Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and AlliesAmorbus

— see Choerocoris paganus (Ground Shield Bug) | Ippatha australiensis | Leptocoris | Leptocoris mitellatus | Mictis profana (Crusader Bug) | Poecilometis patruelis (Shield Bug) | Reduviidae Assassin Bugs | Spilostethus sp

The group of insects known commonly as Stink Bugs or Shield Bugs, most of which fall in the superfamily group of insects in the order Hemiptera, suborder Heteroptera. This includes the family Pentatomidae, Scutelleridae and allied families of the order of Heteroptera, or true bugs.

Shield Bug nymph (genus Poecilometis), Alice Springs NT
Shield Bug nymph (genus Poecilometis), Alice Springs NT

At time of writing, Pentatomoidea are divided into 21 families (16 extant and 5 extinct), comprised of some 7,000 species, that include stink bugs/shield bugs, jewel bugs, giant shield bugs and burrower bugs.

Shield Bug nymph (genus Poecilometis), Alice Springs NT
Shield Bug nymph (genus Poecilometis), Alice Springs NT

This group of insects have glands that produce nasty smelling defensive secretions, among other characteristics.

Common Gum Tree Shield Bug (Poecilometis patruelis), Alice Springs NT
Common Gum Tree Shield Bug (Poecilometis patruelis), Alice Springs NT
Amorbus sp., Alice Springs NT
Amorbus sp., Alice Springs NT
Nymph - Eucalyptus Tip-wilting Bug (Amorbus alternatus), Alice Springs NT
Nymph – Eucalyptus Tip-wilting Bug (Amorbus alternatus), Alice Springs NT

There is an article with chart reference ” All About Stink Bugs” on Outforia:


Stink bugs Infographic by Outforia


Yellow Predatory Shield Bug (Amyotea hamata), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Yellow Predatory Shield Bug (Amyotea hamata), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Hemiptera
  • Suborder: Heteroptera
  • Infraorder:
    • Cimicomorpha
    • Dipsocoromorpha
    • Enicocephalomorpha
    • Gerromorpha
    • Leptopodomorpha
    • Nepomorpha
    • Pentatomomorpha

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Hemiptera
  • Suborder: Heteroptera
  • Infraorder: Pentatomomorpha
  • Superfamily: Pentatomoidea
  • Family:
    • Acanthosomatidae
    • Aphylidae
    • Cydnidae
    • Dinidoridae
    • Lestoniidae
    • Pentatomidae
    • Plataspidae
    • Scutelleridae
    • Tessaratomidae

Footnote & References

  1. Heteroptera, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/b809bc05-d1c2-4664-8727-cc6493b7a3cd
  2. List of Pentatomidae genera, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Pentatomidae_genera (last visited Nov. 17, 2022).
  3. In defence of the stink bug, Author Mike Jeffries, 12 November 2014, The Conversation, https://theconversation.com/in-defence-of-the-stink-bug-34086
  4. Stink Bugs Field Guide, of Brisbane Queensland Australia, Brisbane Insects and Spiders, https://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_stinkbugs/FieldGuide.html
  5. Brown Shield Bug – Poecilometis sp., Brisbane Insects and Spiders, https://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_stinkbugs/EucalyptStinkBug3.htm
  6. Stink Bugs or Shield Bugs, Queensland Museum, https://www.qm.qld.gov.au/Explore/Find+out+about/Animals+of+Queensland/Insects/Sucking+Bugs/Common+species/Stink+Bugs+or+Shield+Bugs#:~:text=Gum%20Tree%20Shield%20Bug%2C%20Theseus,the%20adult%20Bronze%20Orange%20Bugs.
  7. Types of Stink Bugs: Field Guide (Names & Photos), Outforia, https://outforia.com/types-of-stink-bugs/

Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and AlliesAmorbus

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