Heteroptera
Guides
Pyrrhocoris
firebugs, cotton stainers
Pyrrhocoris is a genus of true bugs in the family Pyrrhocoridae, commonly known as firebugs or cotton stainers. The genus contains approximately eight described species, with Pyrrhocoris apterus (the firebug) being the most extensively studied. Species in this genus are primarily distributed across the Palaearctic realm, with some records from North America and East Asia. The genus is notable for its gregarious behavior and has served as an important model organism in studies of insect behavioral ecology, developmental plasticity, and wing polymorphism.
Rasahus biguttatus
corsair, assassin bug
Rasahus biguttatus is a species of corsair (assassin bug) in the family Reduviidae. It occurs across a broad geographic range spanning the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America. As a member of the subfamily Peiratinae, it shares characteristics typical of corsairs, including raptorial forelegs adapted for capturing prey. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1832.
Reduviidae
Assassin Bugs, Ambush Bugs, Kissing Bugs, Wheel Bugs, Thread-legged Bugs, Bee Assassins, Millipede Assassins, Masked Hunters
Reduviidae is a large cosmopolitan family of true bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) comprising approximately 7,000 described species across more than 20 subfamilies. The family is predominantly terrestrial and predatory, with members employing diverse hunting strategies including ambush predation, active pursuit, and specialized prey capture using modified forelegs or sticky secretions. A notable exception is the subfamily Triatominae, whose members are hematophagous ectoparasites of vertebrates and vectors of Chagas disease. Most species possess a distinctive narrow neck, sturdy body, and curved proboscis that fits into a stridulatory groove on the prosternum, producing sound when rubbed against ridges. The family exhibits remarkable morphological diversity, with body sizes ranging from 12 to 36 mm and coloration spanning cryptic browns and blacks to aposematic reds, oranges, and metallic blues.
Reduvius vanduzeei
Reduvius vanduzeei is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, described by Wygodzinsky & Usinger in 1964. It belongs to the genus Reduvius, which includes several species known for their predatory habits. Unlike the well-studied congener Reduvius personatus (the Masked Hunter), detailed information about R. vanduzeei's biology and ecology appears limited in available sources. The species is recorded from North America.
Reuteria fuscicornis
Reuteria fuscicornis is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Knight in 1939. The species is known from the eastern United States, with records from New York, Washington D.C., Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. As a member of the Miridae, it belongs to one of the largest families of true bugs, commonly referred to as plant bugs or leaf bugs.
Rheumatobates minutus
Rheumatobates minutus is a small water strider (family Gerridae) described by Hungerford in 1936. It belongs to the subfamily Rhagodotarsinae, a group of marine and estuarine water striders adapted to life on the water surface. The species has been recorded across the Caribbean, Middle America, North America, and South America, indicating a broad Neotropical and Nearctic distribution. As with other members of its genus, it likely inhabits coastal marine environments and estuaries rather than freshwater habitats.
Rhopalidae
Scentless Plant Bugs
Rhopalidae, commonly known as scentless plant bugs, is a family of true bugs in the order Hemiptera. The family comprises approximately 30 genera and over 240 species worldwide. Members are distinguished from related coreids by the absence of well-developed scent glands, and from similar lygaeids by the numerous veins in the hemelytral membrane. Most species feed on plants, with some exhibiting host specificity on particular plant families. The family includes several species that aggregate in large numbers and occasionally enter buildings, such as boxelder bugs (Boisea spp.) and red-shouldered bugs (Jadera haematoloma).
Rhynocoris
Flower Assassin Bugs
Rhynocoris is a genus of assassin bugs in the family Reduviidae, subfamily Harpactorinae. Species occur across Asia, mainland Europe, Africa, and North America. The genus exhibits subsocial behavior with parental care of egg masses, a trait that has evolved independently only six times in Heteroptera. Multiple species have been investigated as biological control agents for agricultural pests, particularly in cotton and other crop systems.
Rhyparochromini
dirt-colored seed bugs
Rhyparochromini is a tribe of dirt-colored seed bugs within the family Rhyparochromidae, representing the most diverse tribe in its family with over 40 genera and 360 described species. Members are characterized cytogenetically by the presence of a pair of microchromosomes (m-chromosomes) and an XY/XX sex chromosome system. The tribe exhibits highest diversity in the Afrotropical, Palearctic, and Oriental biogeographic regions.
Rhytidoporus indentatus
Rhytidoporus indentatus is a species of burrowing bug in the family Cydnidae, first described by Uhler in 1877. As a member of Cydnidae, it possesses fossorial adaptations for subterranean life. The species has been documented across three distinct biogeographic regions: the Caribbean, North America, and Oceania, with confirmed presence in Hawaii.
Roburocoris
Roburocoris is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae, established by Weirauch in 2009. The genus belongs to the diverse and economically significant family of true bugs, though specific biological details remain poorly documented. The limited number of observations (17 records on iNaturalist) suggests it is either rare, cryptic, or restricted to specific habitats. As a recently described genus, its species composition and ecological relationships require further study.
Rupisalda
Rupisalda is a genus of shore bugs (family Saldidae) in the order Hemiptera. It was established by J. Polhemus in 1985 and belongs to the tribe Saldoidini within the subfamily Saldinae. The genus is known from Colombia. Shore bugs in this family are generally associated with marginal aquatic habitats.
Saicinae
Saicinae is a subfamily of assassin bugs (Reduviidae) established by Stål in 1859. The subfamily contains approximately 12 recognized genera, including the type genus Saica. One genus, Saicella, has uncertain taxonomic placement with characters intermediate between Saicinae and Emesinae. Members of this subfamily are predatory true bugs within the order Hemiptera.
Saldinae
Saldinae is a subfamily of shore bugs (family Saldidae) within the true bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera). Members are small, predatory insects associated with moist shoreline habitats. The subfamily contains multiple genera distributed across temperate and tropical regions worldwide.
Saldoidini
Saldoidini is a tribe of shore bugs in the family Saldidae, first described by Reuter in 1912. The tribe contains more than 20 genera and over 250 described species, making it one of the larger groupings within the Saldidae. Members are classified in the suborder Heteroptera and infraorder Leptopodomorpha. The tribe is well-represented in citizen science observations, with over 3,800 records documented on iNaturalist.
Saldula opacula
shore bug
Saldula opacula is a species of shore bug in the family Saldidae, first described by Zetterstedt in 1838. It belongs to the genus Saldula, which comprises small predatory true bugs commonly found in moist habitats near water bodies. The species has a broad distribution spanning multiple continents, with confirmed records from Europe, Northern Asia, and North America. Like other members of the family Saldidae, it is adapted to shoreline environments where it hunts small invertebrate prey.
Saldula opiparia
Saldula opiparia is a species of shore bug in the family Saldidae, described by Drake & Hottes in 1955. It belongs to a genus of small predatory true bugs commonly found in moist habitats near water. The species has been recorded in North America and Middle America. Like other Saldidae, it is likely associated with shoreline or riparian environments.
Saldula pallipes
pale shore bug
Saldula pallipes is a shore bug in the family Saldidae with a remarkably broad global distribution spanning six continents. The species was first described by Fabricius in 1794 and has since been recorded across Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), Central America, North America, and South America. Two subspecies are recognized: S. pallipes pallipes (the nominate subspecies) and S. pallipes dimidiata. Despite its wide geographic range, detailed ecological and behavioral studies remain limited.
Savius
Savius is a genus of leaf-footed bugs (family Coreidae) comprising nine described species. The genus was established by Stål in 1862 and is classified within the tribe Discogastrini. Species in this genus occur in Central and South America, with records from Mexico through Costa Rica and Surinam. Members are characterized by the expanded, leaf-like hind tibiae typical of the Coreidae family.
Sciocorini
Sciocorini is a tribe of stink bugs within the family Pentatomidae. The tribe comprises approximately 12 genera, including the type genus Sciocoris. Members are classified as true bugs in the order Hemiptera. The tribe has been documented across multiple continents with substantial observational records.
Scolopini
Scolopini is a tribe of minute predatory bugs within the family Anthocoridae, established by Carayon in 1954. The tribe comprises at least 10 described species distributed across two subtribes (Calliodina and Scolopina) plus several unplaced genera. Members are classified in the subfamily Lyctocorinae and share the general anthocorid body plan of small, oval to elongate-oval insects with raptorial forelegs adapted for capturing prey. The tribe shows notable diversity in the Southern Hemisphere, with several genera described from New Zealand and South America.
Scoloposcelis
minute pirate bugs
Scoloposcelis is a genus of minute pirate bugs in the family Anthocoridae, established by Fieber in 1864. The genus contains approximately seven described species distributed across Europe and Asia, with records from Scandinavia, Korea, and Malaysia. Species are typically found in concealed microhabitats such as under bark of decaying wood. One species, S. seidaii, was described from a single specimen collected in West Malaysia, representing the first record of the genus from that region.
Scolopostethus atlanticus
dirt-colored seed bug
Scolopostethus atlanticus is a small true bug in the family Rhyparochromidae, commonly known as dirt-colored seed bugs. It occurs in North America across the United States and Canada. As a member of the family Rhyparochromidae, it belongs to a group of ground-dwelling seed bugs that feed primarily on seeds.
Scolopostethus diffidens
dirt-colored seed bug
Scolopostethus diffidens is a species of true bug in the family Rhyparochromidae, commonly known as dirt-colored seed bugs. It was described by Horváth in 1893 and occurs across North America. The species belongs to a genus of small, ground-dwelling seed bugs that are often associated with soil and decaying organic matter.
Scolopostethus pacificus
Scolopostethus pacificus is a myrmecophilous dirt-colored seed bug that lives in close proximity to nests of the velvety tree ant (Liometopum occidentale). Unlike many ant-associated parasites that rely on chemical deception through cuticular hydrocarbon mimicry, this species employs chemical weaponry—releasing volatile compounds from its metathoracic glands to moderate encounters with its aggressive host. Molecular gut barcoding has confirmed that S. pacificus does not feed on its host ant, distinguishing its relationship as commensal or inquiline rather than parasitic. The species is native to western North America.
Scutelleridae
Jewel Bugs, Metallic Shield Bugs, Shield-backed Bugs
Scutelleridae is a family of true bugs in the order Hemiptera, commonly known as jewel bugs or shield-backed bugs. Members are distinguished by a greatly enlarged scutellum that forms a continuous shield over the abdomen and wings, often displaying brilliant metallic or iridescent coloration. This family includes approximately 81 genera and over 450 species distributed worldwide, with notable genera including Eurygaster, Scutellera, and Solenosthedium. Several species are significant agricultural pests, particularly of cereal crops.
Sehirus cinctus
white-margined burrower bug, white-margined burrowing bug
Sehirus cinctus is a true bug in the family Cydnidae known for its unusual subsocial behavior. Females deposit 120–150 eggs in shallow burrows and guard them until hatching. After emergence, mothers provision nymphs with food for 1–3 days before the young disperse to forage independently. This species has been documented feeding on plants in the Urticaceae (nettle) and Lamiaceae (mint) families, and has been observed associating with honey bees.
Sephina
leaf-footed bugs
Sephina is a genus of leaf-footed bugs (family Coreidae) comprising at least 27 described species. The genus was established by Amyot & Serville in 1843 and is classified in the tribe Spartocerini. Recent taxonomic revisions have described new species from Ecuador, Colombia, and Panama, and have clarified species boundaries through synonymies and illustrated identification keys.
Slaterobius chisos
Slaterobius chisos is a species of seed bug in the family Rhyparochromidae, described by Slater & Sweet in 1993. It is known from the Chisos Mountains region of western Texas, a rugged desert mountain range within Big Bend National Park. The species belongs to a genus of ground-dwelling seed bugs associated with arid and semi-arid habitats. Like other members of Rhyparochromidae, it is presumed to feed on seeds, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The species is rarely collected and appears to have a restricted geographic range.
Slaterobius insignis
dirt-colored seed bug
Slaterobius insignis is a species of dirt-colored seed bug in the family Rhyparochromidae. First described by Uhler in 1872 as Heraeus insignis, it is native to North America with recorded occurrences in the United States and Canada. Like other members of its family, it belongs to the true bug infraorder Pentatomomorpha and is classified within the tribe Myodochini.
Spartocera batatas
Giant Sweet Potato Bug, Giant Sweetpotato Bug
Spartocera batatas is a large leaf-footed bug in the family Coreidae, commonly known as the giant sweet potato bug. The species has been subject to detailed cytogenetic study, revealing a complex karyotype with multiple sex chromosomes. It occurs across the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
Spartocerini
Spartocerini is a tribe of leaf-footed bugs in the family Coreidae, comprising approximately 6 genera and at least 60 described species. The tribe is characterized by specific morphological features including prominent and unarmed antennifers, slender legs, and hind coxae separated from each other by a distance greater than from each one to the lateral margin of the body. The conjunctiva lacks a pair of lateral lobes and has a membranous dorsal middle lobe. The tribe is exclusively distributed in the Neotropical region.
Sphyrocoris obliquus
Sphyrocoris obliquus is a shield-backed bug in the family Scutelleridae, characterized by an enlarged scutellum that covers most of the abdomen and wings. The species exhibits a broad Neotropical distribution spanning the Caribbean, Central America, North America, and South America. It is one of the more frequently observed members of its genus, with over 700 documented observations on iNaturalist.
Stenomacra
bordered plant bugs
Stenomacra is a genus of bordered plant bugs in the family Largidae, established by Stål in 1870. The genus contains at least eight described species distributed primarily in the Americas, with records from the southwestern United States through Central America to South America, including Ecuador and Panama. Species in this genus are associated with vegetation, particularly flowering plants, and have been observed feeding on plant sap and honeydew. Some species have been studied for their mating behavior and ecological roles in agroecosystems.
Stenomacra marginella
bordered plant bug
Stenomacra marginella is a bordered plant bug in the family Largidae, found across the Americas from North America through Central America to South America. The species has been documented feeding on various plants including Seep Willow (Baccharis salicifolia) and Mexican sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia). Research has examined male copulatory behavior and its effects on reproduction. The species serves as a host for parasitoids and has been observed in high abundance in riparian habitats.
Stethaulax
Stethaulax is a genus of true bugs in the family Scutelleridae, commonly known as shield-backed bugs. The genus was established by Bergroth in 1891. At least one species, Stethaulax marmorata, has been studied in detail regarding its immature stages and life history. Members of this genus possess the enlarged scutellum characteristic of Scutelleridae, which covers most of the abdomen and wings.
Stygnocoris
dirt-colored seed bugs
Stygnocoris is a genus of dirt-colored seed bugs in the family Rhyparochromidae, established by Douglas & Scott in 1865. The genus contains approximately 15 described species. Members are classified within the tribe Stygnocorini. Taxonomic revisions have clarified species boundaries and synonymies, particularly for species occurring in Russia and adjacent countries.
Symphylus caribbeanus
Symphylus caribbeanus is a seldom-collected shield-backed bug (family Scutelleridae) described by Kirkaldy in 1909. It belongs to a family characterized by an enlarged scutellum that covers most or all of the abdomen and wings. The species has been documented in the Caribbean and North America, though detailed biological information remains limited due to its rarity in collections.
Synaptonecta issa
Synaptonecta issa is a minute water bug species in the family Micronectidae, first described by Distant in 1910. The species belongs to a genus of tiny aquatic true bugs that inhabit freshwater environments. Limited observational data exists, with only six iNaturalist records documented. The species has a disjunct distribution spanning North America and Southern Asia.
Systelloderes
gnat bugs
Systelloderes is a genus of gnat bugs (family Enicocephalidae) containing approximately 12 described species. The genus exhibits a nearly cosmopolitan distribution with highest diversity in humid tropical and subtropical forests. Species occur across multiple continents including Africa, Madagascar, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and the Americas from North America through Central and South America. The genus was established by Blanchard in 1852 and belongs to the tribe Systelloderini within the subfamily Enicocephalinae.
Systelloderes biceps
gnat bug
Systelloderes biceps is a species of gnat bug in the family Enicocephalidae, a group of small, predatory true bugs. The species is found across Central America and North America. Members of this family are generally poorly studied, and specific biological details for S. biceps remain limited in the scientific literature.
Taedia virgulata
Taedia virgulata is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Knight in 1930. The species is documented from the southwestern United States and Mexico. As a member of the genus Taedia, it belongs to a group of mirid bugs commonly associated with herbaceous vegetation. The species has been recorded in Arizona and Texas in the United States, as well as in Mexico.
Tagalis inornata
Tagalis inornata is a species of assassin bug in the family Reduviidae, subfamily Saicinae. It occurs across a broad geographic range spanning the Caribbean, Middle America, North America, and South America. The species was first described by Stål in 1860. Like other reduviids, it is a predatory true bug, though specific details of its biology remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Tempyra
Tempyra is a genus of dirt-colored seed bugs in the family Rhyparochromidae. The genus was established by Stål in 1874 and contains at least two described species: Tempyra biguttula and Tempyra testacea. These true bugs belong to the superfamily Lygaeoidea and tribe Udeocorini.
Tempyra testacea
Tempyra testacea is a species of seed bug in the family Rhyparochromidae, described by Barber in 1948. It belongs to the tribe Udeocorini within the subfamily Rhyparochrominae. The species is known from the United States based on published records. As a member of Rhyparochromidae, it is presumed to be a ground-dwelling seed bug, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Tetraphleps
minute pirate bugs
Tetraphleps is a genus of minute pirate bugs in the family Anthocoridae, containing approximately 10 described species. Five species occur in North America: T. canadensis, T. pilosipes, T. feratis, T. latipennis, and T. uniformis. The genus was established by Fieber in 1860. Species in this genus are small predatory true bugs.
Tetraphleps canadensis
Canadian minute pirate bug
Tetraphleps canadensis is a species of minute pirate bug in the family Anthocoridae. It occurs in North America, including Canada and the United States. Like other members of its family, it is a predatory true bug that feeds on small arthropods and their eggs. The species was described by Provancher in 1886.
Thaumastocoridae
palm bugs, bronze bugs
Thaumastocoridae is a small family of true bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) comprising approximately 9 extant genera and more than 20 described species. The family is divided into two recognized subfamilies: Thaumastocorinae, whose members are primarily associated with Eucalyptus and other Myrtaceae as pests, and Xylastodorinae, which exhibit strict specialism on palms (Arecaceae). The family includes significant agricultural pests, notably Thaumastocoris peregrinus, an Australian native that has become a cosmopolitan invasive species damaging eucalyptus plantations worldwide. The fossil record includes Dominican amber and Baltic amber specimens dating to the Miocene and Eocene respectively.
Tingidae
Lace Bugs
Tingidae, commonly known as lace bugs, is a family of minute true bugs (Hemiptera) comprising approximately 2,000 described species worldwide. Adults range from 2–10 mm in body length and are immediately recognizable by their ornate, reticulated forewings and pronotal expansions that create a delicate lace-like appearance. The family exhibits complete phytophagy, with species typically specialized to particular host plants or closely related plant groups. Tingidae undergo hemimetabolous development with five distinct nymphal instars preceding the adult stage. Several species are economically significant as pests of ornamental plants, trees, and agricultural crops, while others have been employed as biological control agents against invasive weeds.
Tingini
lace bugs
Tingini is the largest tribe of lace bugs (family Tingidae), comprising at least 250 genera and approximately 2,400 described species. Members are characterized by their distinctive reticulated, lace-like forewings and flattened body form. The tribe represents the most diverse lineage within Tingidae, with species distributed across multiple continents.