Order Hemiptera (*check current classification)
COMMON NAME - TRUE BUGS
The true bugs usually have four wings, the front pair being thick at the base and thin at the tips. These wings are folded flat on the back so that the tips overlap each other. A few species, such as the bed bug, are wingless. All true bugs have piercing-sucking mouthparts, which form a noticeable beak. Metamorphosis is gradual, the life stages being the egg, nymph, and adult. Many of the true bugs possess stink glands and give off an unpleasant odor. Most of the true bugs live on land, but many, such as the giant water bug and water striders, live in or on water. Usually, those that live on land feed on plant juices, but a few, including the bed bug, are parasites of man and other animals. Some even prey on other insects.
Examples
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Family: Rhopalidae Boisea trivittata (Say) - Boxelder Bug Size: 1/2" (12 mm) Habitat: Feed on new growth of trees, especially boxelder. A pest in the fall when it moves into buildings. |
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Family: Tingidae Corythucha ciliata (Say) - Sycamore Lace Bug Habitat: Commonly found on the underside of sycamore leaves. |
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| **most of the images included in these pages are from the 'Insects in Kansas' Book. They are freely available for student and noncommercial use (according to their copyright agreement with each photographer) at the PDIS image site, http://www.pdis.org/default.aspx | ||