Using iNaturalist to enhance our understanding of alydid bugs in Virginia

Broad-headed bugs (family: Alydidae) are a small family of hemipterans with just over 20 species in the United States, three of which are common in Virginia. Their nymphs are notable for being convincing ant mimics, and adults have been recorded as pests of soybean.

Major research on Alydid distribution throughout Virginia was last published in the 1970s. The data has been scarcely updated since. Museum collections and field sampling have been valuable avenues for informing species distribution of alydids in Virginia. However, there is also an untapped wealth of data on the internet.

With the advent of the app iNaturalist, it has become possible to gather data on insect distributions from citizen scientists all over the world. iNaturalist allows users to post photos of organisms they find, and the community works together to identify them.

Alydidae are relatively large and photograph well, allowing for reliable identification to species level over the internet. This makes them prime candidates for use with iNaturalist.

Using iNaturalist, in addition to visiting museums and sampling in the field, this project aims to improve our understanding of Alydid distribution in Virginia. Notable findings thus far include a new Alydid species in the state, and the first ever Alydid to be found on Virginia's Eastern Shore.