Alydidae

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Alydidae
Alydus calcaratus MHNT Dos.jpg
Alydus calcaratus
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Superfamily: Coreoidea
Family: Alydidae
Amyot & Serville, 1843
Subfamilies

Alydinae
Micrelytrinae
and see text

Synonyms

Coriscidae Stichel, 1925

Alydidae, commonly known as broad-headed bugs, is a family of true bugs very similar to the closely related Coreidae (leaf-footed bugs and relatives). There are at least 60 genera and 300 species altogether. Distributed in the temperate and warmer regions of the Earth, most are tropical and subtropical animals; for example Europe has a mere 10 species, and only 2 of these occur outside the Mediterranean region. [1]

Contents

Names

Broad-headed bugs are known as knobe in the Meto and Funai Helong languages of West Timor, Indonesia. [2]

Description

Broad-headed bugs are up to 10–12 millimetres (0.4–0.5 in) long, and have slender bodies. Some have long and very thin legs. The most notable characteristics of the family are that the head is broad, often similar in length and width to the pronotum and the scutellum, and that the last antennal segments are elongated and curved. The compound eyes are globular and protruding, and they also have ocelli. The femora of the hindlegs bear several strong spines; the tarsus has three segments. Most species have well-developed hemelytra (forewings), allowing them to fly well, but in some the hemelytra are vestigial. The membranous part of the hemelytra have several closely spaced long veins.

Alydidae are generally of dusky or blackish coloration. The upperside of the abdomen is usually bright orange-red. this color patch is normally not visible as it is covered by the wings; it can be exposed, perhaps to warn would-be predators of these animals' noxiousness: They frequently have scent glands that produce a stink considered to be worse than that of true stink bugs (Pentatomidae). The stink is said to smell similar to a bad case of halitosis.

Sometimes the adults have reduced wings. Both, nymphs and adults of some species, such as Dulichius inflatus and Hyalymenus spp. are ant mimics and live in ant nests. [3]

Ecology

These bugs mainly inhabit fairly arid and sandy habitat, like seashores, heathland, steppe and savannas. Their main food is seeds, which they pierce with their proboscis to drink the nutritious fluids contained within. Some are economically significant pests, for example Leptocorisa oratoria on rice.

Systematics

Two major lineages are generally accepted as subfamilies; a third (the Leptocorisinae [4] ) is now placed as a tribe Leptocorisini of the Micrelytrinae. [5]

Genera

These 60 genera belong to the family Alydidae: [1] [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pentatomidae</span> Family of insects

Pentatomidae is a family of insects belonging to the order Hemiptera, generally called shield bugs or stink bugs. Pentatomidae is the largest family in the superfamily Pentatomoidea, and contains around 900 genera and over 4700 species. As hemipterans, the pentatomids have piercing sucking mouthparts, and most are phytophagous, including several species which are severe pests on agricultural crops. However, some species, particularly in the subfamily Asopinae, are predatory and may be considered beneficial.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyrrhocoridae</span> Family of true bugs

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 cotton crops. A common species in parts of Europe is the firebug, and its genus name Pyrrhocoris and the family name are derived from the Greek roots for fire "pyrrho-" and bug "coris". Members of this family are often confused with, but can be quickly separated from, Lygaeidae by the lack of ocelli on the top of the head.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coreidae</span> Family of insects

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 κόρις (kóris) meaning bedbug.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scutelleridae</span> Family of insects

Scutelleridae is a family of true bugs. They are commonly known as jewel bugs or metallic shield bugs due to their often brilliant coloration. With the name based on the Asian genus Scutellera, they are also known as shield-backed bugs due to the enlargement of the thoracic scutellum into a continuous shield over the abdomen and wings. This latter characteristic distinguishes them from most other families within Heteroptera, and may lead to misidentification as a beetle rather than a bug. These insects feed on plant juices from a variety of different species, including some commercial crops. Closely related to stink bugs, they may also produce an offensive odour when disturbed. There are around 450 species worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pentatominae</span> Subfamily of true bugs

Pentatominae is a subfamily of Pentatomidae, a family of shield bugs. This subfamily is the largest one within the Pentatomidae, having 4937 species classified in 938 genera. Species in this subfamily are phytophages and several of them are considered agricultural pests. Some invasive pentatomines such as Halyomorpha halys and Bagrada hilaris have been considered household pests. Higher systematics of the group have been revised by Rider et al.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coreoidea</span> Superfamily of true bugs

Coreoidea is a superfamily of true bugs in the infraorder Pentatomomorpha which includes leaf-footed bugs and allies. There are more than 3,300 described species in Coreoidea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coreinae</span> Subfamily of true bugs

Coreinae is a subfamily in the hemipteran family Coreidae. They have been shown to be paraphyletic with respect to Meropachyinae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harpactorinae</span> Subfamily of true bugs

The Harpactorinae are a large subfamily of the Reduviidae. About 300 genera and 2,000 species worldwide have been described. Some of the species of the genera Zelus, Pselliopus, Sinea, and Apiomerus are of interest as biological pest control agents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ectrichodiinae</span> Subfamily of true bugs

The Ectrichodiinae are a subfamily of assassin bugs (Reduviidae) known for specializing on millipedes as prey. The group comprises more than 600 species in about 115 genera, making it a fairly large subfamily. The bugs are also known for their aposematic coloration, often brightly colored metallic blue, red, or yellow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harpactorini</span> Tribe of true bugs

Harpactorini is a tribe of the Harpactorinae. This group is the most diverse of the entire assassin bug family, with 51 genera recognized in the Neotropical Region and 289 genera and 2003 species overall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reduviinae</span> Subfamily of true bugs

The Reduviinae are a subfamily of the reduviid assassin bugs. Many members of the subfamily are nocturnal and their lifecycles are generally poorly known. This subfamily is suspected not to be monophyletic.

<i>Dulichius inflatus</i> Species of true bug

Dulichius inflatus is an ant mimic bug in the family Alydidae that is found mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka. It is said to live in the nests of ants Polyrhachis lacteipennis which it morphologically resembles.

<i>Acanthaspis</i> Genus of true bugs

Acanthaspis Amyot & Serville, 1843, is a genus of assassin bugs. Members of the genus are known to disguise themselves by attaching bits of debris to aid in camouflage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pentatomini</span> Tribe of true bugs

Pentatomini is a tribe of shield bugs in the subfamily of Pentatominae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alydinae</span> Subfamily of true bugs

Alydinae is a subfamily of broad-headed bugs in the family Alydidae. There are about 24 genera and more than 140 described species in Alydinae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Podopinae</span> Subfamily of true bugs

Podopinae, known as turtle bugs, are a subfamily of the insect family Pentatomidae. The type genus is Podops.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carpocorini</span> Tribe of true bugs

Carpocorini is a tribe of stink bugs in the family Pentatomidae. There are more than 100 genera in Carpocorini.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micrelytrinae</span> Subfamily of true bugs

The Micrelytrinae are a subfamily of true bugs in the family Alydidae, based on the type genus Micrelytra Laporte, 1833. Genera are recorded from the Americas, Europe and Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mictini</span> Tribe of true bugs

The Mictini are a tribe of leaf-footed bugs, in the subfamily Coreinae erected by Amyot & Serville in 1843. Genera are distributed from Africa to South-East Asia.

References

  1. 1 2 Webb, Nick; Eades, David C. (2018). "family Alydidae Amyot & Serville, 1843". Coreoidea species file online, Version 5.0. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
  2. ↑ LexiRumah 2.2.3, ‘rice ear bug’/‘walang sangit’.
  3. ↑ Oliveira PO (1985). "On the mimetic association between nymphs of Hyalymenus spp. (Hemiptera: Alydidae) and ants". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 83 (4): 371–384. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1985.tb01182.x.
  4. ↑ I. Ahmad (1965). "The Leptocorisinae (Heteroptera: Alydidae) of the world". Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History. 5 (Supplement): 1–156.
  5. ↑ Carl W. Schaefer (1999). "The higher classification of the Alydidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera)". Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington . 101 (1): 94–98.
  6. ↑ "Alydidae". GBIF. Retrieved 2019-05-01.
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