Texas Bow-legged Bug
Hyalymenus tarsatus
This record describes Hyalymenus tarsatus (species). Recorded family: Alydidae. Recorded order: Hemiptera.
Identification and Appearance
Males having slightly thicker legs than the females. Colors of the immatures are highly variable and come in red, black, gray, tan, brown and all kinds of combinations: Nymphs:
Wikipedia reference for Hyalymenus tarsatus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyalymenus_tarsatus.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
- Suborder
- Heteroptera
- Superfamily
- Coreoidea
- Family
- Alydidae (Broad-headed Bugs)
- Subfamily
- Alydinae
- Genus
- Hyalymenus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
s. CA to FL panhandle (?) / Mex. to Brazil - Map
Seasonal Activity
year round in TX, most common summer & fall ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: feeding on a variety of plants, especially euphorbias and seed pods of legumes and milkweeds
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Hyalymenus tarsatus (Fabricius 1803)
About True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hemiptera, the group containing Hyalymenus tarsatus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hemiptera (true bugs) includes over 80,000 described species across cicadas, aphids, leafhoppers, shield bugs, and bed bugs. Aphids alone cost global agriculture an estimated $2.5 billion annually in crop losses.
Ecological role of the group
Many Hemiptera are essential food sources for birds and predatory insects. Cicadas provide massive nutrient pulses during emergence events - a single Brood X emergence can involve trillions of individuals across 15 states.
Economic and practical significance of the group
The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) caused $37 million in apple crop losses in a single year in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region. Bed bug infestations in the U.S. increased by 500% between 2001-2010, costing the hotel industry hundreds of millions annually.
Recorded sources for this group: USDA, EPA, University research. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Texas Bow-legged Bug (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by cotinis , Beatriz Moisset , Mike Quinn , v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Bow-legged Bug
What is Texas Bow-legged Bug?
Texas Bow-legged Bug (Hyalymenus tarsatus) is a species in the family Alydidae, within the order Hemiptera.
How do you identify Texas Bow-legged Bug?
Males having slightly thicker legs than the females. Colors of the immatures are highly variable and come in red, black, gray, tan, brown and all kinds of combinations: Nymphs:
Where is Texas Bow-legged Bug found?
Range: s. CA to FL panhandle (?) / Mex. to Brazil - Map
What does Texas Bow-legged Bug eat?
The diet of the Texas Bow-legged Bug includes feeding on a variety of plants, especially euphorbias and seed pods of legumes and milkweeds.
When is Texas Bow-legged Bug active?
Texas Bow-legged Bug: seasonal activity - year round in TX, most common summer & fall ( 3 ).