Lygaeidae
The Lygaeidae are a family in the Hemiptera, 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 by the presence of ocelli, or simple eyes. They are distinguished from Coreidae 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:;subfamily Ischnorhynchinae Stål, 1872
- Crompus Stål, 1874
- Kleidocerys Stephens, 1829
- Lygaeus Fabricius, 1794
- Oncopeltus Stål, 1868
- Melanocoryphus Stål, 1872
- Spilostethus Stål, 1868
- Tropidothorax Bergroth, 1894
;subfamily † Lygaenocorinae
;Unplaced genera
- Lygaeites Heer, 1853