Lygaeidae

Lygaeidae is a family of true bugs, commonly called seed bugs. Many species feed on seeds or other plant tissues, though some have different diets.

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Heteroptera: Heteroptera is the suborder of insects commonly called true bugs, distinguished by specialized forewings and piercing-sucking mouthparts. Lygaeidae belongs to this broader group of true bugs.
Nysius raphanus: Nysius raphanus is a seed bug species that can damage seedlings and crops, including canola. It exemplifies lygaeids that become agricultural pests.
Oncopeltus fasciatus: Oncopeltus fasciatus, the large milkweed bug, is a seed-feeding true bug associated with milkweeds in North America. It is a well-studied lygaeid with a distinctive association with milkweed plants.
Rhyparochromidae: Rhyparochromidae is a family of true bugs that includes many ground-dwelling seed feeders. It was historically included in a broader Lygaeidae but is now treated as a separate family.
Lygaeoidea: Lygaeoidea is a superfamily of true bugs that includes seed-feeding and other terrestrial families. This superfamily places Lygaeidae among closely related bug families.
Nysius huttoni: Nysius huttoni is a seed bug native to New Zealand that feeds on seeds and can damage crops. Its crop impacts show how a lygaeid's seed-feeding can matter in agriculture.
Lygaeus kalmii: Lygaeus kalmii is a North American seed bug commonly found on milkweed and other plants. This species shows that milkweed associations extend beyond the large milkweed bug.
Artheneidae: Artheneidae is a family of true bugs whose members include seed-feeding species. Its separation from Lygaeidae reflects revisions to the family's traditional boundaries.
Seed bug: A seed bug is a true bug that feeds chiefly on seeds, often using piercing-sucking mouthparts. The common name reflects the feeding habits of many lygaeids.
Rhyparochromus vulgaris: Rhyparochromus vulgaris is a seed-feeding bug native to Europe that has spread to parts of North America. This species illustrates the spread of some lygaeids beyond their native ranges.