Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 1931. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis is presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MSc. Agric in Entomology. In this work an attempt has been made to gather all the available literature on the family Pentatomidae and to work out keys where possible for the genera and species recorded in South Africa . The keys for the species in either the University Collection or those of the South Africa Museum did not present much difficulty as I had access to the latter through the courtesy of Dr gill and the museum Entomologist, Dr. A. J. Hesse. I especially wish to thank Dr. Hesse for his kind assistance in connection with this work. Where I had to rely on the meagre descriptions of some entomologists it has in a few cases been impossible for me to include some of species in the keys, but I have, however, incorporated the original descriptions of the species in this work. The writer hopes, that, with the aid of the drawings and the general descriptions, the keys will be of value for the correct determination of the members of this family. The Literature available on the South African Pentatomidae is very comprehensive and scattered through various publications, some of which are hardly obtainable . This is the first attempt which has been made in this country to co-ordinate the literature on this subject and it will doubtlessly prove of value to those entomologists who have not the time or the opportunity of working through the voluminous records on this interesting group. The work has been done under the direction of Dr. T. J. Potgieter, Professor of Entomology at the Stellenbosch-Elsenberg College of Agriculture of the University of Stellenbosch and I am greatly indebted to him for advice and the kindly way in which he assisted me.