''Dysdercus'' is a widespread

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

true bugs Hemiptera (; ) is an order (biology), order of insects, commonly called true bugs, comprising over 80,000 species within groups such as the cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, Reduviidae, assassin bugs, Cimex, bed bugs, and shield bugs. ...

in the family

Pyrrhocoridae Pyrrhocoridae is a family of insects with more than 300 species world-wide. Many are red coloured and are known as red bugs and some species are called cotton stainers because their feeding activities leave an indelible yellow-brownish stain on c ...

; a number of species attacking

cotton Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus '' Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure cellulose, and can contain minor pe ...

bolls may be called "cotton stainers".

Description

Species may be confused with bugs in the family

Lygaeidae The Lygaeidae are a family in the Hemiptera (true bugs), with more than 110 genera in four subfamilies. The family is commonly referred to as seed bugs, and less commonly, milkweed bugs, or ground bugs. However, while many of the species feed on ...

, but can be distinguished by the lack of

ocelli A simple eye (sometimes called a pigment pit) refers to a form of eye or an optical arrangement composed of a single lens and without an elaborate retina such as occurs in most vertebrates. In this sense "simple eye" is distinct from a multi-l ...

on the head. They can be readily distinguished from most other genera of Pyrrhocoridae by the strong white markings at the junction of the head and thorax, and along the sides of the thorax, and often abdomen.

Species

''BioLib'' lists the following: ; subgenus ''Dysdercus'' Guérin-Méneville, 1831 * '' Dysdercus andreae'' (Linnaeus, 1758) * '' Dysdercus bimaculatus'' (Stål, 1854) * '' Dysdercus cardinalis'' Gerstäcker, 1873 * '' Dysdercus concinnus'' Stål, 1861 * '' Dysdercus fasciatus'' Signoret, 1861 - cotton stainer (Africa) * '' Dysdercus mimulus'' Hussey, 1929 * '' Dysdercus mimus'' (Say, 1832) * '' Dysdercus nigrofasciatus'' Stål, 1855 * '' Dysdercus obliquus'' (Herrich-Schaeffer, 1843) * '' Dysdercus obscuratus'' Distant, 1883 * '' Dysdercus peruvianus'' Guérin-Méneville, 1831 - type species * '' Dysdercus suturellus'' (Herrich-Schäffer, 1842) - cotton stainer (USA) ; subgenus ''Leptophthalmus'' Stål, 1870 * '' Dysdercus decussatus'' Boisduval, 1835 * '' Dysdercus fuscomaculatus'' Stål, 1863 ; subgenus ''Paradysdercus'' Stehlík, 1965 * '' Dysdercus cingulatus'' (Fabricius, 1775) - red cotton bug * '' Dysdercus evanescens'' Distant, 1902 * '' Dysdercus koenigii'' (Fabricius, 1775) - red cotton stainer (Indian subcontinent) * '' Dysdercus poecilus'' (Harrich-Schaeffer) * '' Dysdercus sidae'' Montrouzier, 1861 ; ''

incertae sedis ' () or ''problematica'' is a term used for a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertain ...

'' * '' Dysdercus albofasciatus'' Berg, 1878 * '' Dysdercus argillaceus'' Breddin, 1895 * '' Dysdercus basialbus'' Schmidt, 1932 * ''

Dysdercus bidentatus ''Dysdercus'' is a widespread genus of true bugs in the family Pyrrhocoridae; a number of species attacking cotton bolls may be called "cotton stainers". Description Species may be confused with bugs in the family Lygaeidae, but can be distingu ...

'' Hussey, 1927 * '' Dysdercus bloetei'' Doesburg, 1968 * '' Dysdercus chaquensis'' Freiberg, 1948 * '' Dysdercus chiriquinus'' Distant, 1883 * '' Dysdercus cinctus'' Scudder, 1890 * '' Dysdercus collaris'' Blöte, 1931 * '' Dysdercus festivus'' Gerstäcker, 1892 * '' Dysdercus flavolimbatus'' Stål, 1861 * '' Dysdercus haemorrhoidalis'' Signoret, 1858 * '' Dysdercus honestus'' Blöte, 1931 * '' Dysdercus imitator'' Blöte, 1931 * '' Dysdercus immarginatus'' Blöte, 1931 * '' Dysdercus impictiventris'' Stål, 1870 * '' Dysdercus insularis'' Stål, 1870 * '' Dysdercus intermedius'' Distant, 1902 - cotton stainer (Africa) * '' Dysdercus longiceps'' Breddin, 1901 * '' Dysdercus longirostris'' Stål, 1861 * '' Dysdercus lunulatus'' Uhler, 1861 * '' Dysdercus maurus'' Distant, 1901 * '' Dysdercus melanoderes'' Karsch, 1892 * '' Dysdercus mesiostigma'' Distant * '' Dysdercus mimuloides'' Blöte, 1933 * '' Dysdercus monostigma'' Kirby * '' Dysdercus ochreatus'' (Say, 1832) * '' Dysdercus orientalis'' Schouteden, 1910 * '' Dysdercus pretiosus'' Distant, 1902 * '' Dysdercus ruficeps'' (Perty, 1833) * '' Dysdercus ruficollis'' (Linnaeus, 1764) * '' Dysdercus rusticus'' Stål, 1870 * '' Dysdercus sanguinarius'' Stål, 1870 * '' Dysdercus scassellati'' Del Guercio, 1918 * '' Dysdercus stehliki'' Schaefer, 2013 * '' Dysdercus superstitiosus'' (Fabricius, 1775) * '' Dysdercus unicolor'' Scudder, 1890 * '' Dysdercus wilhelminae'' van Doesburg, 1968

References

External links

North American ''Dysdercus'' species
* {{Taxonbar, from=Q10478309 Pyrrhocoridae Pentatomomorpha genera