Family: Pentatomidae (stink bugs)
Life
> Eukaryotes >
Opisthokonta >
Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria >
Ecdysozoa > Panarthropoda > Tritocerebra >
Arthopoda > Mandibulata >
Atelocerata > Panhexapoda >
Hexapoda
> Insecta (insects) > Dicondyla > Pterygota >
Metapterygota > Neoptera > Eumetabola > Paraneoptera > Condylognatha
> Hemiptera (bugs) >
Heteroptera > Pentatomomorpha > Pentatomoidea
Stink bugs are distinguished from other bugs by the large triangular scutellum which is
longer than half the length of the abdomen (the scutellum is that triangular piece between
the folded wings). They are plant suckers and there are a number of pest species such as
the Green vegetable Nezara viridula and the Antestia bug Antestiopsis orbitalis.
A few common species
Further Reading
-
Annecke, D.P. & Moran, V.C. 1982. Insects and Mites of Cultivated Plants in South
Africa. Butterworths, Durban (eg. read pages 193-194 on Nezara viridula, pages
70-71 on Antestiopsis orbitalis).
|