Acanthosomatidae

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Acanthosomatidae
Acanthosomatidae - relative sizes
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Superfamily: Pentatomoidea
Family: Acanthosomatidae
Signoret, 1864
Subfamilies

Acanthosomatinae
Blaudusinae
Ditomotarsinae

Oncacontias vittatus

Acanthosomatidae is a family of Hemiptera, commonly named "shield bugs" or "stink bugs". Kumar in his 1974 world revision recognized 47 genera;[1] now this number is 55 genera, with about 200 species, and it is one of the least diverse families within Pentatomoidea.[2][3] The Acanthosomatidae species are found throughout the world, being most abundant in high-latitude temperate regions and in subtropical regions at high altitudes.[4]

One of the most well-known species in Acanthosomatidae is the hawthorn shield bug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale), which is found throughout Europe and also northern Siberia; this species is typically green or brown in color and has a distinctive shape with two projections on its thorax. It feeds on a variety of plants, including hawthorn, rowan, and cherry.

Description

Acanthosomatidae have heads that are keeled laterally and possess a pair of 5-segmented

metapleura. Abdominal sternite III has paired trichobothria. In males, sternite VIII is exposed and there is a specialised genital capsule. In females, one or two pairs of Pendergrast's organs are present in the abdomen (sometimes absent, e.g. Elasmucha[4]) and sternite VII has an emarginate posterior margin.[5]

In general appearance, Acanthosomatidae are similar to Pentatomidae. Various sources distinguish them based on the number of tarsal segments being 2 in acanthosomatids and 3 in pentatomids.[6][7] However, some pentatomids have 2-segmented tarsi as well.[8]

Ecology

Acanthosomatidae are mostly herbivores on trees and shrubs. Host plants include Ficus, Hakea, Carex, Juncus, Cladium and Dactylis. There are also records of predation (including cannibalism) and scavenging on carrion.[5]

Maternal care

Many species have females which take care of their offspring, guarding the eggs and nymphs. In these species, the Pendergrast's organs are absent or reduced and non-functional. Other species have a more limited form of care: females smear their eggs with secretions from the Pendergrast's organs (which may repel predators and parasitoids), then abandon the eggs. Egg smearing is the ancestral behaviour.[9]

Genera

Examples of genera and species:

References

  1. doi:10.1071/ajzs034
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  2. ^ Faúndez, E. I. 2009. Contribution to the knowledge of the genus Acrophyma Bergroth, 1917 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Acanthosomatidae). Zootaxa. 2137: 57-65
  3. PMID 24871197
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  4. ^ a b Thomas, Donald B. (1991). "The Acanthosomatidae (Heteroptera) of North America". The Pan-Pacific Entomologist. 67 (3): 159––170.
  5. ^ a b "Family ACANTHOSOMATIDAE". biodiversity.org.au. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  6. doi:10.7931/j2/fnz.35
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  7. doi:10.3752/cjai.2013.24
    .
  8. S2CID 85843310
    .
  9. PMID 26586480
    .
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