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 CH₃ − (CH₂)₂ − CH = CH − CHO, 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

[edit] See also

• Sunn pest

[edit] External links

• Stink Bugs of North America - photos and information
• Green Stink Bug Acrosternum hilare - large format diagnostic photos, adults and nymphs
• Stink Bug Cosmopepla bimaculata diagnostic photos
• A shieldbug's life; a BBC article on British shield bugs, June 2004.
• Pentatomoidea Home page, North Dakota State University
• Alarm Pheromone System of Stink Bug Piezodorus guildinii (PDF)
• Stink Bug Photos Photos of Australian Stink Bug laying eggs
• heteroptera.fr World illustrated catalog of Tessaratomidae