ABSTRACT

This chapter provides a taxonomic history for each family and subfamily, and for the tribes and generic groups within the Pentatomidae, that, perhaps, will give some perception of the taxonomic position of each group. It discusses the systematic classification within each of these groups and also provides general diagnoses and descriptions for all families within the Pentatomoidea and for the subfamilies, tribes, and generic groups within the Pentatomidae. The chapter summarizes some of the biological information for each group. Keys to aid in the identification of the various taxa are included, but it should be understood that to build keys that work for all taxa all the time would become long and tedious. The chapter also discusses potentially important characters and points out problems in the existing classification. The superfamily Pentatomoidea is a member of the insect order Hemiptera, suborder Heteroptera, and infraorder Pentatomomorpha. Typically, this infraorder has been divided into six superfamilies: Aradoidea, Idiostoloidea, Pentatomoidea, Lygaeoidea, Pyrrhocoroidea, and Coreoidea.