TRUE BUGS
This a very variable order but its members all share characteristic mouth parts: they have a long, siphon-like beak (rostrum) through which they suck their food.
Otherwise the group is disparate and divided up into (at least) two sub-orders:
HETEROPTERA: often quite large, usually with wings flattened over their bodies; the wings are partly membranous and partly hard giving many of them a saltire cross-like appearance. Includes the water bugs such as backswimmers (Notonectidae), water measurers (Hydrometridae) and skaters (Gerridae).
HOMOPTERA which is usually divided into two series:
- AUCHENORRYNCHA (cicadas and hoppers) and
- STERNORRHYNCHA (aphids, coccids, adelgids, psyllids, whiteflies &c)
Most of the Heteroptera are predatory (carnivorous) but some are plant-eaters (phytophagous) as are all of the Homoptera. The Homoptera, particularly aphids, are probably the major pest of gardens and farms: not only do they deplete crops by sucking out nutrients from sap but they spread viruses with their syringe-like mouthparts.
There is no comprehensive key to the Hemiptera available in print although 'Land and Water Bugs of the British Isles' by Southwood & Leston is available on CD-ROM from pisces-conservation . The life cycle of some bugs is illustrated on David Element's site element.ukgateway .
Generally divided into
larger groupings (Dipsocoromorpha, Nepomorpha, Gerromorpha &c) of which the two
major terrestrial groups are the Cimicomorpha and the Pentatomorpha. There
is a good and growing gallery of photos at the
Koleopterologie
site.
There are
many families of which only a few are mentioned here.
Pentatomidae: shield bugs (also some other families) - TO GALLERY
Reduviidae: assassin bugs
Lygaeidae: ground bugs
Nabidae: damsel bugs
Miridae: capsid bugs: the largest heteropteran family; mainly herbivorous, eating seeds and developing fruit. Are fairly fragile with soft wings.
Water bugs including Corixidae (water boatmen), Notonectidae (backswimmers), Hydrometridae (water measurers), Gerridae (pond skaters), Napa cinerea (water scorpion), Velia caprai (water cricket), Ranatra linearis (water stick insect).
Cimicidae: includes the bedbug - Cimex lectularius - but, in the wild, also includes flower bugs.
Cicadidae: cicadas are large bugs which make noise by vibrating membranes on each side of the body. They are mainly tropical but common in southern Europe and one species reaches Britain (Cicadetta montana - found only in the New Forest).
Membracidae: are somewhat like small cicadas and are not common in Europe.
Aphrophoridae:
froghoppers are small, jumping bugs found
on many plants: their early (nymphal) stages surround themselves
with foam - cuckoo-spit.
Delphacidae, Cercopidae: and other tree hoppers. the largest and most easily distinguished of these is Cercopis vulnerata.
Cicadellidae & Membracidae: leafhoppers. There are large numbers of these which are mainly coloured green or brown so not easily seen on plants unless disturbed.
Most of the pest species fall into this group!
Aphids (there are several families: Aphididae, Pemphigidae, Phylloxeridae &c). Some aphids are tended by ants.
Aleyrodidae: whitefly
Psyllidae (there are other families): psyllids, plant lice
Adelgidae: conifer aphids
Coccoidea
(several families): scale insects and mealybugs
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The head of an anthocorid nymph clearly showing the syringe-like rostrum. All hemipterans have this to suck out juices either from animals or plants. Normally, except when feeding, the rostrum is tucked under the body. |
LINKS
Kendall-Bioresearch gives a good overview
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created 9/4/2002
last modified 27/9/05