Higher Systematics of the Pentatomoidea 61
(Derjanschi and Péricart 2005, Ribes and Pagola-Carte 2013), Central Asia (Putshkov 1965), Far East
of Russia (Vinokurov et al. 1988), China (Hsiao et al. 1977), South India (Salini and Viraktamath 2015),
West and Central Africa (Linnavuori 1975, 1982), Madagascar (Cachan 1952), and South Australia
(Gross 1975b, 1976). Rider et al. (2002) provided nomenclatural notes and a checklist of the Chinese
species. In the New World, Lawrence H. Rolston headed up a small group who authored a series of four
papers that provided keys for all known pentatomine genera (Rolston and McDonald 1979, 1981, 1984;
Rolston et al. 1980). The focus of this series of papers was not to reflect phylogeny or even to hint at a
practical classification, but was more utilitarian - it was meant to give workers a means to identify their
specimens to genus. This series set the stage for further work in the New World including a number of
generic revisions, a book on the Pentatomoidea of northeastern North America (McPherson 1982), a set
of regional treatments for various states in the United States in honor of J. E. McPherson’s contributions
(Bundy 2012, O’Donnell and Schaefer 2012, Packauskas 2012, Rider 2012, Sites et al. 2012, Swanson
2012, Zack et al. 2012), and a separate contribution on the fauna of Ontario (Paiero et al. 2013). More
recently, Barão et al. (2017) published a review of the metathoracic scent glands in the Carporcorini; this
information will undoubtedly be useful in future phylogenetic studies.
Because one of the primary purposes of this chapter is to provide a framework for future phylogenetic
studies, we have chosen to discuss every tribe unequivocally that is still considered valid by someone
somewhere, and also any generic groups proposed by Gross (1975b, 1976) and Linnavuori (1982) that
do not fit easily into one of the existing tribes. As such, the following key is only tentative at best, with
some tribes keying out multiple times. Hopefully, this will still be of some benefit to some workers, but
the user should be aware of many exceptional genera (and some genera that have never been placed in a
tribe), many of which are discussed under the tribal headings. Obviously, there will be drastic changes in
our treatment of the various taxa, particularly the tribal classification, but this chapter should help facili-
tate the efficiency of future phylogenetic studies as well as provide basic information for identification.
Nearly all Pentatominae are phytophagous (see comments in Asopinae section), usually oligophagous,
but a few species are known from many host plants. There are some reports of facultative feeding on
dung or carrion (Adler and Wheeler 1984, Eger et al. 2015b). A number of species are known economic
pests of various crops (e.g., Nezara viridula L. [Figure 2.22K], Euschistus Dallas spp. [Figure 2.20A],
Eurydema Laporte spp. [Figure 2.32E], etc.) (McPherson and McPherson 2000, Panizzi et al. 2000). In
some parts of the world (e.g., southern Mexico), pentatomines are used as human food.
2.2.10.7.1 Tentative Key to the Tribes of Pentatominae
1 Sublateral, lunate stridulatory structure present on each side of the abdominal venter
(Figures 2.7A, B), corresponding stridulatory pegs on inner surface of hind femora ....... 2
1’ Abdominal venter lacking lunate stridulatory structures (Neomazium [Carpocorini]
has stridulatory structures, but they form a rather narrow band along lateral margins of
abdominal venter), hind femora lacking pegs ..................................................................... 3
2(1) Elongate, slender, coloration pale yellowish to tan; occurs in arid areas of the New World
and in the Middle East, Africa, and India (Figure 2.30F) ..................................Mecideini
2’ Variously shaped, but never elongate and slender; coloration usually not yellowish); occur-
ring in Australia and adjacent areas (Figures 2.12D; 2.21B, C; 2.29I) ............Diemeniini
3(1) Ant mimic, black with white markings on corium giving it a constricted appearance; pro-
notum elongate, distinctly constricted in middle; many spines along edges of pronotum, on
base and apex of scutellum, and one on each side of abdomen, many of which are oriented
dorsad; Southeast Asia (Figures 2.14E, F; 2.31B) ....................................Pentamyrmecini
3’ Not an ant mimic; coloration variable, not as above; usually lacking numerous spines
along pronotal margins and on scutellum and abdomen, if some spines are present then
light brown in color (Phricodus) or quite larger (Mustha) .................................................. 4
4(3) Small, pale brownish species, with numerous spines along margins of pronotum, and base
of coria; antennae 4-segmented, segment II long and gradually thickened towards apex, the
distal two segments thickened, spindle-shaped; Old World (Figure 2.31I) .......Phricodini