Heteropteran Fauna of Taiwan: Cotton Stainers and Relatives （Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoroidea)

Heteroptera or true bugs are the most species-rich group within the hemipteroidinsects. They are usually considered as forming a separate insect order, or a suborder within a more inclusive order Hemipterasensu lato, which contains aphids, scale insects, white flies, psyllids, cicadas, spittlebugs, leafhoppers, treehoppers, planthoppers, peloridiids, and true bugs. True bugs are considered as a monophyletic group by several characters, most importantly the anterior position of the rostrum, and the presence of a scent gland system situated on abdominal tergites in nymphs and on the metathorax in adults (secondarily lost or reducedin several groups).
According to the currently most widely accepted classification, Heteroptera contains about 40.000 described species in seven infraorders and around 85 families. They occur all over the world, and their morphology and life habits areoutstandingly diverse among all insect groups.
Pyrrhocoroidea is a superfamily within the infraorder Pentatomomorpha of true bugs, comprising altogether about 50 genera and more than 400 species in all major zoogeographical regions. Members of the group vary from small (5 mm) to very large (up to about 60 mm); many species have apparent aposematic colouration, but several others are dull-coloured. Pyrrhocoroidea are frequently encountered in the field and many species have economic importance. The superfamily is subdivided into two families, Largidae and Pyrrhocoridae, and is usually considered as related to the Lygaeoidea and Coreoidea.