Family: Scutelleridae (shield-backed bugs)

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Ecdysozoa > Panarthropoda > Tritocerebra > Arthopoda > Mandibulata > Atelocerata > Panhexapoda > Hexapoda > Insecta (insects) > Dicondyla > Pterygota > Metapterygota > Neoptera > Eumetabola > Paraneoptera > Condylognatha > Hemiptera (bugs) > Heteroptera > Pentatomomorpha > Pentatomoidea

Shield-backed bugs are plant suckers and are distinguished from other bugs by the fact that the scutellum almost completely covers the abdomen and wings so that they have a beetle-like appearance. They are easily distinguished from beetles by having sucking, not biting, mouthparts and by the fact that the shield on the back is continuous, not divided (in beetles there is a distinct line between the two elytra covering the abdomen).

Solenostethium lilligerum on Leucodendron cone in fynbos.