Miridae
Guides
Adelphocoris
plant bugs
Adelphocoris is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae, tribe Mirini. Multiple species are significant agricultural pests, particularly in Chinese cotton production following widespread Bt cotton adoption. The genus includes at least three economically important species—A. suturalis, A. lineolatus, and A. fasciaticollis—that exhibit distinct geographic distributions, seasonal dynamics, and host plant associations. Species within this genus show complex life histories involving migratory behavior, diapause, and multi-generational development on diverse host plants.
Agaveocoris
Agave Bugs
Agaveocoris is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae, established by Henry & Menard in 2020. The genus comprises species associated with agave plants, reflecting their specialized ecological niche. As a recently described genus, taxonomic and biological knowledge remains limited. The common name "Agave Bugs" reflects this host association.
Agaveocoris barberi
Agaveocoris barberi is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, subfamily Phylinae. It was originally described by Knight and later transferred to the genus Agaveocoris by Henry & Menard in 2020. The species is associated with agave plants and has a limited distribution in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Agaveocoris distanti
Agaveocoris distanti is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae. It was originally described as Caulotops distanti by Reuter in 1905 and has since been reclassified into the genus Agaveocoris. The species is recorded from Florida in the United States and Venezuela, with broader presence indicated in Middle and North America. It belongs to the tribe Caulotopsini, whose members are associated with agave plants.
Agnocoris
Agnocoris is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae, established by Reuter in 1875. The genus contains seven described species distributed across the Holarctic region. Members are small, soft-bodied true bugs with the characteristic hemelytra of mirids. The genus has been documented from Europe and North America based on specimen records.
Aguayomiris pallipes
Aguayomiris pallipes is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Maldonado in 1986. It belongs to the subfamily Cimicomorpha within the order Hemiptera. The genus Aguayomiris is part of the diverse mirid fauna of the Neotropical region.
Amblytylus
Amblytylus is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae, established by Fieber in 1858. The genus contains at least two described species: Amblytylus albidus and Amblytylus nasutus. Members of this genus are classified within the suborder Heteroptera (true bugs) and are part of the diverse mirid fauna found in the Palearctic region.
Ambracius liviae
Ambracius liviae is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Ferreira and Henry in 2010. The species is known from Texas, USA. As a member of the subfamily Phylinae (implied by genus placement), it likely exhibits the slender body form and reduced cuneus characteristic of this group. The specific epithet honors an individual named Livia.
Americodema nigrolineatum
A species of plant bug in the family Miridae, originally described as Icodema nigrolineata by Knight in 1923. The species is distributed across eastern North America and parts of Central America, with records from Canada through the United States to Mexico. It is a member of the diverse plant bug fauna of the Nearctic region.
Anacrabro ocellatus
square-headed wasp
Anacrabro ocellatus is a small (6-7 mm) fossorial wasp in the family Crabronidae. Unlike most related genera in tribe Crabronini that hunt flies, this species specializes in capturing plant bugs (family Miridae) to provision its subterranean nest cells. It is widespread east of the Rocky Mountains in North America, with three recognized subspecies. The species is notable for its potential role in biological control of agricultural pests.
Anapus
A genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae. Species identification is challenging due to significant intraspecific polymorphism in coloration and body proportions. Male genitalia, particularly the aedeagus, provide reliable diagnostic characters for species delimitation. The genus is Palearctic in distribution.
Aoplonema
Aoplonema is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae, established by Knight in 1928. The genus contains three described species: A. nigrum, A. princeps, and A. rubrum. Two species were described by Forero in 2008, while A. princeps was originally described as Capsus princeps by Uhler in 1894. As members of Miridae, species in this genus are presumed to be phytophagous, though specific host plant associations remain undocumented.
Aoplonema nigrum
Aoplonema nigrum is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Forero in 2008. It belongs to the suborder Heteroptera within the order Hemiptera. The species has been documented in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.
Aoplonema princeps
Aoplonema princeps is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, first described by Uhler in 1894. This true bug is native to western North America, with documented occurrences in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. As a member of the large and diverse Miridae family, it is likely associated with herbaceous or woody vegetation, though specific host plant relationships remain poorly documented.
Apachemiris
Apachemiris is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae, established by Carvalho & Schaffner in 1974. As a member of the Cimicomorpha infraorder, it belongs to a diverse group of predatory and phytophagous true bugs. The genus is native to North America and contains species associated with specific host plants.
Apachemiris areolatus
Apachemiris areolatus is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described from Texas and New Mexico in 1974. It belongs to a small genus endemic to the southwestern United States. The species name "areolatus" refers to a net-like or small-celled pattern, likely describing surface sculpturing on the body. Very few observations exist, with only six records documented on iNaturalist.
Arizonapsallus stonedahli
Arizonapsallus stonedahli is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Randall T. Schuh in 2006. It is a member of the genus Arizonapsallus, which was established to accommodate several mirid species with restricted distributions in the southwestern United States. The species is known only from Arizona and represents part of the diverse mirid fauna of the Sonoran Desert region. As a recently described species with limited collection records, its biology and ecology remain poorly documented.
Asciodema obsoleta
Asciodema obsoleta is a Palearctic true bug in the family Miridae. The species has been recorded across parts of Europe, North Africa, and has been introduced to North America. It belongs to the plant bug family Miridae, one of the largest families of true bugs with predominantly phytophagous feeding habits.
Atomoscelis
Atomoscelis is a genus of true bugs in the family Miridae, established by Reuter in 1875. As a member of the plant bug family, species in this genus are likely associated with vegetation, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The genus is part of the diverse Cimicomorpha infraorder, which includes many predatory and plant-feeding heteropterans. Records indicate at least some species occur in North America, but comprehensive taxonomic revision is lacking.
Atomoscelis onustus
Atomoscelis onustus is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae. It exhibits a broad Holarctic distribution spanning the Palearctic and Nearctic regions. The species has been documented across diverse environments from the western Mediterranean and Middle East to western North America. Like other members of the genus, it is presumed to be phytophagous, though specific host plant associations remain poorly documented.
Atractotomus
Atractotomus is a genus of predatory plant bugs in the family Miridae. Species in this genus are primarily found in Europe, with some species established in North America. At least one species, A. mali, exhibits zoophytophagous feeding behavior and has become a recognized pest in apple orchards.
Atractotomus balli
Atractotomus balli is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, first described by Knight in 1931. It belongs to the genus Atractotomus, a group of small predatory or plant-feeding true bugs. Records indicate presence in western North America, including the southwestern United States. As with many mirid species, detailed biological information remains limited in published literature.
Atractotomus miniatus
Atractotomus miniatus is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, first described by Knight in 1926. It belongs to a genus of small predatory or omnivorous mirids. The species is documented from multiple states in the southeastern and south-central United States.
Atractotomus nicholi
Atractotomus nicholi is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Knight in 1968. It is known from the southwestern United States, specifically Arizona and California. As a member of the genus Atractotomus, it belongs to a group of small predatory or plant-feeding bugs within the diverse Miridae family.
Atractotomus quercicola
Atractotomus quercicola is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Stonedahl in 1990. It is associated with oak trees (Quercus), as indicated by its specific epithet. The species is known from northeastern Mexico and Texas.
Autumnimiris
Autumnimiris is a genus of plant bugs (family Miridae) established by Schwartz in 1989. The genus comprises approximately six described species distributed in North America. These mirids are part of the diverse Cimicomorpha infraorder, which includes many predatory and plant-feeding true bugs.
Autumnimiris albescens
Autumnimiris albescens is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Van Duzee in 1925. The species is known from the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other members of the genus Autumnimiris, it is associated with autumn activity periods, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Ballella basicornis
Ballella basicornis is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Knight in 1959. It belongs to the genus Ballella, a small group within the diverse plant bug family. The species is known from limited records in Arizona, USA, and remains poorly documented in scientific literature.
Bisulcopsallus pallidus
Bisulcopsallus pallidus is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Schuh in 2006. The genus Bisulcopsallus belongs to the diverse family of true bugs known for their plant-feeding habits. This species is known from Arizona, USA, though detailed biological information remains limited in published literature. As a member of Miridae, it likely exhibits typical characteristics of the family including small size, membranous wings with distinct venation, and piercing-sucking mouthparts adapted for feeding on plant fluids.
Bolteria
Bolteria is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae containing approximately 18 described species. The genus was established by Uhler in 1887 and is distributed in North America, with species recorded from the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Canada. Species-level identification relies on examination of male genitalia. Host plant associations have been documented for some species, though specific hosts are not widely published.
Bothynotus
Bothynotus is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae, established by Fieber in 1864. The genus contains approximately 14 described species distributed across Europe and North America. Species have been described from the 19th century through 1985, with several additions by T. Henry in 1979. The genus is part of the diverse mirid fauna but remains relatively poorly studied compared to some larger mirid genera.
Brachynotocoris puncticornis
Brachynotocoris puncticornis is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Reuter in 1880. It has been recorded across multiple continents including Europe, North Africa, North America, and South America, suggesting either a broad native range or human-mediated dispersal. As a member of the Miridae, it belongs to one of the most diverse families of true bugs. The specific epithet 'puncticornis' refers to spotted or dotted antennae.
Brooksetta
Brooksetta is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae, established by Kelton in 1979. The genus contains approximately 13 described species, all native to North America. These insects are small, soft-bodied true bugs within the order Hemiptera. As members of Miridae, they possess piercing-sucking mouthparts characteristic of the family.
Brooksetta althaeae
Hollyhock Plant Bug
Brooksetta althaeae, commonly known as the hollyhock plant bug, is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae. The species was described by Hussey in 1924. It is found in North America, with confirmed records from Michigan. The common name suggests an association with hollyhock plants (Alcea species), though specific ecological relationships remain poorly documented.
Brooksetta malvastri
Brooksetta malvastri is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Knight in 1968. The specific epithet "malvastri" suggests an association with plants in the genus Malvastrum or related Malvaceae, though detailed biological information remains limited. The species is recorded from California and Arizona in the southwestern United States. As a member of Miridae, it is a true bug with piercing-sucking mouthparts, but specific ecological details are sparse in the available literature.
Bryocorinae
Bryocorinae is a subfamily of plant bugs (Miridae) characterized by extraordinary morphological heterogeneity despite relatively modest species diversity compared to other mirid subfamilies. Five tribes are currently recognized: Bryocorini, Dicyphini, Eccritotarsini, Felisacini, and Monaloniini. The subfamily exhibits diverse feeding strategies, with members ranging from predominantly phytophagous to predacious. Several species, particularly in the genus Macrolophus, are economically important as biological control agents. The subfamily has a global distribution with particular diversity in the Neotropics.
Bryocorini
Bryocorini is a tribe of plant bugs within the subfamily Bryocorinae of the family Miridae. Members are generally small, delicate mirids associated with mosses, liverworts, and other cryptogamic vegetation. The tribe is distinguished by morphological adaptations for life in moist, shaded microhabitats. Bryocorini represents one of the more specialized radiations within the Bryocorinae, with species often exhibiting reduced wings or brachyptery.
Calidroides
Calidroides is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae, described by Schwartz in 2005. It belongs to the diverse suborder Heteroptera, commonly known as true bugs. The genus is part of the large and ecologically significant family Miridae, which contains thousands of species worldwide. Very few observations of this genus exist in public databases.
Calocoris texanus
Calocoris texanus is a species of true bug in the family Miridae, first described by Knight in 1942. It belongs to the genus Calocoris, a group of plant bugs within the suborder Heteroptera. The species is known from the Nearctic region, with confirmed records from Texas.
Campylomma
mullein bugs
Campylomma is a genus of plant bugs (family Miridae, tribe Nasocorini) comprising at least 12 recognized species. The genus is best known from detailed studies of C. verbasci, the mullein bug, which exhibits a predator-phytophage feeding strategy and has been investigated for pheromone-based mating disruption in orchard systems. Japanese species have been taxonomically revised, with emphasis on genitalic characters for identification. The genus occurs across temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere including North America, Europe, and East Asia.
Campylomma verbasci
mullein bug
Campylomma verbasci, commonly known as the mullein bug, is a plant bug in the family Miridae. It is a predator-phytophage that functions as a biological control agent in orchards, feeding primarily on pear psylla (Psylla pyricola) and European red mite (Panonychus ulmi). The species overwinters as eggs on woody hosts including apple, pear, Rosa spp., and Amelanchier sp., then completes two to four generations annually depending on region. Adults disperse to herbaceous plants, particularly common mullein (Verbascum thapsus), during summer months before returning to orchards in autumn. It has been studied extensively for pheromone-based mating disruption, representing the first documented case of such control in Heteroptera.
Campyloneura virgula
Campyloneura virgula is the sole species in the monotypic genus Campyloneura, a plant bug in the family Miridae. It is a true bug (Hemiptera) characterized by piercing-sucking mouthparts. The species has been documented across the Azores archipelago, with distribution records from Corvo, Faial, Flores, Graciosa, and Pico islands.
Capsus ater
black plant bug
Capsus ater is a plant bug in the family Miridae, commonly known as the black plant bug. It is widely distributed across North America, Europe, and northern Asia, with evidence suggesting North American origin followed by introduction to other regions. The species inhabits dry to moderately moist open habitats and feeds on various grasses without apparent preference for particular species or genera.
Capsus cinctus
Capsus cinctus is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, a group commonly known as plant bugs or mirids. The species has a Holarctic distribution, occurring across Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. As a member of the Miridae, it possesses the characteristic piercing-sucking mouthparts typical of true bugs. Specific details regarding its biology, host associations, and ecology remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Cariniocoris geminatus
Cariniocoris geminatus is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, first described by Knight in 1929 under the basionym Plagiognathus geminatus. It belongs to the infraorder Cimicomorpha, a diverse group of true bugs that includes many plant-feeding species. The genus Cariniocoris is part of the large and economically significant family Miridae, commonly known as plant bugs or capsid bugs. Information specific to the biology and ecology of C. geminatus is limited in available sources.
Ceratocapsidea
Ceratocapsidea is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae, established by Henry in 2015. The genus belongs to the subfamily Orthotylinae, a diverse group of small, often cryptic plant bugs. Ceratocapsidea was erected to accommodate species previously placed in related genera, particularly Ceratocapsus, based on distinct morphological features. The genus is relatively small and poorly known, with few documented observations.
Ceratocapsus
Ceratocapsus is a genus of plant bugs in the family Miridae, containing more than 130 described species. Members of this genus are typical visitors to blacklights at night, suggesting nocturnal activity patterns. As mirid plant bugs, they possess piercing-sucking mouthparts characteristic of the family. The genus was established by Reuter in 1876.
Ceratocapsus apicalis
Ceratocapsus apicalis is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, first described by Knight in 1925. It is a small, soft-bodied true bug found in North America, with confirmed records from Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico. The species belongs to a diverse genus of mirid plant bugs that are typically associated with vegetation.
Ceratocapsus apicatus
Ceratocapsus apicatus is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, described by Van Duzee in 1921. It is known from North America, with documented records from California. As a member of the Miridae, it possesses piercing-sucking mouthparts characteristic of true bugs. The species is one of many in the diverse genus Ceratocapsus.
Ceratocapsus barbatus
Ceratocapsus barbatus is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae, first described by Knight in 1927. It is known from the eastern United States, with records from Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C. As a member of the genus Ceratocapsus, it belongs to a group of mirid bugs characterized by distinctive modifications to the pronotum and scutellum.