Description of Two Species of Family Cydnidae Billberg, 1820 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from Sindh, Pakistan
Keywords:
Cydnidae, Hemiptera, Taxonomy, Macrocytus brunneus, Formundus pygmaeusAbstract
Burrowing bugs (the family Cydnidae [Hemiptera: Heteroptera]) are important members of agricultural ecosystems. These insects display a range of feeding behaviors, as some species can be pests, whilst others promote soil aeration and the breakdown of organic matter. Herewith is the first comprehensive taxonomy description of two species within the family Cydnidae Billberg, 1820. This includes morphological observations and imaging of true bugs from Sindh, Pakistan. It provides information on the structural, ecological, and geographical characteristics of Macrocytus brunneus (Fabricius, 1803) along with Formundus pygmaeus (Dallas, 1851). Field investigations have shown that these species are fossorial and participate in soil nutrient cycling. The potential impact of these specimens on agroecosystems has been assessed through their collection from different agricultural fields in Sindh. Macrocytus brunneus has a large oval body and prominent hind femoral spines, while Formundus pygmaeus is of moderate compactness and oblong, covered in characteristic dotted markings. By indicating their role in phylogenetics and ecology, the data generated in this study emphasize the taxonomical and ecological significance of these organisms as potential bioindicators of soil health.
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