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Overview of the Superfamily Pentatomoidea

1,2

J. E. McPherson, C. Scott Bundy, and Alfred G. Wheeler, Jr.

1.1 General Information

The superfamily Pentatomoidea (stink bugs and their relatives) comprises 18 families worldwide (including
two fossil families) with over 8,000 species, the largest of which is the Pentatomidae (about 5,000 species)
(Table 2.2). Six families are represented in America north of Mexico: Acanthosomatidae (acanthosoma-
tids or parent bugs), Cydnidae (burrower bugs), Pentatomidae (stink bugs), Scutelleridae (shieldbacked

(^1) This chapter was modified and updated (in part) from Stink bugs of economic importance in America north of Mexico
by J. E. McPherson and R. M. McPherson. Copyright 2000 CRC Press.
(^2) Statements describing content of Chapters 2 and 9 –16 were contributed by one or more authors of those chapters.
CONTENTS
1.1 General Information ......................................................................................................................... 3
1.2 Classification Overview .................................................................................................................... 4
1.3 Biology .............................................................................................................................................. 4
1.4 General Life History......................................................................................................................... 5
1.5 Predators and Parasitoids ................................................................................................................. 7
1.6 Chemical Defenses of Pentatomoids ................................................................................................ 7
1.7 Management Practices ..................................................................................................................... 8
1.8 Pentatomoid Fauna: Potential Impact of Invasive Insects on Noninvasive Species ........................ 8
1.8.1 Terminology ......................................................................................................................... 8
1.8.2 What Factors Allow Species to Become Invasive? ............................................................. 9
1.8.3 Harmful Effects of a Successful Invasion by Insects .......................................................... 9
1.9 Invasive Pentatomoids ...................................................................................................................... 9
1.9.1 History of Invasive Pentatomoids in America North of Mexico ....................................... 10
1.9.1.1 Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister), Bagrada Bug or Painted Bug ............................... 10
1.9.1.2 Halyomorpha halys (Stål), Brown Marmorated Stink Bug ............................... 10
1.9.1.3 Megacopta cribraria (F.), Kudzu Bug ................................................................ 10
1.9.1.4 Murgantia histrionica (Hahn), Harlequin Bug .................................................. 10
1.9.1.5 Nezara viridula (L.), Southern Green Stink Bug ................................................11
1.9.1.6 Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood), Redbanded Stink Bug ..................................11
1.10 Potentially Invasive Pentatomoids ....................................................................................................11
1.10.1 Oebalus spp. .......................................................................................................................11
1.10.2 Arvelius albopunctatus (De Geer), Tomato Stink Bug ...................................................... 11
1.10.3 Other Species ...................................................................................................................... 11
1.11 Noninvasive Group (A Comparison) .............................................................................................. 12
1.12 Key to Families of Pentatomoidea in America North of Mexico .................................................. 12
1.13 Chapters 2–16 .................................................................................................................................. 17
1.14 Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................... 17
1.15 References Cited.............................................................................................................................. 17