Shield and stink bugs
Acanthosoma labiduroides female
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hemiptera
Infraorder:	Pentatomomorpha
Superfamily:	Pentatomoidea
Families
Acanthosomatidae - shield bugs Aphylidae Canopidae Cydnidae - burrowing bugs (incl. Thyreocoridae) Dinidoridae Lestoniidae Megarididae Pentatomidae - stink bugs Phloeidae Plataspididae (Plataspidae) Scutelleridae - shield-back bugs Tessaratomidae Thaumastellidae Urostylididae (Urostylidae)

A freshly moulted Pentatomid nymph belonging to tribe Halyni.

Pentatomoidea is a superfamily of insects in the Heteroptera suborder of the Hemiptera order and, as such, share a common arrangement of sucking mouthparts.^[1] They are commonly referred to as shield bugs or stink bugs. Shield bugs have glands in their thorax between the first and second pair of legs which produce a foul smelling liquid. This liquid is used defensively to deter potential predators and is sometimes released when the bugs are handled carelessly. The distinctive smell comes from aldehydes such as CH₃–(CH₂)₂–CH=CH–CHO.

The nymphs, similar to adults except smaller and without wings, also have stink glands.

The nymphs and adults have piercing mouthparts which most use to suck sap from plants, although some eat other insects. When they group in large numbers they can become significant pests.

Other species that resemble Pentatomoidea insects are found in the Coreoidea superfamily.

Stinkbugs normally appear during the spring and summer months.

[edit] Families

In Britain the families encountered are Cydnidae, Acanthosomatidae, Pentatomidae and Scutelleridae. ^[2]

Both Aphylidae and Lestoniidae are smaller family groups comprising only two (L.) or three (A.) species endemic to the Australia. Aphylidae inhabit eucalyptus bark.^[3]

The Canopidae and Phloeidae are found strictly in the Neotropical ecozone ^[4]

The Dinidoridae can be found in the Afrotropical and Oriental regions (including Korea); South America and Australia. ^[5]

Megarididae have been documented only in the central America area.^[6]

Plataspididae are restricted to the tropics and sub tropics of the Eastern Hemisphere although a few species of Coptosoma occur in the Palearctic.^[7]

Tessaratomidae are centred mainly in the Old World tropics and there is some evidence of parental care in this group. ^[8]

Thaumastellidae are limited to the Afrotropical and Palearctic regions. There is some debate to their inclusion within Pentatomoidea.^[9]

Urostylididae are predominantly found in the eastern palearctic ecozone^[10] (including Korea).

[edit] See also

• Sunn pest

[edit] References