Aradidae is a family of flat bugs, and a member of true bugs (

Heteroptera The Heteroptera are a group of about 40,000 species of insects in the order Hemiptera. They are sometimes called "true bugs", though that name more commonly refers to the Hemiptera as a whole. "Typical bugs" might be used as a more unequivocal al ...

). The common name for these insects refers to their

dorsoventrally Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position prov ...

flattened bodies. With few exceptions, these cryptic insects are of no economic importance. This family occurs worldwide, with the most diversity occurring in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. Temperate species commonly live under the bark of dead trees, while many tropical species are found in leaf litter or on fallen twigs or branches. Most members of the family are thought to be mycophagous (fungus eating), but little is known of the feeding habits of most species. They can be attracted to the pheromones of

bark beetle A bark beetle is the common name for the subfamily of beetles Scolytinae. Previously, this was considered a distinct family (Scolytidae), but is now understood to be a specialized clade of the "true weevil" family (Curculionidae). Although the ...

s. Many of the tropical taxa are

apterous Aptery is the anatomical condition of an animal completely lacking any kind of wings. An animal with this condition is said to be apterous. Most animal species belong to and are phylogenetic descendants of apterous taxa. These groups are said ...

. Flat bugs are distant relatives of the more familiar

stink bug Stink bug or stinkbug is a common name for several insects and may refer to: * Any of several bugs in the true bug (hemipteran) family Pentatomidae **''Halyomorpha halys The brown marmorated stink bug (''Halyomorpha halys'') is an insect in the ...

External links

Video of a cryptic Flat Bug (Dysodius Lunatus, Aradidae) on a dead tree barkInternational Heteropterist's Society

https://bugguide.net/node/view/9317 * Aradoidea Heteroptera families Taxa named by Maximilian Spinola {{Pentatomomorpha-stub