126 Invasive Stink Bugs and Related Species (Pentatomoidea)
shiny (Figures 2.16G-I; 2.25H). Many species have a similar appearance of small black beetles. In a
few genera, there is sexual dimorphism in the head structure; in some species, the males have elaborately
produced spines or projections on the head. The margins of the juga usually are edged. The antennifer-
ous tubercles are usually not visible in dorsal view; the antennae are either clearly five-segmented or
appear to be four-segmented due to a rather weak subdivision of the pedicel, the basipedicellite (the
more basal subsegment of a divided pedicel) is short. In several species, the stylets are long, and they
are partially coiled inside the enlarged labrum or a lobe of labial segment II (China 1931, Rédei and Bu
2013, Rédei and Jindra 2015). The scutellum is greatly enlarged, nearly covering the entire abdomen.
The hind wings are much longer than the body and folded up under the scutellum when at rest. The ostio-
lar evaporatoria are relatively large in comparison to the remaining ostiolar structures, covering nearly
the entire ventral surface of the prothorax, mesothorax, and metathorax (Figure 2.1I), the extension to
the prothorax is unique within the Pentatomoidea (Kment and Vilímova 2010b, Rédei and Bu 2013). The
tarsi are two-segmented. The male pygophore is large, almost semiglobular, and its posterior surface has
a relatively small external opening; the pygophoral rims are relatively simple without processes and/or
other structures. The parameres are rather simple, stylus-like, and the hypophysis usually is bent slightly
to moderately (nearly a right angle). The phallus is variably shaped with a distinct phallotheca, large
membranous conjunctiva, and short, stout, sclerotized vesica. The spermathecal duct lacks a dilation and
sclerotized rod; the spermathecal bulb is ovoid to globular but lacks distinct tubular diverticula; both
the proximal and distal flanges are present. Sixteen different species have been karyotyped of which, 15
and 1 species had a diploid number of 10 + XY and 8 + XY, respectively (Ueshima 1979, Kerzhner et al.
2004, Rebagliati et al. 2005).
This family was proposed by Dallas in 1851; it has gone by several other names (for example
Coptosomatidae Reuter, 1912, and Brachyplatidae Leston, 1952a). In fact, the grammatically correct
spelling of the family name is Plataspididae, but the spelling Plataspidae is in prevailing useage and,
so, it should be conserved according to provisions of the ICZN (I. M. Kerzhner, personal communi-
cation; adopted for use by Davidová-Vilímova 2006). For the most part, most workers have accepted
family status for this group. The taxonomic position of the Plataspidae within the Pentatomoidea has
varied according to the study. Jessop (1983) suggested a relationship among the Plataspidae, Canopidae,
Megarididae, and Lestoniidae, all families with the scutellum enlarged. Gapud (1991) supported the
relationship with Lestoniidae, Cydnidae, and Thyreocoridae. There is little doubt, however, that the
Plataspidae has no relationship with any of the above families. The family possesses a number of plesio-
morphies that suggest that it is probably an early offshoot of the Pentatomoidea.
Davidová-Vilímová (2006) indicated that past workers had associated the Plataspidae with these same
three families but also included Aphylinae and sometimes the Scutelleridae, two more family-level
groups with the scutellum enlarged. The phylogenetic results of Grazia et al. (2008) were contradic-
tory. That is, based on molecular data, the Plataspidae was placed in a more basal clade (see also Dai
and Zheng 2004; Li et al. 2005, 2006), whereas morphological data placed the Plataspidae in a more
advanced clade. Many of the defining characters of this family are shared with other families (Jessop
1983). For example, the above mentioned enlargement of the scutellum (families listed above), the ability
to fold the hind wings so they can fit under the scutellum (also seen in the Canopidae and Megarididae),
and the two-segmented tarsi (Acanthosomatidae, Megarididae and a few pentatomid groups).
Most plataspid species inhabit the tropics and subtropics, and are especially diverse in the Afrotropical
and Oriental regions. As mentioned previously, two Oriental species have been accidently introduced
into the New World. Megacopta cribraria (F.) was discovered in North America in 2009 (Eger et al.
2010, Suiter et al. 2010). This species attacks kudzu (Zhang et al. 2012) and could be considered benefi-
cial, but it also attacks other legumes and has become a pest in the southeastern United States, especially
on soybean (See Chapter 5). Brachyplatys subaeneus (Westwood), originally misidentified as B. vahlii
(F.), has been recorded from several localities in Panama (Aiello et al. 2016, Rédei 2016). Additionally,
Coptosoma xanthogramma (White) has been reported from Hawaii for quite some time (Beardsley and
Fluker 1967). Actually, Froeschner (1984) discussed two other rumored records from Alaska, Coptosoma
duodecimpunctatum (Germar) and Coptosoma biguttulum Motschulsky, but he concluded that these
records should probably be removed from the North American fauna. Only two Coptosoma species
are distributed in Central Europe (Davidová-Vilímová and Štys 1980), both of which hibernate in the