Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
In 1997 Thomas J Henry split this family as it was previously understood into 11 smaller families. For the other families created by this reorganization see:
Cryptorhamphidae (not found in our area)
Heterogastridae (Not yet represented in BugGuide)
Size
Small, the largest are 13 mm or so.
Identification
They have a beak; four segmented antennae. Most have enlarged, raptorial-looking front legs.
They differ from leaf bugs (Miiridae) in having ocelli and lacking a cuneus; they have harder bodies.
Print References
Slater, J.A. 1964. A catalogue of the Lygaeidae of the world. 2 volumes. University of Connecticut, Storrs. xviii + 1668 pp.
Internet References
Slater J. A. (1990) Lygaeidae of Florida (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) Arthropods of Florida and neighboring land areas, v. 14 0066-8036 - treats Lygaeidae inclusively, i.e. incl. Blissidae, Cymidae, Geocoridae, Lygaeidae, Ninidae, Pachygronthidae, and Rhyparochromidae
