The genus Nysius in the insect family Lygaeidae, contains approximately 106 species throughout the world. Like other seed bugs, there are some species in the genus that have proven to be crop pests of wheat and other grains (including N. huttoni), as well as many vegetables. There appears to be a unique Hawaiian radiation of the genus containing almost a quarter of the world's species (26), as well as the most diverse character set seen in the genus. In addition, two closely related species found on Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea on the island of Hawai'i, are different from the rest of Nysius by exhibiting reduced nonfunctional wings, and feed on dead and dying insects (N. wekiuicola, N. aa ).