The Big-Eyed Bugs, Chinch Bugs, and Seed Bugs (Lygaeoidea)

HENRY T. J.; DELLAPÉ P. M.; SILVA DA PAULA A.

True bugs (Heteroptera) of the Neotropics

Springer

Año: 2015; p. 459 - 514

The Lygaeoidea represent the second largest superfamily within the Pentatomomorpha with more than 4200 species worldwide (Henry 2009). The Lygaeoidea, though predominantly seed feeders, includes some of the most economically important species of Heteroptera, such as the sap-feeding chinch bugs. A lesser number of others, such as the geocorids, are in large part predatory. The group represents the second largest superfamily of the infraorder Pentatomomorpha, with 16 families, more than 700 genera, and 4200 species worldwide (Henry 2009). The Neotropical fauna treated in this chapter comprises about 184 genera and 836 species. We hope this review of the superfamily, which includes information on hosts, habits, economic importance, and classification and keys to all of the Neotropical genera in 12 families, will stimulate new interest in this large, diverse group of taxonomically and ecologically important insects.