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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Bugs (Heteroptera) » Broad-headed Bugs (Alydidae) » Alydus

Genus Alydus

Classification · Other Common Names · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Broad-headed Bug - Alydus eurinus Masked Hunter? - Alydus eurinus Nymph Specimen 1 - Alydus eurinus BG1291 D1377 - Alydus eurinus 154605 - Alydus pilosulus Tons of these little guys - Alydus pilosulus Higher mag - Alydus eurinus Broad-headed Bug - Alydus pilosulus
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)
Family Alydidae (Broad-headed Bugs)
Genus Alydus
Other Common Names
Ant Bugs
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Alydus Fabricius, 1803
Explanation of Names
Etymology of Alydus is unclear.
Numbers
Nearctica (1) and Arnett, p. 257 (2) list 6 species.
Size
11-15 mm
Identification
Elongate, dark bugs with very broad heads. Antennae all dark, differentiates from similar Megalotomus. Some species have red mark on abdomen, possible mimicry of wasps. Nymphs resemble ants. Three species or so in eastern North America, including: A. eurinus, pilosulus, conspersus.
Range
North America
Habitat
Varied: fields, forest edges, usually found on herbaceous plants
Season
May-frost (North Carolina), June-October (Minnesota) adults typically late summer
Food
Suck plant juices, but sometimes found on carrion. Two eastern species (A. eurinus and A. conspersa) found on bush-clover, Lespedeza.
Remarks
Guide TBA--PC (life cycle)
Print References
Slater, pp. 65-66 (3)
Arnett, p. 257 (2)
Brimley, (Coriscus) p. 64 (4)
Borror and White, pp. 122-123 (5)
Internet References
Insects of Cedar Creek: Alydus, Alydidae, phenology
Cirrus Digital Imaging
Insect Images
Works Cited
1.Nearctica: Nomina Insecta Nearctica
2.American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico
By Ross H. Arnett
3.How to Know the True Bugs
By Slater, James A., and Baranowski, Richard M.
4.Insects of North Carolina
By C.S. Brimley
5.A Field Guide to Insects
By Richard E. White, Donald J. Borror, Roger Tory Peterson
Contributed by Cotinis on 14 March, 2004 - 8:33pm
Additional contributions by Ron M.
Last updated 24 November, 2009 - 12:37am

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