The Pentatomoidea are characterised by a well-developed scutellum (the hardened extension of the thorax over the abdomen). It can be triangular to semielliptical in shape.[3] The antennae typically have five segments. The tarsi usually have two or three segments.[5]
Shield bugs have glands that produce a foul-smelling liquid, which is used defensively to deter potential predators. Nymphs have glands on the dorsal surface of the abdomen (dorsal abdominal scent glands). These are often present in adults as well, but adults also develop a pair of glands on the metathorax (third segment of the thorax), these being the metathoracic scent glands.[6][7]
The nymphs and adults have distinctive piercing mouthparts, with mandibles and maxillae modified to form a piercing "stylet" sheathed within a modified labium. The stylet is used to suck sap from plants, or in some cases to suck blood from other animals, such as in the predatory subfamily Asopinae.[8]
PentatomidaeLeach, 1815 – known as stink bugs, it is the largest family in Pentatomoidea. It contains around 900 genera and over 4700 species.[16]
Phloeidae – large mottled brown and flattened bugs found strictly in the Neotropical realm. It is composed on only 2 genera and 3 species. They are known to exhibit strong maternal care.[13]
Plataspidae – found in Asia, particularly eastern Asia, although a few species of Coptosoma occur in the Palearctic. They are round plant-feeding bugs. It has about 59 genera and 560 species.[16]
Saileriolidae – only recently removed from inclusion within Urostylididae.
Scutelleridae – known as jewel bugs or shield-backed bugs. Composed of 81 genera and about 450 species.
Tessaratomidae – known as giant shield bugs because they are usually relatively large. Has about 55 genera and 240 species worldwide (mainly in the Old World tropics).[2][3][19]
Thaumastellidae – small bugs usually found under rocks in tropical Africa and the Middle East. It contains only one genus and three species. There is some debate to their inclusion within Pentatomoidea.[20]
ThyreocoridaeAmyot & Serville, 1843 – includes the former family, subfamily CorimelaeninaeUhler, 1872[21] – known as ebony bugs, they are small, oval, shiny black bugs.[22]
Urostylididae – contains about 11 genera and 170 species. They are found in Southern and Eastern Asia.[16]
Extinct
†Mesopentacoridae Popov 1968 Middle Jurassic-Early Cretaceous, Asia
†Primipentatomidae – family with about four Early Cretaceous fossil species from China.[23]
†Probascanionidae Handlirsch 1921 Monotypic, Early Jurassic, Germany
Faúndez E. I. (2009). "Contribution to the knowledge of the genus Acrophyma Bergroth, 1917 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Acanthosomatidae)". Zootaxa. 2137: 57–65. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.2137.1.7.
P220 Randall T. Schuh, James Alexander Slater, True bugs of the world (Hemiptera:Heteroptera): classification and natural history, Cornell University Press, 1995, ISBN0-8014-2066-0
Jerzy A. Lis (2010). "Pretarsal structures in the family Parastrachiidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomoidea)". Zootaxa. 2693: 60–62. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.2693.1.5.
Rider, David A.; Schwertner, Cristiano F.; Vilímová, Jitka; Rédei, Dávid; Kment, Petr; Thomas, Donald B. (2018-01-17). "Higher Systematics of the Pentatomoidea". Invasive Stink Bugs and Related Species (Pentatomoidea). Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis, 2017.: CRC Press. pp.25–202. doi:10.1201/9781315371221-2. ISBN978-1-315-37122-1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
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