Pentatomidae Explained

Pentatomidae should not be confused with Pentastomida.

Pentatomidae is a family of insects belonging to the order Hemiptera, generally called shield bugs or stink bugs. Pentatomidae is the largest family in the superfamily Pentatomoidea, and contains around 900 genera and over 4700 species.[1] [2] As hemipterans, the pentatomids have piercing sucking mouthparts, and most are phytophagous, including several species which are severe pests on agricultural crops. However, some species, particularly in the subfamily Asopinae, are predatory and may be considered beneficial.

Etymology

The name "Pentatomidae" is from the Greek pente meaning "five" and tomos meaning "section", and refers to the five segments of their antennae.[1] Pentatomids are generally called "shield bugs" in British English, or "stink bugs" in American English. However, the term shield bugs are also applied broadly to include several related families (e.g. Acanthosomatidae, Scutelleridae, and Cydnidae), or specifically only to refer to species in the family Acanthosomatidae.[3] [4] [5] [6] The term shield bug refers to the generalized body shape of adult bugs in these families which resembles a heraldic shield when viewed from above.

The American name "stink bug" is specific to the Pentatomidae, and refers to their ability to release a pungent defensive spray when threatened, disturbed, or crushed. The composition of this spray may vary between species, and even by sex or age,[7] but generally includes aldehydes and alkanes. Descriptions of the smells vary widely, and include oily, dusty, woody and earthy, and like coriander.[8] [9] In some species, the liquid contains cyanide compounds and a rancid almond scent, used to protect themselves and discourage predators.[8]

The term "stink bug" may also be a vernacular for unrelated insects such as pinacate beetles (in the genus Eleodes).[10]

Description

All pentatomids have 5-segmented antennae, and 3 tarsal segments on each foot. They generally have a large triangular scutellum in the center of the back. The body shape of adult pentatomids is generally "shieldlike," when viewed from above, but this varies between species, and is not true for the immature nymphal stages. The forewings of stink bugs are called hemelytra, with the basal half thickened while the apex is membranous. At rest, the wings are laid across the back of the insect, with the membranous wingtips overlapping. The hindwings are entirely membranous.

Economics

Several stink bugs and shield bugs are considered agricultural pests, because they can grow into large populations that feed on crops, damage production, and they are resistant to many pesticides. They are a threat to cotton, corn, sorghum, soybeans, native and ornamental trees, shrubs, vines, weeds, and many cultivated crops.[11]

In Mexico, some species of stink bugs are called jumil, chinche de monte, xotlinilli, or chumil (e.g. Edessa mexicana). They are most often eaten in the states of Morelos and Guerrero. The flavor is sometimes said to resemble cinnamon, or sometimes a bitter medicinal flavor. Jumiles may be used for making sauces or as a taco filling.[12]

Since its recent arrival in the U.S., the brown marmorated stink bug population has grown significantly. As of October 2014, brown marmorated stink bugs can be found in 41 out of 50 states within the U.S.[13] In 2016 New Zealand's MPI put out an alert to prevent this invasive species from entering via imported cargo.[14]

Taxonomy

There are several subfamilies, of which the Aphylinae is often given family status, but is here retained as a subfamily, following Grazia et al. (2008).[15] The subfamilies include:[16]

  1. Aphylus Bergroth, 1906
  2. Neoaphylum Štys & Davidová-Vilímová, 2001
  1. Ceratozygum Horváth, 1916
  2. Cyphothyrea Horváth, 1916
  3. Cyrtocoris White, 1842
  4. Pseudocyrtocoris Jensen-Haarup, 1926
  1. Anisoedessa Nunes & Fernandes, 2019
  2. Brachystethus Laporte, 1833
  3. Doesburgedessa Fernandes, 2010
  4. Edessa (bug) Fabricius, 1803
  5. Grammedessa Correia & Fernandes, 2016
  6. Lopadusa Stål, 1860
  7. Mediocampus Thomas, 1994
  8. Neopharnus Van Duzee, 1910
  9. Olbia (bug) Stål, 1862
  10. Pantochlora Stål, 1870
  11. Paraedessa Silva & Fernandes, 2013
  12. Peromatus Amyot & Serville, 1843
  13. Pharnus Stål, 1867
  14. Plagaedessa Almeida & Fernandes, 2018
  15. Platistocoris Rider, 1998
  16. Praepharnus Barber & Bruner, 1932
  1. Serbana borneensis Distant, 1906
  1. Stirotarsus Bergroth, 1911
  1. Antillosciocoris Thomas, 2005
  2. Asopus Burmeister, 1834
  3. Jostenicoris Arnold, 2011

European species

European species within this family include:[17]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Family Pentatomidae – Stink Bugs . Bugguide.net . 26 February 2018.
  2. Robert G. Foottit, Peter H. Adler Insect Biodiversity: Science and Society, John Wiley and Sons, 2009,
  3. Book: Nau, Bernard . Guide to Shieldbugs of the British Isles . 2004 . Field Studies Council . 1851538984 .
  4. Book: Chinery, Michael . Insects of Britain & Western Europe . 1993 . Harper/Collins . London . 0-00-219137-7 . 72.
  5. Web site: ITIS Report, Pentatomidae Leach, 1815.
  6. Encyclopedia: Acanthosomatidae — Overview. Encyclopedia of Life .
  7. Pareja . Martín . Borges . Miguel . Laumann . Raúl A. . Moraes . Maria C.B. . amp . 2007 . Inter- and intraspecific variation in defensive compounds produced by five neotropical stink bug species (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Journal of Insect Physiology . 53 . 7 . 639–648 . 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2007.04.004 . 17574569 . 2007JInsP..53..639P .
  8. News: Stink Bugs: It Could Be Worse. New York Times . 21 April 2011 . Raver . Anne .
  9. Web site: What's in a name – do stink bugs stink?. Terminix Website .
  10. Web site: Pinacate Beetles . DesertUSA.
  11. Web site: Brown marmorated stink bug . Pennsylvania State University . 15 June 2012.
  12. Web site: How to Eat Living Stink Bugs... . Softpedia . 4 July 2007 .
  13. Web site: Stinkbugs Have Spread to 41 States; Can We Stop Them?. https://web.archive.org/web/20141020013523/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/10/141017-stinkbugs-insects-science-animals-nation-control. dead. 20 October 2014. Jason Bittel. National Geographic. 18 October 2014 . 28 February 2015.
  14. Web site: MPI on high alert for stink bug. Ministry for Primary Industries New Zealand. MPI . 12 July 2017.
  15. Grazia . Jocelia . Schuh . Randall T. . Wheeler . Ward C. . amp . 2008 . Phylogenetic relationships of family groups in Pentatomoidea based on morphology and DNA sequences (Insecta: Heteroptera) . . 24 . 6 . 932–976 . 10.1111/j.1096-0031.2008.00224.x . 34892882 . 41951432 .
  16. https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id17120/ BioLib.cz
  17. Web site: Species list in Fauna europaea . 2015-11-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104041/http://fauna.naturkundemuseum-berlin.de/species_list.php . 2016-03-04 . dead .

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