The Stink bugs Insect bright colors of the shield bug Catacanthus anchorago from Asia give a clear indication to would-be predators that the bug contains foul tasting defensive chemicals and gives off equally unpleasant smells. Length about 0.5 inches (13 mm).
Common name: Stink bugs (shield bugs )
Family: Pentatomidae
Suborder: Heteroptera
Order: Hemiptera
class /subphylum: Insecta/ Hexapoda
Number of species: About 5,000 (222 U.S.)
Size:From about 0.2 in (4 mm) to 1 in (2.5 cm)
Key features: Broad-bodied, often oval shaped bugs, nearly as wide as they are long; often rather flattened on top; scutellum is usually triangular, extending over as much as half the abdomen but not overlapping the membranous area of the forewings by much; front of the pronotum may have blunt or pointed projections on either side of the head, stink glands present
Habits: Most often found on the plants on which they feed; predaceous species found on any suitable vegetation in search of prey
Breeding: In a number of species the females care for their eggs and young; in many species males stridulate to attract females
Diet:Many are sap feeders, others feed on insects, especially soft-bodied ones such as larvae
Habitat: Meadows, grassland, forests, sand dunes, seashore marshes, and deserts
Distribution: Worldwide, but tropical zones are especially rich in species.
Stink bugs Insect Pictures gallery
