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biodiversity explorer

the web of life in southern Africa

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

Antestiopsis orbitalis (Antestia bug)

 

Coenomorpha nervosa

 

Nezara viridula (Green vegetable bug)

 

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).