Seed bug
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 Lygaeus pandurus
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many; see text |
The Lygaeidae are one of the larger and more diverse families in the Hemiptera, with over 4000 species in 500 genera, and are commonly known as seed bugs even though a number of species do not feed on seeds; some are predators on other insects, others feed on sap (mucivory), and others feed on blood (hematophagy). The family as presently defined is believed to be paraphyletic, as the members of other families (Berytidae, Colobathristidae, and Malcidae) apparently have members of the Lygaeidae as their ancestors. It is expected that this group will undergo massive changes in classification in the near future, and many of the 16 subfamilies are likely to be elevated to family status (indeed some taxonomists have already done so). Examples include the names Artheneidae, Blissidae, Cryptorhamphidae, Geocoridae, Henicocoridae, Heterogastridae, Myodochidae, Ninidae, Oxycarenidae, Pachygronthidae, and Rhyparochromidae.
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