Habits and Traits of True Bugs

When is a bug really a bug? When it belongs to the order Hemiptera – the true bugs. Hemiptera comes from the Greek words hemi, meaning half, and pteron, meaning wing. The name refers to the true bug's forewings, which are hardened near the base and membranous near the ends. This gives them the appearance of being a half wing.

This large group of insects includes a variety of seemingly unrelated insects, from aphids to cicadas, and from leafhoppers to water bugs. Remarkably, these insects share certain common traits that identify them as members of the Hemiptera.

What Are True Bugs?

Though members of this order may look quite different from one another, Hemipterans share common characteristics.

True bugs are best defined by their mouthparts, which are modified for piercing and sucking. Many members of Hemiptera feed on plant fluids like sap and require the ability to penetrate plant tissues. Some Hemipterans, like aphids, can do considerable damage to plants by feeding in this way.

While the forewings of Hemipterans are only half membranous, the hind wings are entirely so. When at rest, the insect folds all four wings over each other, usually flat. Some members of Hemiptera lack hind wings.

Hemipterans have compound eyes and may have as many as three ocelli (photoreceptor organs that receive light through a simple lens).

The order Hemiptera is usually subdivided into four suborders:

1. Auchenorrhyncha – the hoppers
2. Coleorrhyncha – a single family of insects that live among mosses and liverworts
3. Heteroptera – the true bugs
4. Sternorrhyncha – aphids, scale, and mealybugs

Major Groups Within the Order Hemiptera

The true bugs are a large and diverse order of insects. The order is divided into many suborders and superfamilies, including the following:

• Aphidoidea – aphids
• Pentatomoidea – shield bugs
• Gerromorpha – water striders, water crickets
• Cicadoidea – cicadas
• Tingidae – lace bugs
• Coccoidea – scale insects

Where Do True Bugs Live?

The order of true bugs is so diverse that their habitats vary greatly. They are in abundance worldwide. Hemiptera includes terrestrial and aquatic insects, and members of the order may also be found on plants and animals.

True Bugs of Interest

Many of the true bug species are interesting and have distinct behaviors that distinguish them from other bugs. While we could go into great length about all these intricacies, here are a few that are of special interest from this order.

• Marine skaters in the genus Halobates live their entire lives on the surface of the ocean. They lay eggs on floating objects.
• The family Pentatomidae (better known as stink bugs) have glands in the thorax that emit a foul-smelling compound. This defense helps them repel potential predators.
• Cicadas of the genus Magicicada are famous for their odd life cycles. Cicada nymphs stay underground for 13 or 17 years after which they emerge in large numbers and with a deafening song.
• Females of the genus Belostoma (giant water bugs) lay their eggs on the back of a male. The male cares for the eggs, bringing them to the surface for proper aeration.

Sources

• Ramel, Gordon. "Gordon's Hemiptera Page."
• "Field Guide to Common Texas Insects." Texas A&M University. 
• Meyer, John. "Hemiptera - Suborder Heteroptera." North Carolina State University Department of Entomology. 
• Eaton, Eric R, Rick Bowers, and Kenn Kaufman. Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America. New York: Houghton Mifflin Co, 2007.