Polyctenidae

{{Short description|Family of true bugs}}

{{More citations needed|date=December 2011}}

{{Automatic taxobox

| image = Polyctenidae.jpg

| image_alt =

| image_caption = Polyctenes sp.

| taxon = Polyctenidae

| authority = Westwood, 1874

| type_genus =

| type_genus_authority =

| subdivision_ranks = Subfamilies

| subdivision_ref =

| subdivision =

• Polycteninae
• Hesperocteninae

| synonyms =

| synonyms_ref =

}}

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.{{cite journal |author=T. C. Maa |year=1964 |title=A review of the Old World Polyctenidae (Hemiptera) |pages=494–516 |journal=Pacific Insects |volume=6 |issue=3 |publisher=Bishop Museum |url=http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/pi/pdf/6(3)-494.pdf}} Polyctenidae and Cimicidae are considered to be sister taxa.Weirauch, C., Schuh, R.T., Cassis, G. and Wheeler, W.C. (2019), Revisiting habitat and lifestyle transitions in Heteroptera (Insecta: Hemiptera): insights from a combined morphological and molecular phylogeny. Cladistics, 35: 67-105. https://doi.org/10.1111/cla.12233

There are currently 32 species of polyctenid bat bugs recognized worldwide belonging to two subfamilies and five genera.{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322725590|title=CHECKLIST OF WORLD POLYCTENIDAE (HEMPITERA: CIMICOIDEA)|last1=Dick|first1=Carl W.|last2=Bindokas|first2=Michael|website=ResearchGate|language=en|access-date=2019-02-01}} Polyctenidae species occur both in the Old World{{Cite journal|last=Maa|first=T. C.|date=1964|title=A review of the Old World Polyctenidae|journal=Pacific Insects|volume=6|pages=494–516}} (subfamily Polycteninae) and New World (subfamily Hesperocteninae).