Abstract
An update to the catalogue of the Cydnidae (Hemiptera) of the Westem Hemisphere (Froeschner 1960) is given. A total of 6 genera and 21 species are listed together with their synonyms. References are given for the original descriptions and the subsequent taxonomic position, the location of types, and the geographic distribution. A comprehensive bibliography is provided. Cydnids, known popularly as "burrower bugs", are usually black or brown, small to medium in size (2 to 20 mm), and live deep in the soil where they are root-feeders (Schaefer, 1988). Some are considered important pests of agricultural crops such as com, potato, onion, sorghum, pastures, with as high as 100% loss in soybean crops having been recorded. Cydnidae show varying degrees of matemal care of eggs and early instars (Filippi-Sukamoto et al., 1995; Kight, 1995, 1996, 1997; Tachikawa et al., 1985).
NSTL