Acanthosomatidae is a family of Hemiptera, commonly named shield bugs and sometimes stink bugs. There are currently recognised about 200 species in the genera below, making it one of the least diverse families within Pentatomoidea.Faúndez, E. I. 2009. Contribution to the knowledge of the genus Acrophyma Bergroth, 1917 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Acanthosomatidae). Zootaxa. 2137: 57-65 The Acanthosomatidae species are found throughout the world, being most abundant in high-latitude temperate regions and in subtropical regions at high altitudes.
One of the most well-known species in Acanthosomatidae is the hawthorn shield bug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale), which is found throughout Europe and also northern Siberia; this species is typically green or brown and has a distinctive shape with two projections on its thorax. It feeds on various plants, including hawthorn, rowan, and cherry.
Description Acanthosomatidae have heads that are keeled laterally and possess a pair of five-segmented antennae. The mesosternum has a strongly projecting keel. The tarsi of the legs are bisegmented. The second visible abdominal sternite has an elongate spine that projects forward. The spiracles of the second abdominal segment are concealed by the metapleura. Abdominal sternite III has paired trichobothria. In males, sternite VIII is exposed, and there is a specialised genital capsule. In females, one or two pairs of Pendergrast's organs are present in the abdomen (sometimes absent, e.g. Elasmucha) and sternite VII has an emarginate posterior margin.
Acanthosomatidae are generally similar to Pentatomidae in appearance. Various sources distinguish them based on the number of tarsal segments, being two in acanthosomatids and three in pentatomids. However, some pentatomids have bisegmented tarsi as well.
Ecology Acanthosomatidae are mostly herbivores on trees and shrubs. Host plants include Ficus, Hakea, Carex, Juncus, Cladium, and Dactylis. There are also records of predation (including cannibalism) and scavenging on carrion.
Maternal care Many species have females that take care of their offspring, guarding the eggs and nymphs. In these species, the Pendergrast's organs are absent or reduced and non-functional. Other species have a more limited form of care: females smear their eggs with secretions from the Pendergrast's organs (which may repel predators and parasitoids), then abandon the eggs. Egg smearing is an ancestral behaviour.
Subfamilies and Genera , BioLibBiolib.cz: family Acanthosomatidae Signoret, 1863 (retrieved 1 October 2026) includes three subfamilies and the following genera: unplaced genus Allotriocochabambia Acanthosomatinae
Acanthosoma Curtis, 1824 Ameenocoris Amphaces Anaxandra (bug) Catadipson Cyphostethus Elasmostethus Elasmucha Eupolemus (bug) Grossaria Lindbergicoris Mahea Microdeuterus Oncacontias Platacantha Proctophantasta Rhopalimorpha Sastragala
Examples of species include: Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale (Linnaeus, 1758) — Hawthorn shield bug Acanthosoma labiduroides Jakovlev, 1880 — Green shield bug Cyphostethus tristriatus — Juniper shield bug Elasmostethus interstinctus — Birch shield bug Elasmucha grisea (Linnaeus, 1758) — Parent bug Elasmucha lateralis (Say, 1831) Oncacontias vittatus — Forest shield bug
Blaudusinae
tribe Blaudusini Andriscus (bug) Bebaeus Blaudus Duadicus Hiarchas Mochus (bug) Monteithiessa Noualhieridia Panaetius (bug) Stauralia Xosa tribe Lanopini Abulites (bug) Acrophyma Anischys Aposinopla Ea (bug) Galgacus Hellica Lanopis Phorbanta Sinopla Sniploa
Ditomotarsinae
tribe Ditomotarsini Cylindrocnema Ditomotarsus Esbenia Hyperbius (bug) Ibocoris Mazanoma Nopalis Planois Praesus (bug) Rolstonus Tolono (bug) Uhlunga tribe Laccophorellini Aesepus (bug) Agamedes (bug) Laccophorella Sangarius
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