Coreidae

Coreidae
	; Anoplocnemis sp.
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

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Coreidae are a large family of insects of the order Hemiptera (the "true bugs"), including some of the largest members (> 4 cm/nearly 2 inches) of that group. There are over 1,800 species in some 250 genera. They generally resemble shield bugs (Pentatomoidea) which are fairly, but not extremely close relatives, and include the insects known as leaf-footed bugs and squash bugs. These names do not refer to different taxa in this family, but strictly speaking "leaf-footed bugs" is the most unequivocal name.

"Squash bugs" may be any common species that include Cucurbita (squash and pumpkins) among their foodplants. For example, in North America the orange-tipped leaf-footed bug Anasa tristis is "the" squash bug, while in Europe it is the dock bug (Coreus marginatus). Other well-known members of the Coreidae are the Florida leaf-footed bug (Leptoglossus phyllopus) and the western conifer seed bug (L. occidentalis) which is an invasive species currently colonizing Europe (typically, "seed bugs" are members of the not too distantly related Lygaeoidea however).

Leptoglossus (Coreinae: Anisoscelidini) on poppy. Note leaflike extensions on hindlegs.

A western conifer seed bug found on a window in Maine in 2005.

The hindlegs in members of this family are often modified, sometimes in elaborate ways; hence the common name. It appears that males of at least some species use these hind legs in combat over territories. All members of the family are exclusively phytophagous. Leaf-footed bugs enter houses only by accident, when they seek hibernation quarters for the cold season.

[edit] Systematics

This group is most often divided into 3-4 subfamilies; some selected genera are also 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 previosuly 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.