Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)
Infraorder Pentatomomorpha
Superfamily Pentatomoidea
Family Pentatomidae (Stink Bugs)
Other Common Names
Shield Bugs (mostly used to refer to Acanthosomatidae and thus not recommended)
Explanation of Names
Pentatomidae Leach 1815
from Pentatoma Olivier 1789 (type genus) 'five-segmented' (a reference to the antennae)
the English name refers to the odor produced by these bugs
Numbers
one of the largest heteropteran families, with >220 species in 64 genera of 5 subfamilies in our area(1) and almost 5000 spp. in ~940 genera of 10 subfamilies worldwide(2)
Overview of our fauna (DRAFT)Taxa not yet in the guide are marked (*). Dubious records not included.
spring through fall (overwinter usually as adults under ground cover or leaf litter); eggs generally laid in spring; uni- to multivoltine(1)
Food
The majority are herbivorous, but members of one subfamily (Asopinae) are predaceous on other insects. Both adults and nymphs of plant-feeding species may damage plants, mostly by piercing the plant tissues and thus opening a path for plant pathogens.
Many species, whether primarily herbivorous or predaceous, are generalist feeders.(1)
Life Cycle
Barrel-shaped eggs are laid on the underside of host leaves in tight clusters. Hatchlings are gregarious and stay close to the egg mass, then begin to feed and disperse.
Remarks
overwintering adults often become conspicuous guests in homes; many spp. come to lights, sometimes in numbers(1)
