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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Bugs (Heteroptera) » Cimicomorpha » Miroidea » Plant Bugs (Miridae)

Family Miridae - Plant Bugs

Classification · Other Common Names · Pronunciation · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Food · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited

Garden Fleahopper - Microtechnites bractatus

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)

Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)

Infraorder Cimicomorpha

Superfamily Miroidea

Family Miridae (Plant Bugs)

Other Common Names

Plant bugs, Leaf bugs

Pronunciation

MEER-i-dee

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Miridae Hahn 1833 (sometimes listed as 1831)

Numbers

1,930 species in 223 genera in our area(1); the largest heteropteran family, with >10,000 described species in ~1,300 genera worldwide(2)(3)

Size

adults 1.5-15 mm (more in some neotropical Restheniini)(3)

Identification

The unique characteristic of mirids is special setae ('trichobothria') on middle and hind femora

Other useful features:

lack of small, simple eyes called ocelli (NB: ocelli may be absent in other bugs, e.g. Cnemodus or Largidae, yet present in a few mirids (Isometopinae)

presence of a cuneus (a hind section of the thickened anterior part of the front wing, set off from it by a crease) - also present in Anthocoridae, Cimicidae, and Microphysidae

2 closed cells in the fore wing membrane

antennae mostly long and thin (usually shorter/thicker in Lygaeoidea and Coreoidea)

legs slender, delicate

Range

Cosmopolitan

Food

most are plant feeders, but many are predatory or zoophytophagous

Remarks

Overview of our fauna(4):

Family MIRIDAE

Subfamily Bryocorinae

Tribe Bryocorini

Genera Bryocoris, Monalocoris

Tribe Dicyphini

Genera Campyloneura, Cyrtopeltis, Dicyphus, Engytatus, Macrolophus, Miomonalonion, Nesidocoris, Tupiocoris, Usingerella

Tribe Eccritotarsini

Genera Caulotops, Cyrtocapsus, Halticotoma, Hesperolabops, Pycnoderes, Pycnoderella, Sixeonotopsis, Sixeonotus, Sysinas

Subfamily Cylapinae

Tribe Cylapini

Genera Cylapus

Tribe Fulviini

Genera Fulvius, Peritropis

Subfamily Deraeocorinae

Tribe Clivinemini

Genera Ambracius, Bothynotus, Clivinema, Largidea

Tribe Deraeocorini

Genera Conocephalocoris, Deraeocapsus, Deraeocoris, Diplozona, Eurychilopterella, Hesperophylum, Klopicoris, ~~Strobilocapsus~~(5)

Tribe Hyaliodini

Genera Hyaliodes, Paracarniella, Stethoconus

Tribe Surinamelini

Genera Eustictus

Subfamily Isometopinae

Tribe Diphlebini

Genera Diphleps

Tribe Myiommini

Genera Corticoris, Lidopus, Myiomma, Wetmorea

Subfamily Mirinae

Tribe Herdoniini

Genera Barberiella, Closterocoris, Cyphopelta, Dacerla, Heidemanniella, Mexicomiris, Paradacerla, Paraxenetus

Tribe Mirini

Genera Adelphocoris, Agnocoris, Allorhinocoris, Apolygus, Bolteria, Calocoris, Camptozygum, Capsus, Closterotomus, Coccobaphes, Creontiades, Dagbertus, Derophthalma, Dichrooscytus, Ectopiocerus, Ganocapsus, Garganus, Gracilimiris, Henrylygus, Irbisia, Knightomiris, Lampethusa, Lygidea, Lygocoris, Lygus, Metriorrhynchomiris, Monalocorisca, Neoborella, Neoborops, Neocapsus, Neolygus, Neurocolpus, Nonlygus, Notholopisca, Orthops, Pachypeltocoris, Pappus(6), Phytocoris, Pinalitus, Poecilocapsus, Polymerus, Proba, Pycnocoris, Salignus, Stenotus, Stittocapsus, Taedia, Taylorilygus, Tropidosteptes

Tribe Resthenini

Genera Oncerometopus, Opistheurista, Platytylus, Prepops

Tribe Stenodemini

Genera Acetropis, Actinocoris, Autumnimiris, Chaetofoveolocoris, Chaetomiris, Collaria, Dolichomiris, Leptopterna, Litomiris, Megaloceroea, Mimoceps, Pithanus, Porpomiris, Stenodema, Teratocoris, Trigonotylus

Subfamily Orthotylinae

Tribe Coridromiini(7)

Genera Coridromius

Tribe Ceratocapsini(7)

Genera Ceratocapsidea(8), Ceratocapsus, Pamillia, Pilophoropsidea(8), Pilophoropsis, ~~Renodaeus~~(8), Schaffneria, Sericophanes

Tribe Halticini

Genera Anapus, Halticus, Labops, Microtechnites, Myrmecophyes, Orthocephalus

Tribe Orthotylini

Genera Acaciacoris, Aoplonema, Aoplonemella, Apachemiris, Argyrocoris, Ballella, Blepharidopterus, Brachynotocoris, Brooksetta, Cyrtorhinus, Daleapidea, Diaphnidia, Dichaetocoris, Ephedrodoma, ~~Guerrerocoris~~(9), Fieberocapsus, Hadronema, Heterocordylus, Heterotoma, Hyalochloria, Ilnacora, Ilnacorella, Jobertus, Labopella, Labopidea, Lopidea, Lopidella, Malacocoris, Mecomma, Melymacra, Noctuocoris, Origonema, Orthotylus, Paraproba, Parthenicus, Presidiomiris, Proboscidotylus, Pseudoloxops, Pseudopsallus, Pseudoxenetus, Reuteria, Saileria, Scalponotatus, Slaterocoris, Squamocoris, Texocoris

Subfamily PHYLINAE

Tribe Hallodapini

Genera Cyrtopeltocoris, Phoradendrepulus

Tribe Decomini

Genera Aurantiocoris

Tribe Nasocorini

Genera Adenostomocoris, Arctostaphylocoris, Atomoscelis, Atractotomus, Beckocoris, Campylomma, Chlamydatus, Chlamyopsallus, Hambletoniola, Knightomiroides, Larinocerus, Lattinophylus, Megalopsallus, Monosynamma, Nevadocoris, Phoenicocoris, Pinomiris, Pruneocoris, Rhinacloa, Spanagonicus, Tannerocoris

Tribe Exaeretini

Genera Gonoporomiris, Hyalopsallus, Tuponia

Tribe Cremnorrhinini

Subtribe Cremnorrhinina

Genera Amblytylus, Brachyceratocoris, Calidroides, Coquillettia, Guentherocoris, Leutiola, Lopus, Macrotylus, Orectoderus, Pronotocrepis, Strophopoda, Teleorhinus, Ticua

Tribe Phylini

Subtribe Keltoniina

Genera Keltonia, Pseudatomoscelis, Reuteroscopus

Subtribe Phylina

Genera Conostethus, Icodema, Izyaius, Lepidargyrus, Phylus, Psallus, Sthenarus

Subtribe Oncotylina

Genera Americodema, Arizonapsallus, Asciodema, Bisulcopsallus, Cariniocoris, Ceratopsallus, Compsidolon, ~~Coniferocoris~~(10), Crassomiris, Europiella, Galbinocoris, Hamatophylus, Hoplomachus, Insulaphylus, Knightopiella, Knightopsallus, Lineatopsallus, Maculamiris, Megalocoleus, Occidentodema, Oligotylus, Oncotylus, Parapsallus, Phallospinophylus, Phyllopidea, Phymatopsallus, Piceophylus, Pinophylus, Plagiognathus, Plesiodema, Psallovius, Pygovepres, Quercophylus, Quernocoris, Ranzovius, Rhinocapsus, Rubellomiris, Rubeospineus, Salicopsallus, Sthenaropsidea, Stictopsallus, Vanduzeephylus, Vesperocoris

Tribe Semiini

Subtribe Semiina

Genera Criocoris, Hoplomachidea, Nicholia, Semium, Tytthus

Tribe Pilophorini

Genera Alepidiella, Pilophorus, Sthenaridea

Tribe Leucophoropterini

Subtribe Tuxedoina

Genera Tuxedo

*Proboscidotylus: first NA record in(11)

*Melymacra described in(12)

*Adenostomocoris, Arctostaphylocoris, Aurantiocoris, Guentherocoris, Pruneocoris, and Vanduzeephylus described in(13)

*Knightopiella described in(14)

*Calidroides and Chlamyopsallus described in(15)

* Izyaius described in(10)

*Galbinocoris, Hamatophylus, Insulaphylus, Maculamiris, Quernocoris, and Vesperocoris described in(16)

*Crassomiris, Phallospinophylus, Quercophylus, Pygovepres, Rubellomiris, and Rubeospineus described in(17)

*Arizonapsallus, Bisulcopsallus, Ceratopsallus, Cercocarpopsallus, Knightopsallus, Salicopsallus, and Stictopsallus described in(18)

*Origonema described in(19)

*Lattinophylus described in(20)

*Ambracius: first NA record in(21)

*Tytthus moved from the Leucophoropterini to Phylini sensu lato(22)

*Leutiola and Ticua described in(23)

*Phylinae is re-classified in(24)

Internet References

Miridae of Texas, compilation and crude sorting of the better TX mirid photos posted to BG (Quinn 2015)

The plant bugs of Denmark(25)

Works Cited

1.	American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico Ross H. Arnett. 2000. CRC Press.

2.	Plant Bug Planetary Biodiversity Inventory

3.	Biodiversity of the Heteroptera Henry T.J. 2009. In: Foottit R.G., Adler P.H., eds. Insect biodiversity: Science and society. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell: 223-263.

4.	Schuh, R.T. 2002-2013. On-line Systematic Catalog of Plant Bugs (Insecta: Heteroptera: Miridae).

5.	Review of the Eurychilopterella complex of genera, including the description of a new genus from Mexico Gary M. Stonedahl, J. D. Lattin and V. Razafimahatrat. 1997. American Museum of Natural History.

6.	Resurrection of the plant bug genus Pappus Distant, with Clarification of included species (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Miridae) Thomas J. Henry. 2006. Entomological Society of Washington.

7.	Systematics, Biodiversity, Biogeography, and Host Associations of the Miridae (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Cimicomorpha) G. Cassis and Randall T. Schuh. 2012. Annual Reviews.

8.	Revision of the Ceratocapsine Renodaeus group: Marinonicoris, Pilophoropsis, Renodaeus, and Zanchisme, with... Henry, Thomas J. 2015. Pensoft Publishers.

9.	Revision and phylogenetic analysis of the North American genus Slaterocoris Wagner with new synonymy, ... Michael D. Schwartz. 2011. American Museum of Natural History.

10.	Review of Plesiodema Reuter and a description of a new genus to accommodate Psallus sericeus Heidemann ... Michael D. Schwartz. 2006. KMK Scientific Press.

11.	Proboscidotylus nigrosquamis (Maldonado) (Heteroptera:Miridae:Orthotylinae): New combination and first record for the United Thomas J. Henry. 2003. Entomological Society of Washington.

12.	Melymacra, a new plant bug genus (Heteroptera: Miridae: Orthotylinae) inhabiting manzanita, Arctostaphylos Adanson (Ericaceae) Michael D. Schwartz. 2004. Pacific Coast Entomological Society.

13.	New genera, new species, new synonyms, and new combinations in North America and Caribbean Phylinae (Heteroptera, Miridae) Randall T. Schuh and Michael D. Schwartz. 2004. American Museum of Natural History.

14.	Revision of Europiella Reuter in North America, with the Description of a New Genus (Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae) Randall T. Schuh. 2004. American Museum of Natural History.

15.	Redescription of Strophopoda aprica Van Duzee and the Description of Two New Genera and Five New Species from ... Michael D. Schwartz. 2005. American Museum of Natural History.

16.	New genera, new species, and new combinations in western Nearctic Phylini (Heteroptera, Miridae, Phylinae) Christiane Weirauch. 2006. American Museum of Natural History.

17.	New Genera and Species of Oak-Associated Phylini (Heteroptera: Miridae: Phylinae) from Western North America Christiane Weirauch. 2006. American Museum of Natural History.

18.	Revision, phylogenetic, biogeographic, and host analysis of the endemic western North American Phymatopsallus group, ... Randall T. Schuh. 2006. American Museum of Natural History.

19.	Revision and phylogenetic analysis of the Hadronema Group (Miridae, Orthotylinae, Orthotylini), ... Dimitri Forero. 2008. American Museum of Natural History.

20.	Beckocoris Knight, Nevadocoris Knight, and Lattincoris artemisii, new genus and new species, Asteraceae feeding Phylinae Randall T. Schuh. 2008. Entomological Society of Washington.

21.	Revision of the genus Ambracius Stål, 1860 (Heteroptera: Miridae: Deraeocorinae: Clivinematini), with descriptions of ... Paulo Sérgio F Ferreia & Thomas J. Henry. 2010. Magnolia Press.

22.	Revision of Leucophoropterini: ... Katrina L. Menard & Randall T. Schuh. 2011. American Museum of Natural History.

23.	Revision of the Nearctic Genus Coquillettia Uhler With a Transfer to the Tribe Phylini, the Description of 14 New Species, ... Denise Wyniger. 2011. New York Entomological Society.

24.	A revised classification of the Phylinae (Insecta, Heteroptera, Miridae) : arguments for the placement of genera Randall T. Schuh and Katrina L Menard. 2013. American Museum of Natural History.

25.	Skipper L. (2003-2012) Danmarks Blomstertæger

Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Hannah Nendick-Mason, josephfortier, Beatriz Moisset, Robin McLeod, Chuck Entz, Mike Quinn, JohnMaxwell22, v belov, Harsi S. Parker, onegunah
Last updated 23 May, 2017 - 6:46pm

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