The seedcorn maggot is a common pest belonging to this family. Although most injurious members of this family are gall formers, the agronomic pest species do not cause this type of damage. Adults can often be identified by their long legs and antennae. The Hessian fly and the sorghum midge are notorious members of this family. A triangular area, known as the scutellum, is evident on the middle area of the thorax.
True bugs have two pairs of wings or none.
If wings are present, the front pair is partially thickened or leathery, the second pair membranous. There is great variability among the members of this family. Some are phytophagous, others predaceous. The chinch bug is its best known member. Although referred to as plant bugs, some mirid bugs are predaceous.