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Hemiptera

Hemiptera is an order of insects, comprising some 67,500 known species in two suborders, Heteroptera and Homoptera. Originally the Homoptera were treated as a separate order. Members of the Hemiptera, and of the Heteroptera in particular, are sometimes called "true bugs". The name comes from their forewings[?] having both membranous and hard portions. It is also this which gives the order its name, hemiptera, coming from the Latin for half-wing.

Species of order Hemiptera occcur worldwide; they are distinguished from all other insects by both adults and nymphs having piercing and sucking mouthparts housed in a long "beak". These are used mostly to feed on plant juices, but some species are adapted to suck blood from animals or other insects.

Table of contents

Suborder Heteroptera 25,000 known species in over 60 families:

Suborder Homoptera 42,500 known species

See also: http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/hemip1.htm

Series Auchenorryncha

Cicadas and hoppers; 33,000 species in over 30 families.

Series Sternorryncha

12,500 species.

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