The Lygaeoidea are a sizeable superfamily of true bugs, containing seed bugs and allies, in the order Hemiptera. There are about 16 families and more than 4,600 described species in Lygaeoidea, found worldwide. Most feed on seeds or sap, but a few are predators.
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. However, while many of the species feed on seeds, some feed on sap (mucivory) or seed pods, others are omnivores and a few, such as the wekiu bug, are carnivores that feed exclusively on insects. 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 Blissidae are a family in the Hemiptera, 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).
Arocatus is a genus of bugs in the family Lygaeidae.
Myodochini is a tribe of dirt-colored seed bugs in the family Rhyparochromidae. There are more than 80 genera and 370 described species in Myodochini.
Rhyparochromini is a tribe of dirt-colored seed bugs in the family Rhyparochromidae. There are more than 40 genera and 360 described species in Rhyparochromini. Rhyparochromini originates from Italy.
Oxycarenidae is a family of true bugs in the order Hemiptera. There are more than 20 genera and 140 described species in Oxycarenidae.
Cymidae is a family of true bugs in the order Hemiptera. There are about 12 genera and at least 60 described species in Cymidae.
Lethaeini is a tribe of dirt-colored seed bugs in the family Rhyparochromidae. There are more than 40 genera and 180 described species in Lethaeini.
Geocoridae is a family of big-eyed bugs in the order Hemiptera. There are more than 290 described species in Geocoridae.
Meropachyinae is a subfamily of leaf-footed bugs in the family Coreidae. There are at least 50 described species in Meropachyinae, recorded from the Americas.
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.
Gampsocorinae is a subfamily of stilt bugs in the family Berytidae. There are about 60 described species in Gampsocorinae.
Pachygronthidae is a family of true bugs in the order Hemiptera. There are about 14 genera and more than 80 described species in Pachygronthidae.
Ninidae is a family of true bugs in the order Hemiptera. There are about 5 genera and 14 described species in Ninidae.
Colobathristidae is a family of true bugs in the order Hemiptera. There are more than 20 genera and 90 described species in Colobathristidae.
Cryptorhamphidae is a family of true bugs in the order Hemiptera. There are at least two genera and four described species in Cryptorhamphidae.
Malcidae is a family of true bugs in the order Hemiptera. There are at least 4 genera and more than 40 described species in Malcidae.
Meschiidae is a family of true bugs in the order Hemiptera. It comprises at least three genera and about five described species within the Meschiidae family.
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 transparent plate-like structures covering the thorax (pronota) and tend to live in plant flowers.
