Cydnidae

Heteroptera (plantsucking) • Hemiptera • insects (plant pests) • pests-diseases-weeds

Cydnus aterrimus (click on image to enlarge it)
Author(s): Didier Descouens
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Cydnidae - (burrower bugs)

This family of bugs contains more than 500 species which can be found in the soil sucking on the roots of plants or under stones and in leaf litter. Some are associated with ants. Several species are regarded as crop pests like the cassava burrowing bug, Cyrtomenus bergi.

The Cydnidae resemble the Pentatomidae and the group has been previously listed as a subfamily of the Pentatomidae. The main difference being the spines on the tibiae of the Cydnidae (hairs in the Pentatomidae) as well as the relatively short and triangular scutellum.

The following genera are currently entered in the system:

• Cyrtomenus (genus)