Predatory-bugs
Guides
Alloeorhynchus
damsel bugs
Alloeorhynchus is a genus of predatory damsel bugs in the family Nabidae, subfamily Prostemmatinae. The genus was established by Fieber in 1860 and currently includes at least ten described species distributed across the Palearctic and Nearctic regions. Species have been recorded from Europe, North Africa, and Mexico, with recent taxonomic work significantly expanding known diversity in Central America.
Anaelia
Anaelia is a genus of minute predatory bugs in the family Anthocoridae, established by Carpintero in 2014. The genus is currently classified as doubtful by GBIF, indicating taxonomic uncertainty regarding its validity or circumscription. It belongs to the order Hemiptera, which includes true bugs with piercing-sucking mouthparts. Members of Anthocoridae are generally small insects that prey on other small arthropods, particularly mites and thrips, though specific information for Anaelia is unavailable.
Carthasis
Carthasis is a genus of damsel bugs in the family Nabidae, established by Champion in 1900. The genus contains approximately five described species. Members of this genus are predatory true bugs, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented due to limited research attention.
Coccivora
minute pirate bugs
Coccivora is a genus of minute pirate bugs (family Anthocoridae) containing a single described species, C. californica. These small predatory true bugs belong to the diverse Anthocoridae family, whose members are generally recognized as beneficial predators in agricultural and natural ecosystems. The genus was established by McAtee & Malloch in 1925. As a member of Anthocoridae, Coccivora likely shares the family's general characteristics of small size and predatory habits, though species-specific biology remains poorly documented.
Ctenotrachelus
Ctenotrachelus is a genus of assassin bugs in the family Reduviidae, established by Stål in 1868. The genus comprises more than 20 described species and is classified within the subfamily Stenopodainae. Members of this genus are predatory true bugs that share the general characteristics of reduviid assassin bugs, including raptorial forelegs adapted for capturing prey. The genus has been documented in the Americas, with specific collection records from Florida, USA.
Dufouriellini
Dufouriellini is a tribe of minute pirate bugs (family Anthocoridae) comprising approximately 7 genera and 15 described species. The tribe was established by Van Duzee in 1916 and is classified within the subfamily Lyctocorinae. Members are small predatory heteropterans found in diverse habitats. Genera include Alofa, Amphiareus, Brachysteles, Buchananiella, Cardiastethus, Dufouriellus, and Physopleurella.
Emesini
thread-legged bugs
Emesini is a tribe of thread-legged bugs (Reduviidae: Emesinae) characterized by extremely slender bodies and elongated legs. The tribe contains multiple genera distributed worldwide, with some species exhibiting specialized cave-dwelling habits. Members of this tribe include both surface-dwelling and cavernicolous species, with documented arachnophilous behavior in several taxa.
Enicocephalidae
unique-headed bugs, gnat bugs
Enicocephalidae, commonly known as unique-headed bugs or gnat bugs, is a family of approximately 300 species within the ancient and relictual infraorder Enicocephalomorpha. Members are small true bugs, typically around 4 mm in length, characterized by their elongated, constricted heads that give the family its common name. The family exhibits global distribution with greatest species richness in humid tropical and subtropical forests. Enicocephalidae are considered living fossils due to their evolutionarily conserved morphology. The family is classified into about 47 genera placed in five subfamilies, with notable polymorphism including winged males and wingless or short-winged females in many species.
Gelastocoris
toad bugs
Gelastocoris is a genus of predatory true bugs in the family Gelastocoridae, commonly known as toad bugs. The genus comprises more than 20 described species, including both extant and extinct taxa. Members are characterized by their distinctive toad-like appearance, cryptic coloration, and raptorial forelegs adapted for capturing prey. The family name derives from Greek 'gelastos' (laughable) and 'koris' (bug), referencing their unusual morphology.
Gerridae
water striders, water bugs, pond skaters, water skippers, Jesus bugs, water skeeters, water scooters, water gliders, water skimmers, puddle flies
Gerridae are a family of true bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) renowned for their ability to walk on water. They possess hydrofuge hairpiles covering the body and specialized leg structures that exploit water surface tension. Most species inhabit freshwater, though the genus Halobates is exceptional as the only truly oceanic insect, living on open ocean surfaces. Over 1,700 species have been described, with body lengths ranging from 2–36 mm. They are predatory, feeding on surface-trapped invertebrates.
Glyptocombus
jumping soil bugs
Glyptocombus is a genus of minute jumping soil bugs in the family Schizopteridae, first described by Heidemann in 1906. The genus was long considered monotypic, containing only G. saltator, until 2018 when three additional species were described from the United States and Mexico. These insects belong to the infraorder Dipsocoromorpha, a group of small predatory true bugs adapted to life in soil and leaf litter. The genus is among the more poorly known groups of Heteroptera due to their cryptic habits and small size.
Lasiochilidae
Lasiochilid Pirate Bugs
Lasiochilidae is a family of minute predatory true bugs in the order Hemiptera, commonly referred to as lasiochilid pirate bugs. These insects are closely related to Anthocoridae (flower bugs) and share similar ecological roles as predators of small arthropods and pests. The family has been documented across the Oriental and Palaearctic regions, with recent taxonomic work in India identifying multiple species and new regional records.
Loricula elegantula
Loricula elegantula is a minute true bug in the family Microphysidae, a group commonly known as minute pirate bugs or microphysid bugs. The species was originally described as Anthocoris elegantula by Bärensprung in 1858 before being transferred to the genus Loricula. It is known from the Azores archipelago in the North Atlantic, with records from five islands: Faial, Flores, Graciosa, Pico, and São Miguel. As a member of the Microphysidae, it likely shares the family's predatory habits, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Naucoridae
creeping water bugs, saucer bugs
Naucoridae is a family of aquatic predatory true bugs comprising approximately 400 species in 46 genera across five subfamilies. Members are commonly known as creeping water bugs or saucer bugs due to their dorsoventrally flattened, oval body shape. They inhabit freshwater environments worldwide with greatest diversity in tropical regions, ranging from still waters to torrential streams. Most species are lotic, occurring in flowing waters rather than lentic habitats. They are predatory, feeding on other small invertebrates using piercing-sucking mouthparts.
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.
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.
Temnostethus
minute pirate bugs
Temnostethus is a genus of minute pirate bugs in the family Anthocoridae, established by Fieber in 1860. The genus comprises approximately eight described extant species plus one fossil species from the Oligocene. Members of this genus are small predatory true bugs found primarily in the Palearctic region.
Xylocorini
Xylocorini is a monotypic tribe of minute predatory bugs in the family Anthocoridae, containing only the genus Xylocoris. The tribe comprises approximately 50 described species worldwide, with the highest diversity in the Palaearctic Region. Members are small, cryptic insects associated with concealed microhabitats.