The Lygaeidae are a family in the

Hemiptera 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. ...

(true bugs), with more than 110

genera 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 nomenclat ...

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 seeds, some feed on sap ( mucivory) or seed pods, others are

omnivores An omnivore () is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and animal matter, omnivores digest carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber, and metabolize the nutri ...

and a few, such as the wekiu bug, are carnivores that feed exclusively on insects. Insects in this family are distributed across the world, including throughout North America. The family was vastly larger, but numerous former subfamilies have been removed and given independent family status, including the

Artheneidae Artheneidae is a family of true bugs in the order Hemiptera. It was formerly included in Lygaeidae. There are about 7 genera and at least 20 described species in Artheneidae. Genera These seven genera belong to the family Artheneidae: * '' Arth ...

Blissidae The Blissidae are a family in the Hemiptera (true bugs), comprising nearly 50 genera and 400 species. The group has often been treated as a subfamily of the Lygaeidae but was resurrected as a full family by Thomas Henry (1997). The adult insects ...

Cryptorhamphidae Cryptorhamphidae is a family of true bug Hemiptera (; ) is an order of insects, commonly called true bugs, comprising over 80,000 species within groups such as the cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, assassin bugs, bed bugs, and shiel ...

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

Geocoridae Geocoridae is a family of big-eyed bugs in the order Hemiptera. There are more than 290 described species in Geocoridae. Subfamilies and Genera The ''Lygaeoidea Species File'' includes five subfamilies: Australocorinae # '' Australocoris'' Ma ...

Heterogastridae Heterogastridae is a family of lygaeoid bugs consisting of about 20 genera and more than 100 species. The group has been considered a subfamily, tribe and subtribe, but most recently has been restored to family status.Henry, T. J. 1997. Phylogen ...

Ninidae Ninidae is a family of true bugs in the order Hemiptera. There are about 5 genera and 14 described species in Ninidae. Genera These five genera belong to the family Ninidae: * '' Cymoninus'' Breddin, 1907 * '' Neoninus'' Distant, 1893 * '' Nino ...

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

and

Rhyparochromidae The Rhyparochromidae are a large family of true bugs (order Hemiptera), many of which are commonly referred to as seed bugs. The family includes two subfamilies, more than 420 genera, and over 2,100 described species. Rhyparochromidae are small ...

, which together constituted well over half of the former family. The bizarre and mysterious

beetle Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 describ ...

-like Psamminae were formerly often placed in the

Piesmatidae Piesmatidae is a small family of true bugs, commonly called ash-grey leaf bugs. The Piesmatidae are distributed mostly in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, with some occurring in Africa, Australia and South America. A common species found throu ...

, but this is almost certainly incorrect. Their true affiliations, however, are not entirely resolved to satisfaction.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Lygaeidae are oval or elongate in body shape and have four-segmented antennae. Lygaeidae can be distinguished from

Miridae The Miridae are a large and diverse insect family at one time known by the taxonomic synonym Capsidae. Species in the family may be referred to as capsid bugs or "mirid bugs". Common names include plant bugs, leaf bugs, and grass bugs. It is the ...

(plant bugs) by the presence 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 ...

, or simple eyes. They are distinguished from

Coreidae Coreidae is a large family of predominantly sap-sucking insects in the Hemipteran suborder Heteroptera. The name "Coreidae" derives from the genus ''Coreus'', which derives from the Ancient Greek () meaning bedbug. As a family, the Coreidae a ...

(squash bugs) by the number of veins in the membrane of the front wings, as Lygaeidae have only four or five veins.

Subfamilies and selected genera

An incomplete

list of Lygaeidae genera These 114 genera belong to the family Lygaeidae, seed bugs. There are at least 980 described species in Lygaeidae. Lygaeidae genera * '' Aborsillus'' Barber, 1954 * '' Acanthocrompus'' Scudder, 1958 * '' Achlyosomus'' Slater Alex, 1992 * '' Acrob ...

is subdivided as:BioLb.cz
family ground bugs: Lygaeidae Schilling, 1829 (retrieved 26 October 2021) ;subfamily

Ischnorhynchinae Ischnorhynchinae is a subfamily of seed bugs in the family Lygaeidae. There are about 16 genera and more than 70 described species in Ischnorhynchinae. The members of this subfamily are small, terrestrial insects that typically translucent or tra ...

Stål, 1872 * ''

Crompus ''Crompus'' is a genus of seed bugs in the family Lygaeidae. ''Crompus'' are terrestrial insects in the Ischnorhynchinae subfamily of seed bugs that are endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic l ...

'' Stål, 1874 * ''

Kleidocerys ''Kleidocerys'' is a genus of seed 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, milkwee ...

'' Stephens, 1829 ;subfamily

Lygaeinae Lygaeinae is a subfamily of ground bugs in the insect family Lygaeidae. Genera Genera within this subfamily include: : '' Achlyosomus'' Slater Alex, 1992 : '' Acrobrachys'' Horvath, 1914 : '' Acroleucus'' Stal, 1874 : '' Aethalotus'' Stal, 1874 ...

Schilling, 1829 * ''

Lygaeus ''Lygaeus'' is a genus of seed bugs in the family Lygaeidae. There are more than 60 described species in ''Lygaeus''. Species These 69 species belong to the genus ''Lygaeus'': * '' Lygaeus alboornatus'' Blanchard, 1852 * '' Lygaeus analis'' D ...

'' Fabricius, 1794 * ''

Oncopeltus ''Oncopeltus'' is a genus of seed bugs in the family Lygaeidae, which has at least 40 described species. Species These 40 species belong to the genus ''Oncopeltus'': * '' Oncopeltus atrorufus'' (Guerin, 1838) * '' Oncopeltus aulicus'' Fabriciu ...

'' Stål, 1868 * ''

Melanocoryphus ''Melanocoryphus'' is a genus of seed 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, milkw ...

'' Stål, 1872 * ''

Spilostethus ''Spilostethus''Stål C (1868) ''Hemiptera Fabricana I. K. svenska VetenskAkad. Handl.'' 72. is a genus of bugs in the family Lygaeidae The Lygaeidae are a family in the Hemiptera (true bugs), with more than 110 genera in four subfamilies. Th ...

'' Stål, 1868 * ''

Tropidothorax Tropidothorax is a genus of seed bugs or ground bugs belonging to the family Lygaeidae, subfamily Lygaeinae.There are about 11 described species in ''Tropidothorax''. Species These species belong to the genus ''Tropidothorax'': : '' Tropidotho ...

'' Bergroth, 1894 ;subfamily Orsillinae Stål, 1872 * ''

Nysius ''Nysius'' is a genus of false chinch bugs in the family Lygaeidae. At least 100 described species are placed in ''Nysius''. Like other seed bugs, some species in the genus have proven to be crop pests of wheat and other grains (including ''N. ...

'' Dallas, 1852 * '' Orsillus'' Dallas, 1852 ;subfamily † Lygaenocorinae ;Unplaced genera * '' Lygaeites'' Heer, 1853 The Pachygronthinae Stål, 1865 (type genus ''

Pachygrontha ''Pachygrontha'' is a genus of seed bugs and allies in the family Pachygronthidae Pachygronthidae is a family of true bugs in the order Hemiptera. There are about 14 genera and more than 80 described species in Pachygronthidae. Genera These ...

'' Germar, 1840) may be placed here or elevated to the family

Pachygronthidae Pachygronthidae is a family of true bugs in the order Hemiptera. There are about 14 genera and more than 80 described species in Pachygronthidae. Genera These 14 genera belong to the family Pachygronthidae: * '' Cymophyes'' Fieber, 1870 * '' ...

Gallery

File:Lygaeus turcicus.9.17.08w.jpg, False milkweed bug, '' Lygaeus turcicus'', on Asteraceae flower File:Small Milkweed Bugs.jpg, Small milkweed bug, ''

Lygaeus kalmii ''Lygaeus kalmii'', known as the small milkweed bug or common milkweed bug, is a species of seed bug in the family Lygaeidae. It is found in Central and North America. Taxonomy ''Lygaeus kalmii'' was first formally named in 1874 by Swedish ent ...

''), nymph (bottom) and mature (top) File:Milkweed bug on a butterfly weed.jpg, Large milkweed bug, ''

Oncopeltus fasciatus ''Oncopeltus fasciatus'', known as the large milkweed bug, is a medium-sized hemipteran (true bug) of the family Lygaeidae.Attisano, A. (2013) Oosorption and migratory strategy of the milkweed bug,''Oncopeltus fasciatus. Animal Behaviour 86(3):6 ...

'', on a butterfly weed File:Oncopeltus varicolor ssp. stalii.jpg, ''

varicolor'' ssp. ''stalii''

References

External links

''Lygaeidae''
BugGuide {{Taxonbar, from=Q682987 Heteroptera families