Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Bugs (Heteroptera) » Unique-headed Bugs (Enicocephalomorpha) » Gnat Bugs (Enicocephalidae)

Family Enicocephalidae - Gnat Bugs

Classification · Other Common Names · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Life Cycle · Remarks · Works Cited
Systelloderes? - Systelloderes Systelloderes - male Systelloderes - male Hymenocoris formicinus? - Hymenocoris - male 8851 - Hymenocoris Enicocephalidae? - Systelloderes Systelloderes Enicocephalidae
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 Enicocephalomorpha (Unique-headed Bugs)
Family Enicocephalidae (Gnat Bugs)
Other Common Names
Unique-headed Bugs(1)(2)
Explanation of Names
Enicocephalidae Stål 1860
Numbers
poorly understood group(3) with ~10 spp. in 6 genera in our area and >400 spp. in 55 genera worldwide(4)
Size
1‒17 mm(5); our spp., 2‒5 mm
Identification
slender body with unusual elongated head constricted behind eyes and at base; ocelli present; antennae and beak 4-segmented; forewings entirely membranous; front femora and tarsi thickened; middle and hind tarsi 2-segmented.
Range
worldwide
Habitat
under leaf litter, rocks, bark
Life Cycle
Some species form swarms in sunny patches in woodland, resembling the behavior of midges(1)
Remarks
may form aggregations of many thousands of individuals(4)
Works Cited
1.How to Know the True Bugs
Slater, James A., and Baranowski, Richard M. 1978. Wm. C. Brown Company.
2.American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico
Ross H. Arnett. 2000. CRC Press.
3.Revision of the New World Enicocephalomorpha (Heteroptera)
Wygodzinsky, P.W. and K. Schmidt. 1991. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History ; no. 200.
4.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.
5.Australian Faunal Directory
Contributed by Robin McLeod on 30 July, 2005 - 11:21pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Bbarnd, Mike Quinn, v belov
Last updated 9 October, 2023 - 12:50pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact