wing') + 類 (るい, 'group'), referring to the hardened forewings (elytra) characteristic of beetles. The term is now obsolete.