Polyctenidae

Polyctenidae
Polyctenes sp.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Superfamily: Cimicoidea
Family: Polyctenidae
Westwood, 1874
Subfamilies

The Polyctenidae are a rarely collected family of parasitic bugs of the superfamily Cimicoidea. Polyctenidae species or bat bugs are obligate, hematophagous ectoparasites of bats. These insects are not to be confused with cimicid bat bugs, which are members of the family Cimicidae. A significant relationship appears to occur between the family groups and the species of hosts that indicates co-evolution and specialization.[1] Polyctenidae and Cimicidae are considered to be sister taxa.[2]

There are currently 32 species of polyctenid bat bugs recognized worldwide belonging to two subfamilies and five genera.[3] Polyctenidae species occur both in the Old World[4] (subfamily Polycteninae) and New World (subfamily Hesperocteninae).

  1. ^ T. C. Maa (1964). "A review of the Old World Polyctenidae (Hemiptera)" (PDF). Pacific Insects. 6 (3). Bishop Museum: 494–516.
  2. ^ Weirauch, C., Schuh, R.T., Cassis, G. and Wheeler, W.C. (2019), Revisiting habitat and lifestyle transitions in Heteroptera (Insecta: Hemiptera): insights from a combined morphological and molecular phylogeny. Cladistics, 35: 67-105. https://doi.org/10.1111/cla.12233
  3. ^ Dick, Carl W.; Bindokas, Michael. "CHECKLIST OF WORLD POLYCTENIDAE (HEMPITERA: CIMICOIDEA)". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2019-02-01.
  4. ^ Maa, T. C. (1964). "A review of the Old World Polyctenidae". Pacific Insects. 6: 494–516.