Hemiptera
True Bugs and Their Allies
Insects usually with two pairs of wings and with the mouthparts formed for sucking. The order contains two distinct suborders, the Heteroptera and the Homoptera. All species of Hemiptera in North America fall readily into one suborder or the other, but certain species in other parts of the world are intermediate between the two suborders.
Fig. 44.—Hemiptera. A typical stink bug of the family Pentatomidae, showing attachment of beak and arrangement of wings. Actual length about 0.4 inch.
In the suborder Heteroptera, containing the stink bugs, the chinch bugs, and their allies, the beak is attached to the under side of the front part of the head; the base of the front pair of wings is hardened, and only the apical portion is membranous or delicate; the entire hind pair is delicate. In repose, the wings are folded over and flat against the body, the hind pair underneath. These characters are shown in [fig. 44], which pictures a stink bug belonging to the family Pentatomidae. The young have the same general appearance and habits as the adults, but they lack wings. This suborder includes many common kinds, such as the water bugs, the water striders (these seldom develop wings even in the adult stage), the ambush bugs, and the lace bugs, as well as the stink bugs and the chinch bugs. The chief pest of this group is the chinch bug, Blissus leucopterus (Say), [fig. 45]. Other pests include many kinds of plant bugs, of which Lygus lineolaris (Beauvois) is shown in [fig. 46]. The bed bugs, another group never developing functional wings, also belong in this suborder.
Fig. 45.—Hemiptera. Blissus leucopterus, the chinch bug. Actual length about 0.1 inch.
Fig. 46.—Hemiptera. Lygus lineolaris, the tarnished plant bug. Actual length about 0.2 inch.
