Cimicinae
/ˌsɪmɪˈsiːniː/noun
A taxonomic subfamily of true bugs in the family Cimicidae, which includes bed bugs and related blood-feeding insects.
Did you know?The name ultimately preserves the ancient Latin term cimex, while members of the group include insects adapted to feeding on blood from humans, bats, and other hosts.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
cimex
“A bug, especially a bed bug”
18th Century
New Latin
Cimex
“A zoological genus established for bed bugs and related insects”
1802
New Latin
Cimicidae
“The taxonomic family containing Cimex and related true bugs”
19th Century
New Latin
Cimicinae
“The subfamily name formed from Cimex with the zoological suffix -inae”
Modern scientific English
English
Cimicinae
“A recognized subfamily of cimicid true bugs, including bed-bug relatives”