Families of economic importance

A. Pentatomidae (Stink bugs or shield bugs):

• Medium to large insects, the most common and abundant of bugs that produce disagreeable odor.
• Broad shshield-like.
• Head with lateral margins concealing bases of antennae
• Antennae are usually 5 – segmented. Ocelli is almost always present
• The pronotum bris road and shield-shaped structure arearge triangular and sometimes extend posteriorly to the extent of covering the wings entirely.
• In hemelytron, the rum lais range extends to the al margin. Membrane with many longitudinal veins, arising from a vein which is nearly paralleled to the apical margin of corium.
• Four pairs of odoriferous glands are present on the rsum of the domain of the nymphs.
• The eggs are usually barrel-shaped with spines on the upper end. Eg: Green (stink) bug – Nezara viridula, Red pumpkin bug -Aspongopus jaJanusabbage painted bug – Bagrada cruciferous

B. Lygaeidae Seed bugs or Chinch bugs Small bugs, hard bodied:

• Antennae 4 seis augmented and inserted down on the sides of the head, the apical segment is larger
• Compound eyes and ocelli are well-developed to 5 unbranched simple veins in the membrane of the elytra. Cuneus is lacking, clavus is elongate
• Metathoracic gland openings are present.
• In some, the front femora moderately swollen with 2 rows of teeth beneath
• Coxa rotator, tarsi 3 segmented, pulvulli present Eg. Dusky cotton bug Groundnut pod bug

C. Miridae (Capscidae) Mirid bugs

• Medium or small, usually delicate insects
• Ocelli absent
• Rostrum is 4 segmented
• Cuneus is present 5. Empodium is indistinct. Tarsi almost invariably 3 segmented
• Majority on plant juices, sound me prey on small arthropods Eg. Tea mosquito bug – Helopeltis anAntonioredator on rice BPH – Cyrtorhinos lividipennis

D. Coreidae: Leaf-footed bugs:

• Medium to large, long and narrow bugs
• Antennae 4 segmented sisituatedell upon the sides of the head above a line drawn from the eyes to the base of the beak. Ocelli present.
• Head narrower, shorter than pronotum, scutellum smaller.
• In hemelytra, richly branched veins are present.
• In most of the species, either or both the hind femora and tibiae may have conspicuous enlargements or leleaf-likeilations hence the name leleaf-footedugs.
• Tarsi – 3 segmented pulvilli present.
• Metathoracic gland openings present
• Eg Rice Gandhi bug- Leptocorisa oratorios Pod bugs: Clavigralla gibbosa on pulses

E. Pyrrhocoreidae (Pyrrhocoreids), red cotton bugs or cotton strainers

• They exhibit red and black colorations
• Ocelli absent
• More branched veins and cells present in hemelytra
• Coxa is rotatory and tarsi 3 segmented with pul villi Eg.Dysdercus cingulatus – red cotton bug