Abstract

Understanding morphological variation is crucial for clarifying taxonomic uncertainties and enhancing the identification of economically important pest insects. In this research, geometric morphometrics (GM) was applied to analyze the head and pronotum shape of cryptic species from 3 genera within the tribe Nezarini (Acrosternum, Chinavia, and Nezara) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), which include significant agricultural pests. By quantifying shape variation, we assessed the efficacy of GM in genus-level discrimination and explored its ability to distinguish morphologically cryptic species within Acrosternum, which are often intercepted in imported commodities outside their native range (Europe and Western Asia). For species level, GM effectively distinguishes 4 frequently intercepted Acrosternum species, emphasizing its applicability in biosecurity. This study highlights GM as a reliable, reproducible, and statistically robust tool for taxonomic resolution, especially in insect groups with subtle morphological differences that are relevant to agriculture and quarantine monitoring.