Catalog of the Dinidoridae of the world.

Abstract

Dinidoridae is a relatively small family of pentatomoids distributed primarily in the Afrotropical, Indomalayan and Oceanian realms. However, the family reaches into the palearctic and Australia, and it is represented in the neotropics by the type genus. Currently there are 95 nominal species in 16 genera. Some species are crop pests, others have served as experimental animals in laboratories, and at least one is used as a condiment in rice. Among the major pentatomoid families, Dinidoridae is unique in that it has been revised recently to species level. Durai (1987) provided a sturdy classification, which we follow, at the family and generic levels, but there remains at the species level difficulties that only additional study and adequate specimens will resolve. We hope this catalog spurs interest in the dinidors and facilitates systematic research on these remarkable insects.