| Coreidae | |
|---|---|
| Male Amorbus rubiginosus | |
| Coreid nymph | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hemiptera |
| Suborder: | Heteroptera |
| Infraorder: | Pentatomomorpha |
| Superfamily: | Coreoidea |
| Family: | Coreidae Leach, 1815 |
| Subfamilies | |
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Agriopocorinae (disputed) |
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Coreidae are a large family of predominantly herbivorous insects that belong in the hemipteran suborder Heteroptera.[1] There are more than 1,800 species in over 250 genera.[2] They vary in size from 7 to 45 mm, making the larger species some of the biggest heteropterans. The body shape of coreids is quite variable, with some species broadly oval while others are slender. Coreids are found throughout the world but most species are found in the tropics and subtropics.
In North America they are colloquially called "squash bugs", because some species, such as Anasa tristis, are pests of squash plants and other curcubits.[3][4] They are also called “leaf-footed bugs” due to the leaf-like expansions some species have on their hindlegs.
Some coreids, like Phyllomorpha laciniata, exhibit parental care by carrying their eggs. This behaviour can protect the eggs from parasitism.[5]
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The family Coreidae belongs to the order Hemiptera and is closely related to the families Alydidae, Hyocephalidae, Rhopalidae, and Stenocephalidae. Together, these five families form the superfamily Coreoidea.
The general morphological features of Coreidae are an oval-shaped body, antennae composed of four segments, a numerously veined forewing membrane, a metathoracic stink gland and enlarged hind tibia.[1][3] Many species are covered with spines and tubercles.[2]
This group is most often divided into 3-4 subfamilies; some selected genera are listed here:
Agriopocorinae Miller, 1953 (often included in Coreinae)
Coreinae Leach, 1815
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Meropachydinae Stål, 1867
Pseudophloeinae Stål, 1867
Numerous tribes of the Coreinae have previously been proposed for elevation to subfamily rank; for example the Agriopocorini, Colpurini, Hydarini, Phyllomorphini and Procamptini. But the only one of these changes accepted at least by a significant minority of researchers today is the first, and even recent reviews generally tend to treat the proposed Agriopocorinae as a tribe again, recognizing only the three subfamilies that were known by 1867. In addition, at least the genus Eubule is of decidedly indeterminate placement.