Pentatominae

shield bugs, stink bugs

Tribe Guides

Pentatominae is the largest within Pentatomidae, comprising approximately 4,937 in 938 . Members are commonly known as shield bugs or stink bugs due to their characteristic body shape and defensive secretions. The subfamily includes numerous agricultural pests and several that have become household pests in introduced ranges. Higher of the group have been revised by Rider et al.

Dendrocoris reticulatus by (c) Andrew Meeds, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Andrew Meeds. Used under a CC-BY license.

Strachiini by (c) Jesse Rorabaugh, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jesse Rorabaugh. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Pentatominae: /pɛnˌtætoʊˈmaɪnaɪ/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Pentatominae can be distinguished from other Pentatomidae by tribal-level characters including genitalic structures and other morphological features defined in Rider et al.'s systematic revision. The subfamily encompasses substantial morphological diversity across its 938 , precluding simple diagnostic characters at the subfamily level.

Images

Distribution

Worldwide distribution with representation across all major biogeographic regions. The includes Afrotropical such as Tripanda (Madagascar, Central and West Africa), Neotropical genera such as Glyphepomis (Brazil, Argentina), and from Chile including Thestral incognitus.

Diet

in this are phytophagous, feeding on plant material. Several species are agricultural pests, with some recorded from rice crops and irrigated agricultural fields.

Behavior

Some of Acledra within this have been observed to change color seasonally to match leaf coloration. Defensive secretions are produced, characteristic of the Pentatomidae.

Human Relevance

Several are significant agricultural pests. pentatomines including Halyomorpha halys (brown marmorated stink bug) and Bagrada hilaris (bagrada bug) have become household pests in introduced regions. Notable pest species also include Nezara viridula (green vegetable bug), Acrosternum hilare (green stink bug), and Piezodorus lituratus (gorse shield bug).

Similar Taxa

other Pentatomidae subfamiliesDistinguished by tribal-level morphological characters and genitalic structures as defined in systematic revisions
Pentatoma rufipes (forest bug)Specific within Pentatominae, distinguished by preference and morphological features

More Details

Systematic revision

Higher of Pentatominae have been revised by Rider et al., providing the current tribal classification.

Notable species

The includes Thestral incognitus, named after Harry Potter's Thestrals due to its elusive nature and ivory carinae resembling skeletal bodies; and Acledra nazgul, named after Tolkien's Nazgûl for its occurrence in Argentinian highlands.