Shore bugs (Saldidae)

Abstract

The Saldidae is one of the most ancient and extant families of insects belonging to the infraorder Leptopodomorpha that includes small (2-8 mm), oval- shaped insects known as shore bugs. They can be found in several habitats from marine intertidal places to edges of streams and lakes or far away from water in dry environments. Aspects of general characteristics, biology, and diagnosis are presented, and keys for the four extant families and for the subfamilies, genera, and known species of Saldidae occurring in the Neotropical region, mainly South America, are included.