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).
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.
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)
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
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- 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
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Meropachydinae Stål, 1867
Pseudophloeinae Stål, 1867
Numerous tribes of the Coreinae have been at times proposed for elevation to subfmaily 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 there recent reviews generally tend to treat the proposed Agriopocorinae ans a tribe again, recognizing only the three subfamilies that were known by 1867 already. In addition, at least the genus Eubule is of decidedly indeterminate placement.
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