Coreidae

Coreidae
Male Amorbus rubiginosus
Coreid nymph
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hemiptera
Suborder:	Heteroptera
Infraorder:	Pentatomomorpha
Superfamily:	Coreoidea
Family:	Coreidae Leach, 1815
Subfamilies
Agriopocorinae (disputed) Coreinae Meropachydinae Pseudophloeinae and see text

Coreidae are a large family of predominantly herbivorous insects that belong in the hemipteran suborder Heteroptera.^[1] There are more than 1,800 species in over 250 genera.^[2] They vary in size from 7 to 45 mm, making the larger species some of the biggest heteropterans. The body shape of coreids is quite variable, with some species broadly oval while others are slender. Coreids are found throughout the world but most species are found in the tropics and subtropics.

In North America they are colloquially called "squash bugs", because some species, such as Anasa tristis, are pests of squash plants and other curcubits.^[3][4] They are also called “leaf-footed bugs” due to the leaf-like expansions some species have on their hindlegs.

Some coreids, like Phyllomorpha laciniata, exhibit parental care by carrying their eggs. This behaviour can protect the eggs from parasitism.^[5]

Taxonomy

The family Coreidae belongs to the order Hemiptera and is closely related to the families Alydidae, Hyocephalidae, Rhopalidae, and Stenocephalidae. Together, these five families form the superfamily Coreoidea.

Morphology

The general morphological features of Coreidae are an oval-shaped body, antennae composed of four segments, a numerously veined forewing membrane, a metathoracic stink gland and enlarged hind tibia.^[1][3] Many species are covered with spines and tubercles.^[2]

Systematics

This group is most often divided into 3-4 subfamilies; some selected genera are listed here:

Agriopocorinae Miller, 1953 (often included in Coreinae)

• Agriopocoris Miller, 1953

Coreinae Leach, 1815

Acanthocephala Laporte, 1833 Acanthocerus Palisot, 1818 Althos Kirkaldy, 1904 Amblyomia Stål, 1870 Anasa Amyot & Serville, 1843 Catorhintha Stål, 1859 Chariesterus Laporte, 1833 Chelinidea Uhler, 1863 Chondrocera Laporte, 1832 Cimolus Stål, 1862 Coreus Dallacoris Osuna, 1981 Euthochtha Mayr, 1865 Ficana Stål, 1862 Hypselonotus Hahn, 1833 Leptoglossus Guérin-Méneville, 1831 – conifer seed bugs

Madura Stål, 1860 Mamurius Stål, 1862 Mozena Amyot & Serville, 1843 Namacus Amyot & Serville, 1843 Narnia Stål, 1862 Nisoscolopocerus Barber, 1928 Phthia Stål, 1862 Piezogaster Amyot & Serville, 1843 Sagotylus Mayr, 1865 Savius Stål, 1862 Scolopocerus Uhler, 1875 Sephina Amyot & Serville, 1843 Sethenira Spinola, 1837 Spartocera Laporte, 1833 Thasus Stål, 1865 Zicca Amyot & Serville, 1843

Meropachydinae Stål, 1867

• Merocoris Perty, 1833

Pseudophloeinae Stål, 1867

• Ceraleptus Costa, 1847
• Coriomeris Westwood, 1842

Numerous tribes of the Coreinae have previously been proposed for elevation to subfamily rank; for example the Agriopocorini, Colpurini, Hydarini, Phyllomorphini and Procamptini. But the only one of these changes accepted at least by a significant minority of researchers today is the first, and even recent reviews generally tend to treat the proposed Agriopocorinae as a tribe again, recognizing only the three subfamilies that were known by 1867. In addition, at least the genus Eubule is of decidedly indeterminate placement.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} A Dictionary of Entomology. CABI Publishing. 2000. 
2. ^ ^{a b} True Bugs of the World (Hemiptera: Heteroptera). Classification and Natural History. Cornell University Press. 1995. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Baranowski, R M (1986). Coreidae of Florida (Hemiptera: Heteroptera). Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. 
4. ^ Hawkins, R D (2003). Shieldbugs of Surrey. Surrey Wildlife Trust. 
5. ^ Gomendio, M; García González, F; Reguera, P; Rivero, A (2008). "Male egg carrying in Phyllomorpha laciniata is favoured by natural not sexual selection". Animal Behaviour 75 (3): 763–770. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2006.12.029. 

External links

• Coreidae of Britain
• Coreidae of Florida
• Comparative description of the immature stages of two very similar leaf footed bugs, Holymenia clavigera (Herbst) and Anisoscelis foliacea marginella (Dallas) (Hemiptera, Coreidae, Anisoscelini)
• Coreidae (Heteroptera: Pentatomomorpha)
• Chelinidea vittiger aequoris, a cactus bug,
• Euthochtha galeator
• Leptoglossus phyllopus
• Spartocera batatas, giant sweetpotato bug