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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Bugs (Heteroptera) » Pentatomoidea » Shield-backed Bugs (Scutelleridae)

Family Scutelleridae - Shield-backed Bugs

Classification · Other Common Names · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · See Also · Internet References · Works Cited
scutellerid Scutelleridae - Pachycoris klugii beetle - Acantholomidea porosa Some kind of stink bug? - Diolcus chrysorrhoeus shield-backed bug??? - Orsilochides guttata Augocoris illustris (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) - Augocoris illustris scutellerid - Homaemus shield-backed bug - Eurygaster amerinda
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)
Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)
Superfamily Pentatomoidea
Family Scutelleridae (Shield-backed Bugs)
Other Common Names
Jewel Bugs
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
formerly considered a subfamily of Pentatomidae
Explanation of Names
both the scientific and common names refer to the scutellum expanded over most of the back
Numbers
37 spp. in 16 genera in our area(1), ~450 spp. in >80 genera worldwide(2)
Size
5-20 mm(2)
Identification
scutellum greatly enlarged and completely covers the wings and abdomen like a shield
genus not yet in the guide: Camirus (image)
Range
worldwide, most diverse in tropical/subtropical climes(3); most of NA, including the Arctic
Habitat
fields, shrubby areas, wood edges in wet or dry habitats
Season
spring through fall (overwinter as adults)
Food
suck on seeds, leaves, and stems of a variety of herbaceous plants, trees, and shrubs
Life Cycle
one generation per year in the north; overwinters as an adult under ground cover or leaf litter
See Also
some other bugs with scutellum variously enlarged (all are in the Pentatomoidea):
Internet References
Family profile(3)
Works Cited
1.American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico
By Ross H. Arnett
2.Biodiversity of the Heteroptera
By T.J. Henry
3.Australian Faunal Directory
Contributed by Tony DiTerlizzi on 15 July, 2004 - 5:09pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Hannah Nendick-Mason, Robin McLeod, v belov
Last updated 19 April, 2012 - 11:43am

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