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

Infraorder Enicocephalomorpha - Unique-headed Bugs

Systelloderes sp., Enicocephalidae - Unique-headed Bug - Systelloderes Systelloderes? - Systelloderes Enicocephalid, Systelloderes - Systelloderes Systelloderes - male Hymenocoris formicinus? - Hymenocoris - male bug - Systelloderes 8851 - Hymenocoris Enicocephalidae? - Systelloderes
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)
Other Common Names
Gnat Bugs(1)
Numbers
2 families, with ~17 spp. in 7 genera in our area and ~430 described spp. in 65 genera worldwide; real global diversity much higher(2); analysis of world fauna in(3)
Size
our spp. <7 mm(4)
Identification
short, helate foretarsi armed with small spines; head divided by a constriction(1)
Range
predominantly tropical group
Remarks
the basalmost group, sister to the rest of the Heteroptera(1)
Works Cited
1.Evolution of the Insects
David Grimaldi and Michael S. Engel. 2005.
2.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.
3.Zoogeography of Enicocephalomorpha (Heteroptera)
Štys P. 2008. Bull. Insectol. 61: 137-138.
4.First record of the Enicocephalidae (Heteroptera) in Michigan and Ohio
Swanson D.R. 2015. Great Lakes Entomol. 48: 1-8.