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. Many species feed on seeds, some on sap or seed pods, others are omnivores and a few, such as the wekiu bug, are insectivores. Insects in this family are distributed across the world.
The family was vastly larger, but numerous former subfamilies have been removed and given independent family status, including the Artheneidae, Blissidae, Cryptorhamphidae, Cymidae, Geocoridae, Heterogastridae, Ninidae, Oxycarenidae and Rhyparochromidae, which together constituted well over half of the former family.
The bizarre and mysterious beetle-like Psamminae were formerly often placed in the Piesmatidae, but this is almost certainly incorrect. Their true affiliations are not entirely resolved.
Distinguishing characteristics Lygaeidae are oval or elongate in body shape and have four-segmented antennae. Lygaeidae can be distinguished from Miridae (plant bugs) by the presence of ocelli, or simple eyes. They are distinguished from Coreidae (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 is subdivided as:BioLb.cz: family ground bugs: Lygaeidae Schilling, 1829 (retrieved 26 October 2021) subfamily Ischnorhynchinae Stål, 1872 Crompus Stål, 1874 Kleidocerys Stephens, 1829 subfamily Lygaeinae Schilling, 1829 Lygaeus Fabricius, 1794 Oncopeltus Stål, 1868 Melanocoryphus Stål, 1872 Spilostethus Stål, 1868 Tropidothorax Bergroth, 1894 subfamily Orsillinae Stål, 1872 Nysius Dallas, 1852 Orsillus Dallas, 1852 subfamily † Lygaenocorinae Unplaced genera Lygaeites Heer, 1853
The Pachygronthinae Stål, 1865 (type genus Pachygrontha Germar, 1840) may be placed here or elevated to the family Pachygronthidae.
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References
External links
Lygaeidae, BugGuide