Platybletes Theond, 1952b: 418 [Type species: Platybletes stirpium Theond, 1952b: 419]; Mazur, 1997: 66 [treated as a subgenus of the genus Platysoma].
Notes (Mazur & Ohara, 2000).
The taxon Platybletes is, now included 6 species and classified as a subgenus in the genus Platysoma by Mazur (1997). After our detailed examination of the type-species, however, it is concluded that the Platybletes is not true member of the Platysomatini and should be move to the tribe Exosternini, at the next place of the genus Hypobletes. The reason that have been placed in the tribe Platysomatini is the absence of the projection on the anterior margin of mesosternum. As a general appearance, it is more weak retractile head and more horizontal propygidium and pygidium as compared with the species of the subgenus Platysoma.
The Platybletes is characterized by following character-states: suture of antennal club straight; emarginate anterior margin of mesosternum; body oblong-oval; frontal stria strongly reduced, only shortly impressed latero-basally; marginal pronotal stria almost absent, slightly incise latero-basally; mesosternal marginal stria absent; and, base of spines on outer margin of protibia not denticulate.
All the character-states are presented as reduced conditions or rather primitive (plesiomorphic) states. We could not find any good apomorphic state on this taxon. The species of the taxon also should be revised and rearranged.
Distribution. Name bearer: stirpium from Zaire; general distribution by Mazur (1997): Tropical Africa (Zaire, Cameroon, Gabon, Rwanda) and Indonesia (Celebes).