Thanks to Harry Braylovsky for the identification of the species in this gallery.
Designed by Paul Smith 2006.
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FAMILY ALYDIDAE: BROAD-HEADED BUGS
Long considered a subfamily of the Leaf-footed Bugs Coreidae and easily confused with them, the Broad-headed Bugs share many characteristics, but can be distinguished by their more slender and elongate body form. The head is broad, more than half the width of the rear margin of the pronotum and the fourth antennal segment is curved and slightly longer than the third segment. Some species resemble ants or wasps, others have spiny, swollen hind femurs. Nymphs of the members of the genus Hyalymenus are ant mimics and are often found in their company. A total of 300 or so species have been described from across the world, they being herbivorous and feeding on the sap and seeds of leguminous plants and grasses. Most species are of no economic significance, but a small number are considered pests.
FIGURE 1

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2

FIGURE 2
FIGURE 1 - Hyalymenus sp., PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (David Gill February 2008 - ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
FIGURE 2 - Unidentified sp., PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Pier Cacciali June 2008 - ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).