Coreoidea (Hemiptera: Heteroptera): History, recent advances in taxonomy, phylogeny and evolution

Abstract

Coreoidea is a superfamily comprised of a diverse group of true bugs, which have considerable economic importance within the infraorder Pentatomomorpha. The present review summarizes recent literature in the field (from 2012 to 2026) highlighting the historical background, the taxonomic update, and the revolution brought by the use of phylogenomic techniques. The systematics of Coreoidea was based mainly on morphological characters, and elucidating higher-level relationships was difficult. In recent years, the classification of the Coleoptera has been hard-hit by studies using mitogenomics and Ultraconserved Elements (UCEs), and these studies continually reveal that many large families, including Coreidae and Alydidae, are not monophyletic. Previously, single-gene Sanger sequencing detected methodological changes in which many traditionally defined tribes and subfamilies, especially within Coreinae, proved to be para- or polyphyletic. Evolutionary studies have focused on diversification in parallel with the radiation of angiosperms, and adaptive innovations include prognathous mouthparts, elaboration of metathoracic scent glands (MTGs) and development of elaborate intrasexually selected weapons. Despite these advances, substantial gaps remain, including sampling a wider genomic space of underrepresented tribes and a more coordinated approach to integrating molecular and ultrastructural morphology. This report offers a broad review of the state of Coreoidea research, highlighting the changing focus toward more solid, phylogenetically based systematics.