Shield Bugs - Families

Families

The following families are classified under Pentatomoidea:

  • Acanthosomatidae – Known as shield bugs. Contains 46 genera and 184 species found worldwide.
  • Canopidae – Found strictly in the Neotropical ecozone.
  • Cydnidae – Known as burrowing bugs, it contains 120 genera and about 765 species worldwide.
  • Dinidoridae – Found in tropical Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America. It is composed of 16 genera and about 65 species.
  • Lestoniidae – Small round bugs which bear a resemblance to tortoise beetles (Chrysomelidae). It is composed only of one genus and two species, it is endemic to Australia.
  • Megarididae – Contains only one genus (Megaris) and 16 species. They are small globular bugs occurring in Central America.
  • Parastrachiidae – Bright red and black bugs exhibiting maternal care of eggs, they are composed of one genus and two Asian and Estern Paearctic species.
  • Pentatomidae – Known as stink bugs, it is the largest family in Pentatomoidea. It contains around 900 genera and over 4700 species.
  • Phloeidae – Large mottled brown and flattened bugs found strictly in the Neotropical ecozone.. It is composed on only 2 genera and 3 species. They are known to exhibit strong maternal care.
  • Plataspididae – Found in Asia, particularly eastern Asia, although a few species of Coptosoma occur in the Palearctic. They are round plant-feeding bugs. It has about 59 genera and 560 species.
  • Scutelleridae – Known as jewel bugs or shield-backed bugs. Composed of 81 genera and about 450 species.
  • Tessaratomidae – Known as giant shield bugs because they are usually relatively large. Has about 55 genera and 240 species worldwide (mainly in the Old World tropics).
  • Thaumastellidae – Small bugs usually found under rocks in tropical Africa and the Middle East. It contains only one genus and three species. There is some debate to their inclusion within Pentatomoidea.
  • Thyreocoridae – Known as ebony bugs, they are small oval bugs that are a shiny black.
  • Urostylididae – Contains about 11 genera and 170 species. They are found in Southern and Eastern Asia. (including Korea).
Example species of the families under Pentatomoidea
Acanthosomatidae: The parent bug (Elasmucha grisea) guarding eggs.
Cydnidae: Tritomegas sexmaculatus.
Dinidoridae: Megymenum affine
Pentatomidae: The southern green stink bug (Nezara viridula)
Plataspididae: Megacopta cribraria.
Scutelleridae: The lychee shield bug, Chrysocoris stolli, a jewel bug.
Tessaratomidae: Tessaratoma papillosa nymph.

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