Abstract
Evidence from laboratory rearing and a study of the literature indicate that the members of the large subfamily Megalonotinae are seed feeders, rather than predaceous as was commonly believed. Of the 35 species recorded from Connecticut, 33 have been studied. All have either been reared through the life cycle upon sunflower seeds and water alone, or, in a few cases where a diapause factor was involved, lived for at least 5 months on this diet. The predominance of seed feeding in the Lygaeidae is summarized. As a good, descriptive common name is lacking, the name seed bugs is here proposed for the family.

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