Flat-bugs
Guides
Acaricoris
flat bugs
Acaricoris is a genus of flat bugs (family Aradidae) established by Harris & Drake in 1944. The genus contains approximately eight described species distributed primarily in North America and the Caribbean. Members of this genus are associated with decaying wood habitats. As with other aradids, they are flattened dorsoventrally and are typically found in concealed microhabitats such as under bark.
Aradus
flat bugs
Aradus is a genus of flat bugs (family Aradidae) containing approximately 200 or more species distributed worldwide, with highest diversity in the Holarctic region. These insects are strongly associated with forest habitats, particularly dead and decaying wood where they feed on fungi. Several species exhibit pyrophilous behavior, colonizing burned forests to exploit fungi that grow on charred wood. The genus has a documented fossil record extending back to the Eocene, with 14 species described from Baltic amber inclusions.
Brachyrhynchus
Brachyrhynchus is a genus of true bugs in the family Aradidae (flat bugs). These insects are characterized by their dorsoventrally flattened bodies and are typically found in association with decaying wood and bark habitats. The genus has been documented in 467 iNaturalist observations. Taxonomic placement has been historically confused, with some sources previously associating the name with weevils (Curculionidae), but current consensus places Brachyrhynchus within Hemiptera: Aradidae.
Mezira
flat bugs
Mezira is a genus of flat bugs in the family Aradidae containing over 70 described species. Members are characterized by dorsoventrally flattened bodies adapted for living in confined spaces under bark and in leaf litter. The genus exhibits specialized morphological adaptations for mycetophagy, including elongated stylets and modified mouthpart sensilla for feeding on fungal mycelia and fruiting bodies.
Neoproxius
Neoproxius is a genus of flat bugs (Hemiptera: Aradidae) established by Usinger and Matsuda in 1959. The genus belongs to the family Aradidae, a group of true bugs characterized by their dorsoventrally flattened bodies adapted for living in confined spaces such as under bark or in decaying wood. As of current records, the genus contains multiple species distributed in specific regional contexts, though detailed biological information remains limited in published literature.
Neuroctenus
flat bugs
Neuroctenus is a genus of flat bugs in the family Aradidae, subfamily Mezirinae, containing approximately 7 described species. Species in this genus are characterized by their strongly flattened bodies adapted for living under bark and in decaying wood. They are mycophagous, feeding on fungal mycelium, and have been documented in East and Southeast Asia including Taiwan, Hainan, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Tibet. Several species have been studied through mitochondrial genome sequencing, revealing close phylogenetic relationships within the genus and placement of Neuroctenus as sister to Mezira within Mezirinae.
Quilnus
Quilnus is a genus of flat bugs in the family Aradidae, first described by Stål in 1873. Members of this genus are characterized by their dorsoventrally flattened bodies, an adaptation associated with their lifestyle under bark or in other tight spaces. The genus is part of the diverse Aradidae family, which comprises over 200 genera of primarily mycophagous or saprophagous true bugs. As of current records, the genus contains relatively few described species, and detailed biological information remains limited.