Higher Systematics of the Pentatomoidea 27
2.1 Introduction
The Pentatomoidea – What a wonderful and diverse assemblage of insects! Members of this superfamily
occur in nearly all parts of the World and occupy virtually all terrestrial habitats. They range greatly in
size with the smallest species not much larger than a pin head (e.g., Megaris Stål in Megarididae and
Sepontia Stål in the Pentatomidae) to some of the largest and most robust species in the Heteroptera (e.g.,
many Tessaratomidae). Most species are phytophagous, and several are known to cause economic dam-
age to various crops; however, some species are predatory (Pentatomidae: Asopinae), preying mainly on
other insects, and a few groups are at least suspected to be fungivores (Canopidae, Megarididae, some
Plataspidae). Nearly all species have scent glands, both in the immatures and the adults, which emit a
foul odor, presumably to ward off predators. Even so, many species also rely on crypsis to avoid predators
as many are various shades of greens, tans, and browns, allowing them to blend in with the vegetation,
soil, or whatever substrate they live on. There are, however, some species that seem to advertise their
2.2.10.7.46 Other Unplaced or Questionably Placed Genera ........................ 106
2.2.10.7.47 Fossil Genera ............................................................................... 111
2.2.10.8 Phyllocephalinae Amyot and Serville, 1843 ................................................... 112
2.2.10.8.1 Cressonini Kamaluddin and Ahmad, 1991 ................................. 113
2.2.10.8.2 Megarrhamphini Ahmad, 1981 ................................................... 113
2.2.10.8.3 Phyllocephalini Amyot and Serville, 1843 .................................. 115
2.2.10.8.4 Tetrodini Ahmad, 1981................................................................ 115
2.2.10.9 Podopinae Amyot and Serville, 1843 .............................................................. 115
2.2.10.9.1 Key to the Podopinae Genus Groups .......................................... 118
2.2.10.9.2 Podops Group .............................................................................. 119
2.2.10.9.3 Deroploa Group ......................................................................... 120
2.2.10.9.4 Graphosoma Group .................................................................... 120
2.2.10.9.5 Tar isa Group................................................................................ 121
2.2.10.9.6 Brachycerocoris Group ............................................................... 121
2.2.10.9.7 Genera incertae sedis .................................................................. 121
2.2.10.9.8 Phylogenetic Notes ..................................................................... 122
2.2.10.10 Serbaninae Leston, 1953 ................................................................................. 124
2.2.10.11 Stirotarsinae Rider, 2000 ................................................................................ 124
2.2.11 Phloeidae Amyot and Serville, 1843 ............................................................................... 125
2.2.12 Plataspidae Dallas, 1851 .................................................................................................. 125
2.2.12.1 Key to the Subfamilies and Genus Groups of Plataspidae ............................. 127
2.2.13 Primipentatomidae Yao, Cai, Rider, and Ren, 2013 ....................................................... 128
2.2.14 Saileriolidae China and Slater, 1956 ............................................................................... 128
2.2.15 Scutelleridae Leach, 1815 ................................................................................................ 129
2.2.15.1 Key to the Subfamilies of Scutelleridae ........................................................... 131
2.2.16 Tessaratomidae Stål, 1865 ................................................................................................ 132
2.2.16.1 Key to the Subfamilies of Tessaratomidae ..................................................... 134
2.2.17 Thaumastellidae Seidenstücker, 1960 ............................................................................. 134
2.2.18 Thyreocoridae Amyot and Serville, 1843 ........................................................................ 135
2.2.18.1 Key to the Subfamilies of Thyreocoridae ....................................................... 137
2.2.19 Urostylididae Dallas, 1851 .............................................................................................. 137
2.3 Conclusions .................................................................................................................................. 138
2.3.1 Size of Project .................................................................................................................. 139
2.3.2 Interpretation of Characters ............................................................................................ 139
2.3.3 Lack of Specimens .......................................................................................................... 139
2.3.4 Solutions .......................................................................................................................... 140
2.4 Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................ 140
2.5 References Cited............................................................................................................................ 141