Polyctenidae
Sign in to saveThe Polyctenidae are a rarely collected family of parasitic bugs of the superfamily Cimicoidea. Polyctenidae species or bat bugs are obligate, hematophagous ectoparasites of bats. These insects are not to be confused with cimicid bat bugs, which are members of the family Cimicidae. A significant relationship appears to occur between the family groups and the species of hosts that indicates co-evolution and specialization. Polyctenidae and Cimicidae are considered to be sister taxa.
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- Subtaxa
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The Polyctenidae are a rarely collected family of parasitic bugs of the superfamily Cimicoidea. Polyctenidae species or bat bugs are obligate, hematophagous ectoparasites of bats. These insects are not to be confused with cimicid bat bugs, which are members of the family Cimicidae. A significant relationship appears to occur between the family groups and the species of hosts that indicates co-evolution and specialization. Polyctenidae and Cimicidae are considered to be sister taxa.
There are currently 32 species of polyctenid bat bugs recognized worldwide belonging to two subfamilies and five genera. Polyctenidae species occur both in the Old World (subfamily Polycteninae) and New World (subfamily Hesperocteninae).