True Bugs | ASU - Ask A Biologist Ask A Biologist By Page Baluch and Adam Dolezal Illustrated by Sabine Deviche Class: one of the levels biologists use to organize living things that are similar. Entomologist: name for scientist who studies insects. Exoskeleton: hard body covering... more Nymph: young stage of insects that undergo a partial metamorphosis; similar to the adult except that wings are not fully developed. Order: subcategory of class used to organize living things using scientific classification. Probscis: long tube extending from the head or mouth of an animal. Retract: ability to pull or draw something back towards the body. A cat can retract its claws. Taxonomy: the practice and science of classification which includes identifying and grouping like things. Its roots are in the Greek, taxis (order, or arrangement) and nomos (law or science). Biological classification... more Bug – it’s a word you hear almost every day. There are bed bugs, computer programs with bugs, or maybe someone is bugging you. But did you know that scientists use “bug” for a very specific group of insects. That’s right, not all insects are bugs.

If all bugs are insects, but not all insects are bugs, how do you tell them apart? The key difference between true bugs and other insects is their mouth parts. True bugs suck. That’s right, the true bugs have specialized mouth parts used to suck juices. Mostly they suck fluids from plants, but there are some true bugs, like bed bugs, that feed on animals. The sucking mouth part, called a proboscis (pro-boss-kiss), is different than that of other insects. Using a high power microscope, it is easy to see that true bugs have a mouth that looks and works differently than other insects. It actually looks like a long beak and works much like a straw you might use to drink from a juice box. If you look at the mouth parts of other insects with a beak-like proboscis, such as a honeybee or butterfly, you can see that the proboscis is retractable, by rolling it up. The proboscis of a true bug is not retractable. Insects with movable mouthparts allow them to move food from the source to their mouth. The proboscis of a true bug is more rigid and cannot be rolled up.

Why are only some insects called “true bugs?” Biologists who name animals and plants are called taxonomists, and they are very particular about who gets named what. Entomologists, the people who study insects, use taxonomy to keep the huge number of insects categorized. When they say “bug”, it means something very specific! True bugs are listed within the order called Hemiptera. Insects in this order are different from other insect orders, such as Hymenoptera (ants and bees), Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), or Diptera (flies and mosquitoes). If you look at the diagram below you can see that at the “class” category, arachnids and insects are separated into two different groups and as you go to the next category which is the “order”, true bugs are now separated into their own group which is different than the other insects. Bugs are placed into different groups because they have characteristics that make them look different from one another. Will the True Bugs Stand Up? True bugs include insects such as leafhoppers, aphids, cicadas, stink bugs, water bugs and yes those pesky bed bugs.

They have many of the same parts as other insects in that they have an exoskeleton, segmented bodies, and 6 legs. However, they are different than insects in other groups. All true bugs go through what is called incomplete metamorphosis; which means they hatch as nymphs from their egg. A nymph is a miniature version of the adult bug. Some of the fantastic true bugs found in Central America and drawn by Edwin Wilson Cambridge. The illustrations are part of Biologia Centrali-Americana, an encyclopedia of the natural history of Mexico and Central America by W. W. Fowler and T. D. A. Cockerell. The plates have been color corrected from the original digital images and are used with permission of the Smithsonian Institution. To see a larger version of each plate click on the images. Of the millions of insect species on earth, about 80,000 are true bugs, which can live almost anywhere in the world and can be found on land or in the water. They can range in size from very small (~1mm), such as bed bugs, to huge (15cm/6 inches), like the giant water bug.

Next time you see a bug, try to see if you can identify if it is a “true bug” or just another insect. References: Biologia Centriali-Americana, W. W. Fowler and T. D. A. Cockerell .Insecta. Rhynchota. Hemiptera-Homoptera. Volume II , Part 1. [London : published for the editors by R.H. Porter]: 1894-1909. Smithsonian Institution Libraries. Accessed 10, 09, 2010. Special thank you to Dave Pearson and Andrew Hamilton for their assitance with this article.

True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Order Hemiptera) · iNaturalist.org True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies German Hémiptères (punaises, cigales, cicadelles, pucerons et apparentés) Scientific Names December 29 , 2016 11:16 PM CST Place December 29 , 2016 11:02 PM CST Place December 29 , 2016 08:52 PM CST Place December 29 , 2016 08:48 PM CST Place June 13 , 2013 12:59 PM CDT Place June 13 , 2013 12:58 PM CDT Place June 13 , 2013 12:36 PM CDT Place June 13 , 2013 12:35 PM CDT Place June 13 , 2013 12:16 PM CDT Place June 13 , 2013 12:09 PM

 CDT Place June 13 , 2013 12:05 PM CDT Place June 13 , 2013 11:39 AM CDT Place Description from Wikipedia Hemiptera /hɛˈmɪptərə/ is an order of insects most often known as the true bugs (cf.

bug), comprising around 50,000–80,000 species of cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, shield bugs, and others. They range in size from 1 mm (0.04 in) to around 15 cm (6 in), and share a common arrangement of sucking mouthparts. Sometimes, the name true bugs is applied more narrowly still to insects of the suborder Heteroptera only. No range data available. True Bugs, Cicadas, Leafhoppers, Aphids, Etc. - Hemiptera - Details - Encyclopedia of Life True Bugs, Cicadas, Leafhoppers, Aphids, Etc. Learn more about this article Hemiptera is a diverse order of hemimetabolous insects. Members of this group are characterized by unique mouthparts modified to form an articulated beak (rostrum) for piercing and sucking liquid food.

The Sternorrhyncha (aphids, whiteflies, plant lice, scale insects) and Auchenorrhyncha (cicadas, frog hoppers, leaf hoppers, plant hoppers, tree hoppers) feed almost exclusively on plant sap, while the Heteroptera (true bugs) contain many predators as well as plant feeders, scavengers, and parasites. The Coleorrhyncha (moss bugs), an obscure group from South America, New Zealand, and Australia, probably feed on mosses. Some of the plant-feeding hemipterans are significant pests, and a number of species act as vectors of viruses, bacteria, and fungi causing plant diseases. © Katja Schulz Hemisys - half; pteron - wing; referring to the fact that many of its members have the basal half of the fore wings thicker than the distal half. Permian to Recent. Learn more about this article Order Hemiptera are known as the “true” bugs. A few of their common species include: cicadas, white flies, aphids, leafhoppers, shield bugs, pond skaters, and more.

They are one of the largest insect orders with about 82, 000 species found throughout the world. They are usually about one millimeter to fifteen centimeters in length. Their front pair of wings are leathery and thick while their back pair of wings are membranous. Only a few species are wingless. They have slender rostrums (beaks), which are usually used to suck sap out of plants. They can be terrestrial or aquatic. They have long five-segmented antennae and compound eyes. They have scent glands that give off a foul odor when the insect feels threatened. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis, which means they start as an egg, have a nymph stage, and then molt several times to become an adult. They can be found in the fossil record as far back as the Early Permian. © Rhianna Hruska mandiblulary and maxillary stylets coadapted, containing alimentary and salivary canals, enclosed in segmented labium Other characteristics: There are over 82,000 species of true bugs, including about 134 families, and they are found all around the world.

Nobody knows exactly how many species there are in Michigan, but it is at least 2,000. Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); palearctic (Native ); oriental (Native ); ethiopian (Native ); neotropical (Native ); australian (Native ); oceanic islands (Native ) © The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors Learn more about this article Different kinds of true bugs can be very different sizes. The smallest are only a few millimeters long. The largest, the cicadas, can sometimes be 50 millimeters long. True bugs have lots of different shapes. They may have long or short antennae having four or five segments. Their legs are adapted for grasping or for walking, and sometimes for swimming. Some can fly, some have lost their wings. Many true bugs have scent glands on the sides of the thorax. These glands make stinky chemicals that repel predators. The mouth parts of true bugs have evolved into a long thin beak. They only eat liquid foods. The beak extends back between the legs to rest against the underside of the bug, and they swing it down and forward for use during feeding.

The beak is made up of thin blades that are sharp at the end, and have a segmented cover. There are two channels in the beak, one spitting out saliva to keep the food flowing, and one for sucking in liquid food. Some true bugs can give a painful bite. Adult true bugs have two pairs of wings, except for a few groups that have evolved to lose their wings. In one big group of true bugs, the front pair of wings are partly leathery, partly clear. In most true bug species, males and females look similar. Range length: 5.0 to 60.0 mm. Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike Learn more about this article True bugs are found in nearly all land and freshwater habitats, except very coldest. The only group of insects that have evolved to live on the ocean are true bugs. True bug groups are most diverse and abundant in habitats on land that are moist and have a lot of plant life.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; tropical ; polar ; terrestrial ; saltwater or marine ; freshwater Terrestrial Biomes: tundra ; taiga ; desert or dune ; savanna or grassland ; chaparral ; forest ; rainforest ; scrub forest ; mountains Aquatic Biomes: pelagic ; lakes and ponds; rivers and streams; temporary pools; brackish water Wetlands: marsh ; swamp ; bog Other Habitat Features: urban ; suburban ; agricultural ; riparian ; estuarine ; intertidal or littoral © The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors Learn more about this article True bugs take liquid food from plants or animals. Some suck plant sap, others dissolve seeds, some sip out the juice from cells in the leaves. Many true bugs are predators, stabbing their prey (usually other Insecta, sometimes other animals including vertebrates, like Mammalia and Aves, Gastropoda, or Aranaea) and sucking out their blood or body fluids. For example, stink bugs feed on Lepidoptera and some aquatic bugs feed on Cuculidae larvae. Bed bugs are a parasitic member of the true bug group -- the feed on mammal blood, including humans.

© The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors Learn more about this article Like all insects, true bugs use scent and touch to communicate. They may also use their vision, but many species can't see very well. Many true bugs use sound and vibrations to communicate. The Cicadidae are one group of true bugs that are famous for the sounds they make. They gather in large numbers and form choruses, where thousands of insects call from one place. Their smaller relatives also communicate to each other. They don't have the special sound-producting organ that cicadas do. Instead they drum their bodies on branches and twigs. Some species of true bugs are mimics, they pretend to be ants, and sneak into ant nests to eat ant larvae. Communication Channels: tactile ; acoustic ; chemical Other Communication Modes: duets ; choruses ; vibrations Perception Channels: visual ; infrared/heat ; tactile ; acoustic ; vibrations ; chemical © The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors Learn more about this article True bugs go through a simple metamorphosis. After they hatch, the young bugs look very much like their parents, but they don't have wings. They grow and shed their skin five times.

After the last time they shed, they have wings and are mature and can reproduce. They don't grow any more. In cold climates like Michigan, some true bug species survive the winter in the egg stage, some in the adult stage. Some true bugs, like aphids, have more complicated life cycles, where females can give birth without mating during the summer, and then at the end of the summer, produce offspring that mate and go to another plant to spend the winter. In the spring their offspring go back to the original kind of plant and start the cycle again. Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis ; diapause © The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors Learn more about this article Many true bugs lay eggs on the soil surface, under tree bark, in crevices, or on plants. Some give birth to live young. Some species of female bugs can reproduce without mating. There are no males in these species, they are all female and all can reproduce. Populations of these females can grow very quickly.

Breeding season: Mainly Spring and Summer Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; parthenogenic ; sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); viviparous ; oviparous Often female true bugs guard their eggs and newly-hatched offspring to protect them from predators. Not all species do this though, some just lay their eggs and walk away. Parental Investment: female parental care © The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors Learn more about this article Some species of true bugs feed on the blood of mammals, including people. Bed bugs are true bugs. One group of species in Central and South America carry a dangerous disease from one person to another. The bites and droppings of other species cause skin irritations. Many plant-sucking bugs cause damage to crops and landscaping. For example aphids are major pests of many food plants.

Negative Impacts: injures humans (bites or stings, causes disease in humans , carries human disease); crop pest; causes or carries domestic animal disease ; household pest © The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors Wild Life in Malaysia – Hemiptera- Bugs Previous Next Hemiptera- Bugs Hemiptera is an order of insects commonly known as true bugs, which includes cicadas, stink bugs, leafhoppers, planthoppers, aphids, ladybugs, lanturn bugs and many more. Although bugs may vary greatly from one another, they all display similar mouthparts. All bugs possess a proboscis capable of penetrating plant tissue to suck sap. Learn more about bugs below: #1. A ladybird (Coccinellidae) and an aphid. Ladybirds are beneficial insects, particularly to crops as they feed on aphids and keep their populations in control. #2. A green planthopper (Fulgoromorpha). Planthoppers are so-called due to their ability to swiftly hop (in short distance) from one place to another. Most planthoppers have decent camouflage and are difficult to notice. #3. Likely a red stink bug (Pentatomidae).

Stink bugs are so called due to their ability to release chemicals that smell awful. Most Stink bugs have striking colours or abdominal patterns to warn off predators. #4. A cicada (Cicadidae) under UV illumination. Cicadas are some of the most recognized Hemipterans due to their commonness, large size in addition to the distinctive sounds they make. #5. A metallic green Jewel Bug (Scutelleridae). Jewel Bugs are so-called due to their striking, often metallic colours. Closely related to Stink Bugs, Jewel Bugs are capable of releasing foul smells too. #6. Lantern Bug (Zanna sp.). Lantern Bugs of the family Fulgoridae are strikingly attractive, especially because of the long “snouts” and colourful wings. #7. A tiny Leaf-footed bug nymph. This newly-hatched bug are all over the place where I stay. Slow and tiny, this bug nymph prefers to stay still and not attracting any attention to itself. The bug nymphs use their proboscis to penetrate plant tissue to sip plant saps. #8. Red Stink Bug, likely the juvenile version of #3.

This one will eventually grow longer, with black-coloured plates on the upper abdomen. Bristles will eventually cover the abdomen too. #9. Leaf-footed Bugs (Coreidae) mating. A male (bottom) and female (top) bug copulating in the wild. The female appears to be “multitasking”, drinking plant sap while mating- impressive! These moderately large hemipterans are common and can often be found on Ixora plants. #10. Metallic Jewel Bugs (Scutelleridae) gathering. It is unsure whether these bugs are attracted to female pheromones, or exudes from the leaves. #11. Red Stink Bugs mating (cf. Dindymus rubiginosus). These strikingly coloured bugs can attract one another via hormone or sound, and the copulation process can take minutes and possibly hours. Aphid - New World Encyclopedia Aphid Phloeomyzidae Thelaxidae Aphid, or plant louse, is the common name for minute, mostly soft-bodied, plant-feeding insects in over 4000 species comprising the superfamily Aphidoidea in the order Hemiptera .

Sometimes known as greenfly or blackfly, these insects have specially modified mouthparts (mandibles and maxillae), called stylets, adapted to suck phloem sap from vascular plants. They often gather in large colonies and have complex life cycles . Some aphid species can be serious plant pests. They can stunt plant growth, transmit viruses between plants, foster growth of molds and fungi , and deform parts of the plant (leaves, buds, flowers), causing, for example, leaf curl. The aphids sometimes induce the formation of galls, proliferations and modifications of plant tissues that protect the aphids. Among important commercial crops in which they can spread disease or otherwise cause harm are grains, potatoes , cabbage, sugarbeet, citrus, and apples , and trees such as alders, beeches , and conifers . An underlying harmony in nature is seen in some of the symbiotic relationships in which aphids are involved. Some species of ants have a mutually beneficial relationship ( mutualism ) with aphids in order to "milk" the aphids for honeydew, a sweet substance secreted by the aphids and prized as food by the ants.

Ants protect the aphids from weather conditions and enemies and transport them to plants for feeding; in turn, the ants obtain honeydew from the aphids. Some aphids also provide habitat for endosymbiotic bacteria that synthesize some essential amino acids absent from the aphids' diet. Contents 7 Credits Overview and description Aphids comprise the Aphidoidea superfamily, with typical aphids in the Aphididae family. Aphidoidea is classified within Hemiptera, an order of insects , comprising around 80,000 species of cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, shield bugs, and others, collectively known as the "true bugs." The defining feature of hemipterans is their possession of mouthparts where the mandibles and maxillae have evolved into a proboscis, sheathed within a modified labium to form a "beak" or "rostrum," which is capable of piercing tissues (usually plant tissues) and sucking out the liquids—typically sap.

The name "Hemiptera" is from the Greek hemi ("half") and pteron ("wing"), referring to the forewings of many hemipterans, which are hardened near the base, but membranous at the ends. Aphidoidea traditionally was placed in the suborder Homoptera within Hemiptera. Recent classification within the Hemiptera has changed the old term "Homoptera" to two suborders: Sternorrhyncha (aphids, whiteflies, scales, psyllids, etc.) and Auchenorrhyncha (cicadas, leafhoppers, treehoppers, planthoppers, etc.). More recent reclassifications have resulted in a substantial rearrangement of the constituent families with the Aphidoidea, with some old families reduced to subfamily rank (e.g., Eriosomatidae), and numerous old subfamilies elevated to family rank. About 4,000 species of aphids are known, classified in about 10 families. They are quite minute, varying in size from 1-10 millimeters long. Many species are green, and thus the name greenfly.

Aphids tend to have soft bodies with long, thin legs, two-jointed, two-clawed tarsi, and usually a pair of cornicles—abdominal tubes through which a waxy secretion is exuded. Aphids have two compound eyes and two ocular tubercles made up of three lenses, each of which is located behind and above the compound eyes. Aphids contain sucking mouthparts called stylets. These are modified mandibles and maxillae that form a feeding tube which can pierce plant tissues (stems, leaves, roots) and allow it to suck sap from the phloem. Aphids are distributed worldwide, but they are most common in temperate zones. It is possible for aphids to migrate great distances (mainly through passive dispersal, riding on winds) depending on the weather patterns; for example, the lettuce aphid spreading from New Zealand to Tasmania (Courtney 2005). They have also been spread by human transportation of infested plant materials. Diet and predators Aphid life stages. (Aphis pomi) Many, but far from all, aphids are monophagous (i.e. feeding only on one species of plant).

Others, like Myzus persicae, feed on hundreds of plant species across many families. Similarly to related families, aphids passively feed on sap from phloem vessels in plants. As the plant keeps this sap under high pressure, once a phloem vessel is punctured, it is forced into the aphid's food canal. When host plant quality becomes poor or is crowded, female aphids will produce winged offspring that can disperse to other food sources. Around 250 species are serious pests for agriculture and forestry as well as an annoyance for gardeners. As they feed, aphids often transmit plant viruses to their food plants. These viruses can sometimes kill the plants. Some aphid infestations cause leaf curl, whereby the feeding of a colony of aphids on the underside of a lead can cause a downward curl. Other problems include the loss of sap and stunting of plant growth, the deforming of leaves and flowers, the growth of molds and fungi on the honeydew secreted by the aphids, and the coating of the surface with honeydew. Aphids used chemicals to induce the formation of galls, proliferations, and modifications of plant tissues.

In order to form galls, the insects must seize the time when plant cell division occurs at a high speed, the growing season, and select the specific places where plant cell division occurs, the meristems. These galls may protect the larvae until fully grow. P-14 lady beetle consuming an aphid Some larger insects feed on aphids, acting as an ecological control, as do some fungi. Important natural enemies of aphids include the predatory ladybirds/ladybugs/ladybeetles ( Coleoptera : Coccinellidae ), hoverfly larvae ( Diptera : Syrphidae), and lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), and entomopathogenic fungi like Lecanicillium lecanii and the Entomophthorales. Ant tending aphids Some species of ants "farm" aphids, protecting them on the plant they eat, and eating the honeydew that the aphids secrete. This is a mutualistic relationship . Consisting of incompletely digested but concentrated plant sap, aphid honeydew is rich in carbohydrates , a product of the aphids ingesting an excess of the sap.

In return for this benefit, the ants sometimes will transport aphids to plants for feeding, protect their eggs in their nests, and protect them from weather and enemies. Many aphids are host to endosymbiont bacteria , Buchnera, which live in specialized cells called bacteriocytes inside the aphid. These bacteria synthesize some essential amino acids that are absent in the phloem that the aphids eat (Douglas 1998). Life cycle and reproduction Aphids are known for having unusual reproductive adaptations . The life cycle varies according to the species and can be quite complex, including cyclical parthenogenesis . In cyclical parthenogenesis, a typical aphid life cycle, only wingless females are present in the population for several generations, typically in the spring and summer. Reproduction is typically parthenogenetic ( asexual reproduction ) and viviparous. Females undergo a modified meosis that results in eggs that are genetically identical to their mother (parthenogenetic). The embryos develop within the mothers ovarioles, and give live birth to 1st instar nymphs (viviparous).

Aphids typically live from 20-40 days and thus undergo multiple parthenogenetic, viviparous generations each summer. In the fall, a change in photoperiod and temperature cause females to parthenogenetically produce sexual females and males. The males are genetically identical to their mothers except they have lost one sex chromosome . Sexual females and males mate and females lay eggs that will develop outside of the mother. Thus in the fall, aphids undergo sexual, oviparous reproduction. The aphids will overwinter as eggs and hatch out as females in the following spring. Aphids have been known to have what is called telescoping generations. The parthenogenetic, viviparous female aphid will have a daughter within her who is already parthenogenetically producing its own daughter at the same time. This leads to the situation where the diet of a female aphid can have inter-generational effects on the body size and birth rate of aphids. In other words, what the aphid eats can directly change the size and fertility of the aphid's daughters and granddaughters (Nevo and Coll 2001; Jahn et al. 2005).

The following brief summary of what takes place in the plant louse of the rose , Aphis rosae, may be regarded as typical of the family, though exceptions occur in other species. Eggs produced in the autumn by fertilized females remain on the plant through the winter, hatching in the spring to give rise to female individuals, which may be winged or wingless. From these, females are born parthenogenetically; that is, they are born without the intervention of males, and by a process that has been compared to internal budding—large numbers of young are produced resembling their parents in every respect except size. These, in turn, reproduce their kind in the same way. This process continues throughout the summer, with generation after generation being produced until the number of descendants from a single individual of the spring-hatched brood may amount to many thousands. In the autumn, winged males appear and union between the sexes takes place and the females lay the fertilized eggs that are destined to carry the species through the cold months of winter.

If, however, the food-plant is grown in a glasshouse or greenhouse , where protection against cold is afforded, the aphids may go on reproducing agamogenetically (asexually) without cessation for many years. Likewise, in warm and tropical areas or during the growing season, aphids reproduce asexually without interruption. Since the young can become adults and reproduce within a few days, this process leads to the build-up of very large populations responsible for severe damage to crops and important economic losses; such populations often require pest control. Aphids feeding on a rose bud, in the background lady beetle can be seen Not the least interesting features connected with this unique life history are the facts that the young may be born by oviparous or viviparous methods and either gamogenetically or agamogenetically; they may develop into winged forms or remain wingless; and males only appear in any number at the close of the season.

Although the factors that determine these phenomena are not clearly understood, it is believed that the appearance of the males is connected with the increasing cold of autumn and the growing scarcity of food, and that the birth of winged females is similarly associated with decrease in the quantity or vitiation of the quality of the nourishment imbibed. Sometimes the winged females migrate from the plant they were born on to start fresh colonies on others, often of quite a different kind (host plant alternancy). Thus the apple aphid (Aphis mali), after producing many generations of apterous females on its typical food-plant, gives rise to winged forms which fly away and settle upon grass or corn-stalks. Aphid infestation on broccoli plant. Note that most of the aphids one sees in a plant infestation are juveniles. Some species of cabbage aphids (like Brevicoryne brassicae) reproduce rapidly during the summer. They are all females, and can produce up to 41 generations of offspring. If no aphids had died during the summer, there would be more than one and a half billion billion billion aphids (1.5 x 1027) by the end of the season.

Evolution Aphids probably first appeared around 280 million years ago, in the Carboniferous period. The oldest known aphid fossil is one of the species Triassoaphis cubitus from the Triassic period. There were relatively few species of aphids at that time, and the number of species only considerably increased since the appearance of angiosperms (flowering plants) 160 millions of years ago. This is due to the fact that angiosperms provided an occasion for aphids to become specialized. Aphids have not always looked like they do currently. Organs like the cauda or the siphunculi did not evolve until the Cretaceous . Gallery Yellow aphid feeding on plant sap. Colony of aphids Aphids under attack on a thistle Aphid colors Lady beetle larva consuming an aphid Aphid Infestation on Sunflower BBC Nature - True bugs videos, news and facts True bugs True bugs The term bug is often used used to describe insects, spiders, centipedes and a whole range of other arthropods, but true bugs or Hemiptera actually only includes things like aphids and shield bugs. True bugs all have very unusual mouthparts.

The mandibles have evolved into a spiky proboscus for sucking up liquids, usually plant sap or sometimes even blood. Some of the best known species, such as aphids, are significant pests of crops and gardens, while bed bugs are common human parasite. Most of the 75,000 species, however are not even noticed, and can even be benificial, like the damsel bug helping to keep the levels of some garden pests down. Scientific name: Hemiptera Hemiptera - True bugs, Stink bugs, Shield bugs, Squash bugs, Milkweed bugs, Ambush bugs, Cinch bugs, Water boatmen, Water striders, Cicadas, Aphids, Scale insects, Leafhoppers, Bugs, Leaf hoppers, Stinks, Shields, Squashes, Milkweeds -- Discover Life Natural history Hemiptera undergo incomplete metamorphosis. The egg is inserted into plant tissues, bark, or soil. The egg is usually a simple elliptical shape; however, some families have unusually-shaped eggs. For example, Pentatomidae have small barrel-shaped eggs. The eggs of Reduviidae have spines and filaments (Dooling,1991).

The nymph undergoes five instars (time between molts). After each instar, there is an increase in size. Wing pads become visible and scent gland develop for protection (Dooling, 1991). The adults feed actively on plants and other insects. They live on leaves (terrestrial) or on the surface of the water (aquatic) (Dooling, 1991). Hemiptera are also known for their symbiotic relationships with ants. Phloem-feeding Hemiptera excrete a sugary, energy-rich substance known as “honeydew”. Ants “herd” the aphids and provide protection for them in return for the honeydew. The ants may also build soil shelters over aphid colonies and store Hemiptera eggs until they hatch. (Dooling, 1991). Adults breed mostly in the spring and early summer. Many species produce sound by stridulating to communicate between the sexes. Mating takes place in the normal habitat for the species. Eggs are normally attached to vegetation or other objects, some species guard the eggs.

The eggs hatch quickly and the nymphs grow quickly through 5 (rarely 4) instars during the summer. The adults overwinter by hibernating or they may remain active. Most species are univoltine in our area. Trophic Roles The family Corixidae contains many species that feed on algae, or even as collectors as well as predators. All remaining aquatic and semiaquatic bugs are primarily predators as nymphs and adults. They use the piercing mouthparts to penetrate the prey, inject hydrolytic enzymes and suck out the juices. Many have raptorial forelegs to help handle the prey. Many are very fierce taking large prey and causing painful bites. Semiaquatic species feed from the surface or just below the surface. Purely terrestrial bugs may be predators, herbivores or even parasites. Communities Most diverse in warm, heavily vegetated, shallow, lentic or slow lotic waters. Corixids are most specious and show more pronounced habitat preferences. Most bugs come to the surface periodically for air. Some water striders live on the open oceans. Economic Importance Terrestrial species may be very important agricultural pests, pest controlling predators, or vectors of disease.

Aquatic species help control nuisance insects, some are used for human or pet food, some are bitting nuisances, some may feed on hatchery fish, only corixids are normally fed upon by fish. Insects by Order: Hemiptera, the ‘True’ Bugs. | Splendour Awaits Insects by Order: Hemiptera, the ‘True’ Bugs. 07 2015 It has happened more than once, at some point in a presentation or macro class, that my reference to ‘true bugs’ will trigger a response from someone with words to the effect of, “There are false bugs?”. Outside of entomological circles, the term ‘bug’ broadly covers any small thing that creeps or flies, including insects, spiders and other terrestrial invertebrates. However, to an entomologist, ‘bug’ is specific to the Order Hemiptera . To make the distinction from other creepy-crawlies clear, Hemiptera are referred to as the ‘true bugs’, and includes a large variety of insects commonly known as shield bugs, leafhoppers, froghoppers, bed bugs, pond skaters, cicadas, water bugs, aphids and scale insects.

My, what a big rostrum you have! Seed-sucking, by the looks of it. Chlorochroa sp. Stink bug rostrum What are the common characteristics of the Hemiptera? The most notable common feature is the rostrum or ‘beak’, which are rear-facing (opisthognathous) when at rest. These piercing-sucking mouthparts, actually a modified labium called the sheath, which contain the stylets, which are modifications of the mandibles and/or maxillae. (More on insect mouthparts here ) The stylets can penetrate animal or plant tissue by piercing or rasping. Once the tissue is penetrated, digestive enzymes are released through the stylet in saliva and the resulting slurry is imbibed by active sucking. In some bugs such as aphids, the stylets penetrate to reach the plant’s phloem and the turgor pressure actually provides enough flow so that sucking is not required, and the sap throughput is constantly released as honeydew . First through fifth instars and adult Squash bug. Only the adult has fully formed wings. Modified from Folsom 1914. Source: Bugwood Wiki.

Hemipterans also have incomplete metamorphosis (hemimetabolous) where they emerge from the eggs as young nymphs which resemble the adults. Each nymphal stage is called an instar, and typically they will go through several instar stages before becoming an adult. For each stage, the nymph must shed the exoskeleton, and after each moult the wing bud becomes larger. Only the adult will have fully developed wings. An aggregation of various stages of look-alike nymphs and a pair of linked adult box elder bugs, Boisea trivittatus Say, 1825. (Suborder Heteroptera ) What other shared features to Hemiptera have? Another characterizing feature of Hemiptera can be seen in the name: hemi meaning ‘half’ and ptera meaning ‘wing’. The Hemiptera have two pairs of membranous wings, often with the basal part of the forewing being opaque or leathery and hence called hemelytra . To better understand the Hemiptera we have to look into the suborders and families.

(Based on ITIS and supplemented with Wikipedia ) — Suborder Auchenorrhyncha contains almost all the members of the old suborder Homoptera and includes the cicadas (Family Cicadidae ), leafhoppers (Family Cicadellidae ), treehoppers (Family Membracidae ), planthoppers (Superfamily Fulgoroidea ), lantern bugs (Family Fulgoridae ) and spittlebugs (Superfamily Cercopoidea ). All are plant feeders, and many use sounds to communicate. Suborder Auchenorrhyncha. A spittlebug nymph in the process of creating its frothy protective cover. — Suborder Coleorrhyncha is an ancient group, commonly known as moss or beetle bugs. Today they are found only in the southern hemisphere in Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and South America. Many have reduced wings and all are flightless and, as the name suggests, they live in moist mossy habitats, often in association with southern beech ( Nothofagus ) trees. Suborder Coleorrhyncha. Xenophyes rhachilophus , length about 2.8 mm. The Divide (c.

550m), Nothofagus forest, screen sweep. L16986. Fiordland National Park, New Zealand, 13 Mar 2010. Image by S.E. Thorpe. Wikipedia Commons. — Suborder Heteroptera are the true ‘true bugs‘! Once considered an order itself , the Heteroptera are the largest suborder within the Hemiptera (for those who want to severely injure themselves with the taxonomic kerfuffle within Heteroptera–which was formerly Order Heteroptera–read the chapter Classification at Wikipedia) The common feature in many of the Heteroptera can be derived from the Greek name, hetero meaning ‘different’ and ptera meaning ‘wings’. The forewings are fully or partially leathery which, when folded, cover and protect the fully membranous rear wings below. Suborder Heteroptera, Family Alydidae. A Lupine bug Megalotomus quinquespinosus (Say 1825) probes the rocks at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park.

The Heteroptera contains several infra-orders, but I think the families will be most familiar, and the most recognised of those are the: An example of just part of treehopper (Membracidae) diversity. Edwin Wilson Cambridge – Biologia Centrali Americana. 1914. (Wikimedia Commons) Smaller water strider (Veliidae†) Unlike the other suborders, the Heteroptera are notable because so many of the families are predators (indicated by † above) and some have even taken on parasitic lifestyles. In these instances, the hemipteran rostrum is as efficient at penetrating prey as it is at piercing plants. The parasitic family Cimicidae has about 90 species and all are parasites of warm-blooded birds and mammals, including our bed bugs. The family Polyctenidae are specifically bat parasites. — Suborder Sternorrhyncha contains a lot of the bugs we love to hate.

Aphids (Superfamily Aphidoidea , Family Adelgidae ) scale (Superfamily Coccoidea), whitefly (Family Aleyrodidae), mealy bugs (Family Pseudococcidae), and the dreaded grape Phylloxera (Family Phylloxeridae ) are all well-known members of this suborder. Sternorrhynchids are all plant feeders and have mouthparts (‘rhynca’) set farther back (‘sternor’) beneath the head. Aphids: winged adults alongside wingless adult females. The Sternorrhynchids often have complex life cycles, including polymorphism (different adult forms within a species), viviparity (live birth), cyclical parthenogenesis (offspring from unfertilized eggs), life cycles with (holocyclic) or without (anholocyclic) sexual stages, as well as heteroecious life cycles that take place on two different hosts. Heteroecious holocyclic life cycle, Image by David Voegtlin, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Source: Wikimedia Commons .

With over 80 000 described species , the Hemiptera are the most diverse order of hemimetabolous insects. Below, a brief slide show of more true bugs from Alberta. This slideshow requires JavaScript. True Bugs – North American Insects & Spiders True Bugs Order Hemiptera – True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies Hemiptera was first recognized by Linnaeus in the Systema Naturae of 1758. Defined as monophyletic by its possession of distinctive mouthparts in which the labium assumes the form of a sheath surrounding the elongate, slender mandibles and maxillae. The maxillae are modified into a pair of concentric tubes forming the salivary and food canals; the mandibles lie external to the maxillae, are coupled to them, and serve a cutting function when introducing the proboscis into the food source, be it flora or fauna. Predatory Stinkbug – Apateticus lineolatus The maxillary and labial palpi are completely lost in the Hemiptera. This feeding method requires liquid food.

Saliva may serve a variety of functions including histolysis, paralysis, or anticoagulant passes through the salivary canal to the food source. The liquid food is then drawn into the insect gut through the action of pharyngeal and cibarial pumps (the cibarium is the primary sucking organ in mosquitoes). Bugs suck, literally. It is by the introduction of the proboscis into the host, and the injection of the associated chemicals (and sometimes pathogens) that make the bug family so destructive to agriculture and to its animal victims. (See mosaic leaf damage and Chaga’s disease .) Hemiptera is presently divided into four suborders, after it was established that the families grouped together as “Homoptera” are not as closely related as had previously been thought. Auchenorrhyncha contains the cicadas, leafhoppers, treehoppers, planthoppers, and froghoppers. The suborder Sternorrhyncha contains aphids, whiteflies, scale, and mealybugs. Heteroptera, the least primitive of the group, represents the true bugs.

Assassin Bug – Zelus luridus Suborder Heteroptera: The True Bugs A number of Heteropteran families, most notably Pentatomidae (stink bugs) and Coreidae (squash and leaf footed bugs) engage in chemical warfare with their predators and parasites by emitting strongly odorous or corrosive fluids from special glands when disturbed. Members of the family Reduviidae are commonly called assassin bugs . They are highly successful predators of other insects and a few are ectoparasites of warm-blooded mammals, including humans. Reduviids are active hinters that kill their prey by injecting them with venomous salivary fluid with their rostrum, or beak. Ambush bugs (Phymatidae) use the same weapon but wield it in a sedentary fashion. Ambush bugs mating scrum Ambush bugs (Family Phymatidae) are some of the most fascinating hunters. They hang around flower blossoms, nearly invisible in their exquisite camouflage, waiting for a pollinator to blunder into range. Their forelimbs are adapted for a quick snatch much like the praying mantis.

Once they have latched onto a bumble bee, butterfly, or even a wasp, the ambush bug immobilizes the prey by injecting toxic saliva through their beak. Like all true bugs, ambush bugs undergo simple metamorphosis. Clusters of eggs are laid by overwintered females when the weather warms in springtime. After hatching, nymphs undergo from 4-7 molts, shedding their exoskeleton as they grow. Bugs Index Brown Stinkbug – Euschistus servus Stink Bugs – Family Pentatomidae feed on developing seed of many hosts including trees, shrubs, vines, weeds and many cultivated crops. They may also feed on the stems and foliage when seed are not present. Both nymph and adult stink bugs pierce plants with their needlelike mouthparts and suck sap from pods, buds, blossoms and seeds. The family name, Pentatomidae, comes from the Greek “pente” (five) + “tomos” (a section); a reference to the 5-segmented antennae, or to the body which is divided into 5 sections. The scutellum is the largest section.

Alfalfa plant bug – Adelphocoris lineolatus Scentless Plant Bugs – Family Rhopalidae The family Miridae is the largest among the order Hemiptera (true bugs), with approximately 10,000 described species. Most plant bugs are phytophagous, that is, feeding on plants, others are predatory and carnivorous. Rhopalidae, the so-called “scentless” plant bugs is a much smaller family, with only about 200 species in 18 genera worldwide. However, the perennial pest, the boxelder bug falls into this family, along with other agriculture pests (feeding as they do on seeds). Bugs Index Leaf-Footed Bug – Acanthocephala terminalis Family Coreidae includes leaf footed bugs and squash bugs. Leaf footed bugs are named for their leaf-shaped expansions of the hind tibia and femora. They have four-segmented antennae, large compound eyes and one pair of ocelli, or simple eyes. All species of Coreidae are phytophagous, that is, plant-feeders.

Like all true bugs, the adults are equipped with a beak, or rostrum, a hypodermic needle-like device carried under the head, which it uses to pierce the plant tissue and suck out liquids. They do not simply “suck out sap”, they inject a tissue-dissolving saliva and vacuum out the resulting slurry. Bugs cannot ingest solid food, and widespread damage to the plant is a result of these liquefying enzymes. Some Coreids live in leaf litter, but most nymphs and adults live above ground on their host plants where they may feed on seeds, fruits, stems or leaves. Many occur on an astonishing variety of plants, while some are restricted to a single host. Most Coreids do not appear to have the numbers to become serious agricultural pests, however some become a problem through their feeding on a single variety of plants; the most destructive of these is probably a squash bug, (a common name applied to bugs in the genus Anasa) Anasa tristis, which is a pest of cultivated cucurbits.

I find the Coreidae engaging creatures, being so large and stately – they don’t scare easily and don’t seem to mind posing for pictures – although this one disappeared rather suddenly, with a quick launch from those strong hind legs and a burst of speed from the huge flying wings. Damsel Bug – Nabis subcoleoptratus Family Nabidae – damsel bugs. The nabids are small bugs that are relatively slender, with the front femora slightly enlarged. Adults and nymphs are predators of many different types of insects, including aphids, moth eggs, and small caterpillars, including corn earworm, European corn borer, imported cabbageworm and some armyworms. Adults are swift and aggressive, rapidly sucking the body contents from their prey. Damsel bugs themselves are attacked by a number of natural enemies, including tachinid flies, wasps and fungi. The most common damsel bugs are pale yellow to brown with well developed wings – genus Nabis is common throughout the United States. There are approximately 29 species of broad–headed bugs in North America.

This species, Alydus eurinus, is the most abundant of the broad-headed bugs and is usually found on bush clover (Lespedeza capitata). The nymphs are remarkable ant mimics, while the adults resemble spider wasps (Pompilidae). As a second line of defense, both nymphs and adults exude chemicals known as allomones (butyric and hexanoic acids) from the metathoracic scent glands characteristic of true bugs. Broad-Headed Bug – Alydus eurinus Broad-headed bugs in the Family Alydidae feed on developing seed of many hosts including trees, shrubs, vines, weeds and many cultivated crops. They may also feed on the stems and foliage when seed are not present. Both nymph and adult bugs pierce plants with their needlelike mouthparts and suck sap from pods, buds, blossoms and seeds. The degree of damage depends on the developmental stage of the plant when it is attacked. Immature fruit and pods become deformed as they develop. Seeds are often flattened and shriveled. Later-developing cultivated plants become more attractive when these initial wild hosts dry down, and their proximity allows easy access for bug colonization in crops.

Shortly after egg deposition and hatching, emerging nymphs are gregarious in habit and remain on or near the egg mass. As they develop, they begin to feed and disperse. Small Milkweed Bug – Lygaeus kalmii Family Lygaeidae contains about 60 genera in six subfamilies. Most members are called seed bugs or milkweed bugs, and are often colored with the aposematic orange-and-black coloring popular among insects that derive their chemical defenses from milkweed plants. This family used to be vastly larger taxonomically, as numerous former subfamilies have been removed and given independent family status, which together constituted well over half of total. Many of the species feed on seeds, some feed on sap, and a few are predatory on insects. Flatid Planthopper – Ormenoides venusta Suborder Auchenorrhyncha – Cicadas, Leafhoppers, Planthoppers, Treehoppers, and Spittlebugs Insects in the order Hemiptera were historically placed into two orders, Homoptera and Heteroptera/Hemiptera, based on the differences in wing structure and the position of the rostrum.

These two orders were then combined into the single order Hemiptera by many authorities, with Homoptera and Heteroptera classified as suborders. The order is presently more usually divided into four or more suborders, after it was established that the families grouped together as “Homoptera” are not as closely related as had previously been thought. Auchenorrhyncha contains the cicadas, leafhoppers, treehoppers, planthoppers, and froghoppers. The 12,500 species in the suborder Sternorrhyncha are aphids, whiteflies and scale insects. The suborder Coleorrhyncha (comprising the single family Peloridiidae), contains fewer than 30 species and is sometimes grouped with the Heteroptera (to form the suborder Prosorrhyncha). Heteroptera itself is a group of 25,000 species of relatively large bugs, including the seed bugs, assassin bugs, flower bugs and the water bugs. Bugs Index Hackberry Psyllid – Pachysylla sp.

– Family Psyllidae: Jumping Plant Lice Suborder Sternorrhyncha – Aphids, Scales, Mealybugs, and Jumping Plant Lice. Insects in this assemblage are plant sap-processing machines. They feed by inserting their hypodermic needle-like proboscis directly into a plant’s vascular system (phloem), which contains carbohydrate-laden sap under pressure. As a passive but very efficient process, sap flows into the insect’s digestive system. The sapsuckers must process a huge quantity of liquid, since the sap consists largely of water with only tiny amounts of nutrients. The excess (called honeydew) is excreted so copiously it has managed to fuel a symbiosis with ants. In return for the honeydew, ants will carry aphids or hopper nymphs to more vulnerable (and hence more productive) areas of the plant, and protect their charges by killing aphid-predators such as lady beetle and lacewing larvae. However, mound ants will also harvest the resulting “excess” aphids as a bonus protein source.

Allegheny mound ant and hoppers (adult & nymph) Allegheny mound ants are named for their large, conspicuous nests which can be 2 meters or more across and a meter high. They are native to eastern North America from Nova Scotia to Georgia. The ants pictured here were resident in the Allegheny National Forest of northeastern Pennsylvania. AMA are aggressive foragers for protein in the form of arthropod prey, principally insects. They also obtain carbohydrates from ingesting sugar-rich honeydew excreted by aphids and leafhoppers, which the ants cultivate, herd, and protect from predators. AMA become pests with their extensive tunneling, and their unfortunate habit of killing plants near the nest by injecting formic acid into them. Even small trees and shrubs can fall victim [2]. AMA will bite if disturbed, and an aggrieved colony can boil ants out an alarming rate. The ants use pheromones to alert each other to intruders. Tree Encyclopedia / North American Insects & Spiders is dedicated to providing scientific and educational resources for our users through use of large images and macro photographs of flora and fauna.

Custom Search Hemiptera | Article about Hemiptera by The Free Dictionary Hemiptera | Article about Hemiptera by The Free Dictionary Related to Hemiptera: Hymenoptera , Siphonaptera Hemiptera [he′mip·tə·rə] (invertebrate zoology) The true bugs, an order of the class Insecta characterized by forewings differentiated into a basal area and a membranous apical region. Hemiptera (the true bugs), an order of insects most closely related to members of the order Homoptera (cicadas, leafhoppers, aphids, whiteflies, and scales). Sometimes Hemiptera are united with Homoptera (as a suborder) in the order Rhyncota. Hemipterous insects measure 0.7–12 cm. The mouthpart is a jointed beak adapted to sucking; it consists of a labium, which is folded back into a tube, and two pairs of piercing organs (mandibular setae and maxillary setae). The beak is attached to the apex of the head and is divided from its base by the gula.

The antennae are four- or five-jointed (sometimes they have one to three joints). There are two pairs of wings, which usually lie flat at rest; they cover the abdomen from above. The front wings consist of a leathery basal part (usually in two to four divisions) and a scarious distal part, or membrane. The front wings are rarely entirely leathery or alveolate. The membranes of opposite front wings usually overlap. In many hemipterans, such as the bedbug (Cimicidae), the wings are short or absent. Most hemipterous insects have scent glands; in adults the openings are on the underside of the thorax; in larvae, on the abdomen. The discharges have an unpleasant odor that frightens off enemies and attracts individuals of its own species. Metamorphosis from egg to adult is incomplete. The larvae are somewhat similar to adult hemipterans, and the pupal stage is absent. Hemipterous insects are distributed throughout the world. There are approximately 25,000–30,000 known species, making up 50 families.

In the USSR there are 2,000–2,500 species, belonging to 40 families. The principal families of Hemiptera are the aquatic families Corixidae (water boatmen), Notonectidae (backswimmers), and Nepidae (water scorpions) and the land-dwelling families Miridae (leaf bugs), Tingidae (lace bugs), Reduviidae (assassin bugs), and Pentatomidae (stinkbugs). The largest populations of hemipterans are found in the tropics; in the USSR these insects are concentrated in Middle Asia and Transcaucasia. The habits of hemipterous insects are extremely varied. The overwhelming majority are terrestrial; however, some have transferred to life in the water or on its surface (Gerridae, or the water striders). Land-dwelling hemipterans usually live on vegetation; sometimes they are found on the surface of the soil or in its upper layer, in plant litter, along bodies of water, or under bark.

Aquatic hemipterans swim or crawl along the benthos and on aquatic vegetation but breathe air from the atmosphere (only members of the family Aphelocheiridae get their oxygen from the water). Water striders skate on the surface of lakes and rivers; members of the genus Halobates are the only true marine insects (they are not found in the USSR). The majority of terrestrial hemipterans feed on plant juices, primarily from the generative organs and seeds. Some terrestrial hemipterans, most aquatic hemipterans, and all water striders are predators; they suck the juices from various insects in the adult, larval, and egg stages (for example, mites and ticks). Some species have a mixed diet; for example, water boatmen feed on both small invertebrates and algae. Some aquatic hemipterous insects, including backswimmers and water boatmen, are harmful to the fishing industry because they prey on roe and fry. Bedbugs are parasites of man, bats, pigeons, swallows, and other birds. In the tropics, species of the family Polyctenidae parasitize bats.

Some members of the family Reduviidae in Central and South America (for example, the genera Triatoma and Rhodnius) suck the blood of mammals, including man. Many herbivorous hemipterans are agricultural and forest pests. The sucking of plant juices by hemipterans leads to incomplete seed development, a decrease in the germinating capacity, retardation of growth, leaf fall, and even the death of the plants (especially seedlings). The most harmful hemipterous insects in the USSR include those that damage grains (Eurygaster integriceps and species of Aelia, Notostira, and Trigonotylus), sugar beets (Poeciloscytus), vegetables (Eurydema), leguminous grasses (Adelphocoris lineolatus), fruit trees (Stephanitis pyri), and pine trees (Aradus cinnamomeus). The most harmful polyphagous hemipterans include species of the genera Lygus, Dolycoris, and Carpocoris. Some herbivorous hemipterans carry viral plant diseases. Many insecticides are used in controlling hemipterous insects.

Biological methods are also used against Eurygaster integriceps; egg parasites of the genus Telenomus are bred and released on fields infested with E. integriceps. The bedbug, which disturbs sleep, endangers human health. Members of the genus Triatoma are the carriers of Chagas’ disease, or American trypanosomiasis, which is a dangerous disease of humans. Many predatory hemipterans, particularly those of the genera Orius and Nabis, are beneficial; they destroy aphids, mites, ticks, caterpillars, and beetle larvae that are agricultural and forest pests. REFERENCES

Question: Sometimes known as the true bugs, which order of insects includes the cicadas, aphids and leafhoppers?
Answer: Hemiptera