Department of Entomology

Hemiptera (Heteroptera) (Bugs)

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Hemiptera - Brigham Young/VPI & SU PCD0330038

I. Background information

A. Origin of name

1. Latin - hemi, half; ptera, wings
2. Relates to the basal portion of the forewings being thickened and the distal portion being membranous.

B. Classification

1. Suborders - 7
a. Enicocephalomorpha
b. Dipsocoromorpha
c. Nepomorpha
d. Gerromorpha
e. Leptopodomorpha
f. Cimicomorpha
g. Pentatomomorpha
2. America north of Mexico - 42 families, 677 genera, 3,834 species
3. World - ? families, ? genera, 50,000 species
4. Estimate of undescribed species - 18% in N. America

C. Common names - Bugs

D. Type of metamorphosis - Paurometabolous

E. Phylogenetic relationships

1. Hemipteroid

II. Morphological characteristics

A. Mouthparts modified into beak which extends from the front of head.

B. Forewing with basal half thickened and leather-like; the apical half is membranous (hemelytron). Wings, when at rest, held flat over body and overlap each other. Some wingless or brachypterous species.

C. Typically triangular scutellum (feature shared with Coleoptera).

D. Antennae consist of 4-5 segments.

E. Often with scent glands that open on the sides of the thorax (adults) or the dorsal surface of the abdomen (nymphs).

III. Biological summary for the order

A. Life History

1. Eggs - laid in or on plants or simply dropped. Some species with elaborate design.
2. Nymphs - usually 4-5 nymphal instars and usually found with the adults.
3. Adults
4. One to several generations per year

B. Habitat

1. Terrestrial and aquatic species.
2. Only insect found in the open ocean are the marine Water Striders, Halobates spp. (Gerridae).

C. Habits (mode of existence)

1. Phytophagous, predatory, and parasites.
2. Some species suck blood and feed on large animals including man and domestic animals.

D. Collecting and preserving

1. Light
2. Sweeping, beating vegetation, and searching flowers and foliage
3. By net over water
4. Hard-bodied species may be pinned or pointed
5. Soft-bodied species in 80% alcohol

F. Behavior

1. Mating usually takes place by the insertion of the male intromittent organ into the females genital orifice. However, in the Cimicidae (bedbugs) the male punctures the body wall of the femaležs abdomen. Sperm are placed in a spermalage, which in not connected to the reproductive system of the female.
2. Scent glands emit poisonous, fat-dissolving chemical, tridecane, that smells bad and can destroy the waxy protective covering on the surface of the integument.
3. Usually feed on plant juices but many species will also suck eggs of other insects, including Hemiptera.

G. Significance

Many crop pests (esp. Miridae). Weaken plants and transmit plant diseases. Some beneficial predatory species (Pentatomidae). Some species transmit human diseases (e.g., Triatoma and Rhodnius (Reduviidae) - Chagas disease).