Shield bug

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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
Dinidoridae
Lestoniidae
Megarididae
Pentatomidae- stink bugs
Phloeidae
Plataspididae (Plataspidae)
Scutelleridae- shield-back bugs
Tessaratomidae
Thaumastellidae
Thyreocoridae (Corimelaenidae)- black bugs
Urostylididae (Urostylidae)

Shield bug and stink bug (or shieldbug and stinkbug) are common names applied to various insects of the Hemiptera order (the "true bugs"), in the Heteroptera suborder. 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 stink comes from aldehydes such as $C H 3 - (C H 2) 2 - C H = C H - C H O$ , and is chemically similar to pheromones. 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.

The superfamily Pentatomoidea consists of generally shield-shaped true bugs, with the families listed to the right.

Other species that resemble shield bugs are found in the Coreoidea superfamily.

[edit] Some species

Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale Acanthosomatidae	Carpocoris mediterraneus Pentatomidae	Codophila varia Pentatomidae	Cyphostethus tristriatus Acanthosomatidae
Dolycoris baccarum Pentatomidae	Elasmostethus interstinctus Acanthosomatidae	Elasmucha grisea Acanthosomatidae	Eurydema ornatum Pentatomidae
Graphosoma lineatum Pentatomidae	Halyomorpha halys Pentatomidae	Loxa viridis Pentatomidae	Palomena prasina Pentatomidae
Picromerus bidens Pentatomidae	Raphigaster nebulosa Pentatomidae	Troilus luridus Pentatomidae	Zicrona caerulea Pentatomidae