Heteroptera
Guides
Patapius
Patapius is a genus of spiny-legged bugs in the family Leptopodidae, comprising seven described species. Members of this genus are characterized by their heavily spined bodies and association with coastal or shoreline habitats. The genus has a broad geographic distribution spanning the Mediterranean region, North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and introduced populations in North America and Chile.
Paurocoris
Paurocoris is a genus of dirt-colored seed bugs in the family Rhyparochromidae, established by Slater in 1980. The genus contains at least two described species: Paurocoris punctatus (Distant, 1893) and Paurocoris wygodzinskyi Slater, 1980. It belongs to the tribe Antillocorini within the subfamily Rhyparochrominae.
Paurocoris punctata
Paurocoris punctata is a seed bug in the family Rhyparochromidae, first described by Distant in 1893. The species belongs to the tribe Antillocorini and is known from scattered records in the southern United States and Panama. As a member of the Lygaeoidea superfamily, it likely exhibits the typical seed-feeding habits common to this group, though specific ecological data remain limited. The genus Paurocoris is relatively poorly studied, with most species known from few specimens and limited geographic documentation.
Peiratinae
corsairs, corsair bugs
Peiratinae is a subfamily of assassin bugs (Reduviidae) commonly known as corsairs. The subfamily has a worldwide distribution with greatest diversity in tropical regions. Approximately 30 genera and 350 species are described, though estimates vary. Members of this subfamily are predatory true bugs. The genus Sirthenea is notable for its cosmopolitan distribution across all continents.
Pentatominae
shield bugs, stink bugs
Pentatominae is the largest subfamily within Pentatomidae, comprising approximately 4,937 species in 938 genera. Members are commonly known as shield bugs or stink bugs due to their characteristic body shape and defensive secretions. The subfamily includes numerous agricultural pests and several invasive species that have become household pests in introduced ranges. Higher systematics of the group have been revised by Rider et al.
Perillus lunatus
Perillus lunatus is a species of predatory stink bug in the family Pentatomidae, described by Knight in 1952. Like other members of the genus Perillus, it belongs to the subfamily Asopinae, which contains predatory rather than phytophagous stink bugs. The genus Perillus is best known for P. bioculatus, the two-spotted stink bug, a significant biological control agent of the Colorado potato beetle. Perillus lunatus shares the predatory habits characteristic of this genus, though specific details of its biology are less documented than those of its congener P. bioculatus.
Peritrechus convivus
dirt-colored seed bug
Peritrechus convivus is a species of seed bug in the family Rhyparochromidae, first described by Stål in 1858. It is a member of the dirt-colored seed bug group, characterized by subdued coloration typical of this family. The species has a broad distribution spanning the Holarctic region, with records from Europe, Northern Asia, and North America. Its wide geographic range suggests ecological adaptability, though specific habitat preferences remain poorly documented.
Peritrechus fraternus
dirt-colored seed bug
Peritrechus fraternus is a species of seed bug in the family Rhyparochromidae, described by Uhler in 1871. It belongs to a group commonly referred to as dirt-colored seed bugs, characterized by their dull, earth-toned coloration. The species occurs across much of North America and extends into Central America. Records indicate presence in Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
Phallospinophylus
Phallospinophylus is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae, established by Weirauch in 2006. It belongs to the diverse true bug fauna within the infraorder Cimicomorpha. The genus name reflects distinctive male genitalic characteristics typical of this group. Like other mirids, species in this genus are presumed to be phytophagous, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Phasiinae
bug-killing flies
Phasiinae is a subfamily of tachinid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae) comprising endoparasitoid species that primarily attack Heteroptera (true bugs). Members are commonly known as "bug-killing flies" and include important biological control agents of agricultural pests. The subfamily contains multiple tribes including Phasiini, Gymnosomatini, Trichopodini, Strongygastrini, and Parerigonini. Most species possess specialized adaptations for parasitoid life, including piercing structures for direct egg insertion into host tissues.
Phorticus collaris
collared nabid, yellow-collared nabid
Phorticus collaris is a species of damsel bug in the family Nabidae, commonly known as the collared nabid or yellow-collared nabid. It was first described by Stål in 1873. The species has been documented across Central America and North America, with recent first records from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Panama extending its known distribution range. Like other nabid bugs, it is a predatory true bug.
Phylini
Phylini is a tribe of plant bugs within the subfamily Phylinae (family Miridae, order Hemiptera). The tribe contains at least 440 described species distributed across three subtribes: Keltoniina, Oncotylina, and Phylina. Members are predominantly Holarctic in distribution, with significant representation in the Palearctic, Nearctic, and Neotropical regions. The type genus is Phylus. Several genera within Phylini have been subject to recent taxonomic revision, including Wallabicoris from Australia.
Phyllopidea picta
painted plant bug
Phyllopidea picta is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, first described by Uhler in 1893 under the basionym Bolteria picta. It is a member of the true bugs (Heteroptera) within the order Hemiptera. The species has been documented in western North America, with confirmed records from California, Nevada, and Utah.
Phymata fasciata
ambush bug
Phymata fasciata is a species of ambush bug in the family Reduviidae, characterized by its raptorial forelegs adapted for capturing prey. The species occurs across Central America and North America, with four recognized subspecies showing geographic variation. As a member of the Phymatinae, it employs sit-and-wait predation tactics typical of ambush bugs, though specific behavioral and ecological studies for this species remain limited.
Phymata saileri
jagged ambush bug
Phymata saileri is a species of jagged ambush bug in the family Reduviidae. Like other members of the genus Phymata, it is a predatory insect that hunts on flowers, using raptorial forelegs to capture prey. The species was described by Kormilev in 1957 and occurs in North America.
Phytocoris canadensis
Phytocoris canadensis is a mirid plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Van Duzee in 1920. The genus Phytocoris comprises mostly plant-feeding true bugs that are typically gray or brown in coloration. Some Phytocoris species have been observed to occasionally prey on smaller insects.
Phytocoris planituberis
Phytocoris planituberis is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Stonedahl in 1988. It belongs to a large genus of primarily phytophagous true bugs. The species has been recorded from the southwestern United States.
Phytocoris tuberculatus
A small mirid plant bug described by Knight in 1920, known from limited records in the eastern United States. Belongs to the genus Phytocoris, a diverse group of plant bugs characterized by their slender bodies and often cryptic coloration. Specific details of its biology remain poorly documented due to its apparent rarity and limited collection records.
Phytocoris uniformis
Phytocoris uniformis is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Knight in 1923. It is known from the eastern United States, with records from Georgia, New York, Massachusetts, and West Virginia. As a member of the genus Phytocoris, it belongs to a diverse group of mirid bugs commonly associated with vegetation. The specific epithet "uniformis" suggests a relatively uniform coloration compared to related species.
Piezogaster auriculatus
Piezogaster auriculatus is a species of leaf-footed bug in the family Coreidae, tribe Nematopodini. The species was described by Stål in 1862. A taxonomic revision synonymized Piezogaster scitus with P. auriculatus due to inability to find consistent diagnostic characters separating the two. Distributional data have been updated to exclude previously reported occurrences in New Mexico and Texas; the species is present in Mexico and Central and South America.
Pilophorini
Pilophorini is a tribe of plant bugs (Miridae: Phylinae) comprising approximately 15 genera distributed across tropical and temperate regions. The group exhibits pronounced ant-mimicry (myrmecomorphy) in many species, particularly within the type genus Pilophorus. Phylogenetic analysis indicates a tropical Gondwanan origin with subsequent radiation into the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Members of this tribe show diverse feeding strategies, including herbivory on mistletoes (Loranthaceae, Santalales) and predatory behavior.
Plagiognathus verticalis
Plagiognathus verticalis is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, first described by Uhler in 1894 under the basionym Macrotylus verticalis. The species is distributed across western North America from the Pacific states to the Intermountain West, with records extending into Baja California. As a member of the diverse genus Plagiognathus, it belongs to a group of small, often plant-associated true bugs, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited in the available literature.
Plataspidae
shield bugs, kudzu bugs, plataspid bugs
Plataspidae is a family of shield bugs in the suborder Heteroptera, native to the Old World and primarily found in tropical and subtropical regions. Members are characterized by a greatly enlarged scutellum that covers most or all of the abdomen and wings. The family includes the economically significant pest Megacopta cribraria (kudzu bug), which was introduced to North America in 2009 and has become a major pest of soybean in the southeastern United States. Most species feed on plants, particularly legumes, though some exhibit broader host ranges.
Ploiaria aptera
Ploiaria aptera is a thread-legged bug species described by McAtee and Malloch in 1925. It belongs to the subfamily Emesinae within the assassin bug family Reduviidae. The species is known from North America and is characterized by its wingless condition, as indicated by its specific epithet 'aptera'. Thread-legged bugs in this genus are typically slender predators with elongated legs adapted for capturing prey on vegetation.
Ploiaria setulifera
Ploiaria setulifera is a thread-legged assassin bug described in 1925. It belongs to the subfamily Emesinae, a group characterized by extremely slender bodies and raptorial forelegs adapted for capturing prey. The species has been documented in the Caribbean and North America. Like other reduviids, it is presumed predatory, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Ploiaria similis
Ploiaria similis is a species of thread-legged assassin bug (Reduviidae: Emesinae) described by McAtee & Malloch in 1925. The species belongs to the genus Ploiaria, a group of slender, elongate reduviids characterized by their thread-like legs and cryptic habits. It is recorded from North America and Middle America based on distribution data, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Pnirontis brimleyi
Pnirontis brimleyi is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, described by Blatchley in 1926. It belongs to the subfamily Stenopodainae, a group characterized by raptorial forelegs adapted for capturing prey. The species is known from North America, with distribution records documented in the southeastern United States. Available information is limited, with only one observation recorded in iNaturalist.
Pnirontis infirma
Pnirontis infirma is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, first described by Stål in 1859. It has a broad geographic distribution spanning the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America. As a member of the subfamily Stenopodainae, it belongs to a group of reduviids commonly known as feather-legged bugs.
Polymerus americanus
Polymerus americanus is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, first described by Reuter in 1876. It is a true bug (Heteroptera) within the order Hemiptera. The species has been the subject of a dedicated study examining its distribution, host plant associations, and seasonal activity patterns, though specific details from that work are not fully accessible in the provided sources.
Polymerus opacus
Polymerus opacus is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Knight in 1923. It is recorded from northeastern North America, with specific observations from Vermont and other parts of the United States. As a member of the plant bug family, it belongs to a diverse group of phytophagous true bugs, though detailed biological information for this particular species remains limited.
Prepops atripennis
Prepops atripennis is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae. It has been recorded from the United States (Nevada, New York, Texas), Cuba, and Brazil. The species was described by Reuter in 1876. As a member of the genus Prepops, it belongs to a group of mirids commonly known as leaf bugs.
Prepops nigricollis
Prepops nigricollis is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, first described by Reuter in 1876. It belongs to the genus Prepops, which comprises predatory or omnivorous mirids found primarily in North America. The species has been recorded in the northeastern United States and Canada. Like other members of its genus, it likely inhabits wooded or shrubby vegetation where it feeds on small arthropods and possibly plant material.
Pronotacantha
Pronotacantha is a genus of stilt bugs in the family Berytidae, established by Uhler in 1893. The genus contains seven described species distributed across North America. Members of this genus are characterized by elongated legs and slender bodies typical of stilt bugs. Several species were described by Henry in 1997, indicating relatively recent taxonomic refinement.
Prostemmatinae
damsel bugs
Prostemmatinae is a subfamily of predatory damsel bugs in the family Nabidae. It contains at least 13 described species in the Americas, organized into two tribes: Phorticini (genera Phorticus, Rhamphocoris) and Prostemmatini (genera Alloeorhynchus, Pagasa, Prostemma). Members are found in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions, with documented diversity in Mexico and the southern United States.
Protenor
broad-headed bugs
Protenor is a genus of broad-headed bugs (family Alydidae) established by Stål in 1868. The genus contains at least three described species: P. australis, P. belfragei, and P. tropicalis. Members of this genus are true bugs in the suborder Heteroptera, characterized by the family Alydidae's distinctive broad head morphology. The genus has been recorded in North America and other regions, though detailed species-level biology remains poorly documented.
Protenor australis
Protenor australis is a species of broad-headed bug in the family Alydidae, described by Hussey in 1925. The genus Protenor belongs to the subfamily Micrelytrinae, a group of true bugs characterized by their broad, flattened heads relative to body size. Distribution records indicate presence in Middle America and North America. The species remains poorly documented in published literature, with minimal observational data available.
Prytanes
Prytanes is a genus of seed bugs in the family Rhyparochromidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), described by Distant in 1893. It belongs to the tribe Myodochini, a diverse group of ground-dwelling lygaeoid bugs. The genus has been subject to recent taxonomic revision, with new distributional records documented for multiple species. Prytanes is presumably closely related to the newly described genus Prytanoides from Argentina.
Prytanes oblongus
dirt-colored seed bug
Prytanes oblongus is a species of seed bug in the family Rhyparochromidae, first described by Stål in 1862. It belongs to the dirt-colored seed bug group, characterized by generally dull, earth-toned coloration. The species has a broad distribution spanning the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America. As a member of the Lygaeoidea superfamily, it shares traits with other ground-dwelling seed bugs that feed on plant seeds.
Pselliopus punctipes
ringed assassin bug
Pselliopus punctipes is a predatory assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, commonly known as the ringed assassin bug. It is characterized by its long legs, elongated beak, and distinctive ringed coloration pattern on its body. The species is an ambush predator that hunts small insects by stalking and stabbing them with its venom-injecting proboscis. It belongs to a genus of assassin bugs known for their stealthy hunting behavior and importance in natural pest control.
Pseudopachybrachius
dirt-colored seed bugs
Pseudopachybrachius is a genus of dirt-colored seed bugs in the family Rhyparochromidae, established by Malipatil in 1978. The genus comprises eight described species distributed primarily in the New World. Species identification relies heavily on male genitalia morphology and external diagnostic characters. The group includes the taxonomically challenging 'vinctus-group' of four closely related species.
Pseudopachybrachius basalis
Pale-spotted Seed Bug
Pseudopachybrachius basalis is a species of dirt-colored seed bug in the family Rhyparochromidae. It is commonly known as the Pale-spotted Seed Bug. The species has been documented across a broad geographic range spanning North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Pseudopamera aurivilliana
Long Brown-washed Seed Bug
Pseudopamera aurivilliana is a species of dirt-colored seed bug in the family Rhyparochromidae, described by Distant in 1882. It is commonly known as the Long Brown-washed Seed Bug. The species has been documented across parts of North America and Central America.
Pseudopamera nitidicollis
dirt-colored seed bug
Pseudopamera nitidicollis is a species of seed bug in the family Rhyparochromidae, first described by Stål in 1874. It is characterized by its dull, earth-toned coloration typical of dirt-colored seed bugs. The species has been documented across Central America and North America, with records from the United States and Mexico. As a member of the Myodochini tribe, it belongs to a group of ground-dwelling seed bugs often associated with soil and litter habitats.
Pseudopamera setosa
dirt-colored seed bug
Pseudopamera setosa is a dirt-colored seed bug in the family Rhyparochromidae, described by Stål in 1874. The species is distributed across North and Central America, with records from the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, and Argentina. Like other members of its family, it belongs to a group of true bugs adapted to seed-feeding habits. The specific epithet 'setosa' refers to the setose (bristly) condition, likely describing a hairy or bristly body surface characteristic of this species.
Pseudophloeinae
leaf-footed bugs
Pseudophloeinae is a subfamily of leaf-footed bugs (family Coreidae) containing at least 100 described species across approximately 20 genera. The subfamily is divided into two tribes: Clavigrallini (Africa, Middle East, Asia, Australia) and Pseudophloeini (worldwide). Members are phytophagous true bugs with diverse morphologies. The subfamily has been subject to recent taxonomic revision, including work on the genus Vilga in the Neotropics.
Pseudopsallus angularis
yerba santa plant bug
Pseudopsallus angularis is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae. It is distributed across western North America from the southwestern United States into northwestern Mexico, with records from California, Nevada, Oregon, Arizona, and Baja California. The species is associated with yerba santa (Eriodictyon species) and related host plants.
Pseudopsallus demensus
Pseudopsallus demensus is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, originally described by Van Duzee in 1925. It belongs to the genus Pseudopsallus, a group of mirids primarily associated with herbaceous vegetation in temperate and semi-arid regions. The species occurs across western North America, from the Great Plains through the Rocky Mountains and into northern Mexico. Records suggest it occupies grassland and open habitat zones, though detailed biological studies remain limited.
Pseudozelurus
Pseudozelurus is a genus of assassin bugs (Reduviidae) in the subfamily Reduviinae. The genus was established by Lent & Wygodzinsky in 1947 and contains at least two described species: Pseudozelurus arizonicus and Pseudozelurus superbus. As with other reduviids, members of this genus are predatory true bugs.
Pycnoderes
Pycnoderes is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae, comprising more than 50 described species. Members are native primarily to the Americas, with some species such as P. quadrimaculatus expanding their range and demonstrating invasive potential. The genus includes species that feed on a variety of plants, including economically important crops.
Pyrrhocoridae
Red Bugs, Cotton Stainers
Pyrrhocoridae is a family of true bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) comprising over 300 species worldwide. Members are commonly known as 'red bugs' due to their frequent bright red coloration, with some species called 'cotton stainers' for their economic impact on cotton crops. The family includes the well-known firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus) in Europe. Pyrrhocorids are distinguished from similar families by the absence of ocelli on the head. They occupy diverse ecological roles: many feed on seeds and fruits, particularly of Malvales, some are predatory, and a few are significant agricultural pests.