Hemiptera: a quick guide to common families Amy L. Springer Utah State University About this guide: This guide was developed as a visual reference for quick identification of common Hemipteran families. Not all species in these families will show all of the characters noted, but this guide should be sufficient for identifying most common species to the family level. The individual illustrations are an average representation of a particular family and do not represent one species in particular. This is not a dichotomous key. All illustrations were completed with a calligraphy pen and ink by Amy L. Springer, and all image rights are reserved. 2 Table of contents: Glossary of terms...............(4) Suborder Auchenorrhyncha: the free-living Hemipterans (19) Identification of suborders..(5) Cercopoidea……...20 Suborder Heteroptera: the Cicadidae………… 21 typical true bugs..…………. (6) Cicadellidae………22 Membracidae…….23 Miridae…………… 7 Flatidae……………24 Coreidae.............. 8 Delphacidae…….. 25 Rhopalidae………. 9 Lygaeidae………… 10 Pentatomidae…….11 Suborder Sternorrhyncha: the Nabidae……………12 plant-parasitic Hemipterans (26) Reduviidae………..13 Belostomatidae…. 14 Aleyrodidae……… 27 Corixidae………….15 Aphididae…………28 Notonectidae……..16 Coccoidea…………29 Gerridae………….. 17 Adelgidae………….30 Cimicidae………… 18 Psylloidea………… 31 3 Glossary of terms Beak: the hardened proboscis or feeding mouthparts of a Hemipteran. Calcar: a moveable, thumb-like spur found at the end of the hind tibiae of some insects. Clypeus: an exoskeleton “plate” found on the head of an insect above the jaws. The “upper lip” of an insect. Cornicles: tubes that emerge from the abdomen of an aphid and emit pheromones. Cuneus: a triangle-shaped region at the end of the leathery portion of the forewing of a Heteropteran. Femur: the third leg segment of an insect, located between the trochanter (the segment nearer to the insect’s body) and the tibia (the segment located further from the insect’s body). Plural: femurs. Filiform: thread-like. Used to describe long, thin, smooth insect antennae. Fossorial: in insects, forelegs that are modified for digging, as in mole crickets or cicadas. Marginal cells: Cells in an insect wing that directly adjoin the margin (edge) of the wing. Ocellus: Small, round, simple eyes that detect light and dark. Found on the head of many insects. Plural: ocelli. Pronotum: the exoskeleton “plate” of an insect that covers most of the thorax on the insect’s dorsal side. Raptorial: in insects, forelegs that are modified for grabbing prey, as in in praying mantises. Scutellum: the triangular-shaped thorax plate found between where the forewings attach to the insect’s thorax. Sub-marginal vein: the wing vein of an insect running directly parallel to the margin (edge) of the wing. Tarsus: the foot of an insect. Usually comprised of multiple segments called tarsomeres. The claw of an insect, if present, is not included in a tarsomere count. Plural: tarsae. Thorax: the middle segment of an insect’s body found between the head and the abdomen (belly). Tibia: the fourth leg segment of an insect, located between the femur and the tarsus (foot). Plural: tibiae. Wing pad: small, leathery pads found on the thorax of juvenile insects or adult wingless insects where wings would normally emerge. 4 Identification of Suborders: If your bug has wings divided into a leathery portion and a membranous portion and a beak arising from the front of the head, start on page 6: Heteroptera. If your bug has fully membranous wings, bristle-like antennae, and a beak arising from the back of the head, start on page 19: Auchenorrhyncha. If your bug has fully membranous wings, long, thin antennae, and a beak arising from the back of the head, start on page 26: Sternorrhyncha. 5 Suborder Heteroptera The typical true bugs 6 Miridae: plant bugs Typically smaller than the size of your pinky fingernail Wings bent at a downward angle No ocelli Cuneus present (section of the leathery upper part of wing separated by a crease) Thin, delicate legs Long, thin antennae 7 Coreidae: leaf-footed bugs Typically longer than your thumbnail Antennae four- segmented Ocelli present Head far narrower than thorax Enlarged or flattened hind tibiae Tarsae 3-segmented 8 Rhopalidae: scentless plant bugs Typically larger than your pinky nail Numerous small veins on membranous portion of wing Ocelli present and pronounced 9 Lygaeidae: seed bugs Four or five large, simple veins on membranous portion of wing Triangle-shaped head Typically larger than your pinky nail 10 Pentatomidae: stinkbugs Typically larger than your pinky nail Elongated, triangle- Five antennal shaped scutellum segments covering part of the wings Membranous portion of wings still largely visible Shield-shaped body 11 Nabidae: damsel bugs Series of short veins Cone-shaped head at end of wings with little ‘neck’ Thin, long, four- segmented beak Typically around the size of your pinky nail Slender but raptorial (praying mantis-like) forelegs 12 Reduviidae: assassin bugs Thin, turtle-like Few or no obvious veins neck at end of wings Thick raptorial (praying mantis- like) forelegs Thick, short, three- Typically longer than segmented beak about your thumbnail the same length as head 13 Belostomatidae: giant water bugs Body large and Modified raptorial (grabbing) flattened top to bottom forelegs with single large claw at the end Breathing tubes Feathery hairs on hind tibiae for swimming Typically as large as your thumb 14 Corixidae: water boatmen Short forelegs modified into curved claws Series of small horizontal striations on back Typically larger than your pinky nail Hind legs modified into an “oar” shape with feathery hairs for swimming Body more rectangular than triangular 15 Notonectidae: backswimmers No obvious modification to forelegs Typically larger than your pinky nail Swims on back Eyes close together (less than one eye- width apart) Triangular-shaped body Hind legs modified for swimming with long, Dark thorax feathery hairs 16 Gerridae: water striders Hind femur longer than Four-segmented antennae the length of the abdomen May or may not have wings Walk along surface of water with specialized hairs Typically larger in diameter than a nickel 17 Cimicidae: bedbugs Body is flattened and oval in shape Typically smaller than Wingless, but wing your pinky nail pads present 18 Suborder Auchenorrhyncha The free-living Hemipterans 19 Cercopoidea: froghoppers and spittlebugs Bristle-like antennae Typically smaller than your pinky nail Grooved clypeus Crown-like ring of spines One or two stout spines at end of hind tibia along length of tibia 20 Cicadidae: cicadas Three large ocelli Larger than your on top of head thumbnail (some as large as your thumb) Grooved clypeus Bristle-like antennae May have fossorial (digging) forelegs 21 Cicadellidae: leafhoppers Typically smaller than your pinky nail Two ocelli Grooved clypeus Rows of comb-like teeth along the entire length of Bristle-like the hind tibia antennae 22 Membracidae: treehoppers Enlarged and elaborate Typically smaller than pronotum, often extending your pinky nail over the abdomen Bristle-like antennae Tibiae may be flattened 23 Flatidae: Flatid planthoppers Typically smaller than Often covered in your thumbnail Wing shape is blunt waxy secretions or boat-shaped Bristle-like antennae Marginal cells extending Sub-marginal around edge of wing vein present 24 Delphacidae: Delphacid planthoppers Typically smaller than your pinky nail Tube-like first antennal segment Bristle-like antennae A calcar, or a moveable thumb-like spur at the end of the hind tibia, is present 25 Suborder Sternorrhyncha The plant-parasitic Hemipterans 26 Aleyrodidae: whiteflies Typically smaller than a peppercorn Hind wings fully filiform antennae developed Eyes restricted into upper and lower halves Covered in a thin layer of dusty or powdery white wax 27 Aphididae: aphids May be covered in Two cornicles white, fluffy wax Long, thin, filiform on abdomen (wooly aphids) antennae May or may not have wings Typically smaller than a peppercorn 28 Coccoidea: scales and mealybugs (female only) Moves very slowly Typically smaller than or not at all your pinky nail No obvious legs or antennae May produce large May be entirely covered amounts of white, by a hard plate fluffy wax 29 Adelgidae: spruce aphids May be covered in Wing venation highly reduced: only white, fluffy wax three major veins on upper half of wing filiform antennae small, underdeveloped legs compared to Psylloidea Typically smaller than a peppercorn 30 Psylloidea: jumping plant lice Prominent vein near bottom of wing edge Long, thin, filiform antennae Hind legs modified for jumping Beak appears to emerge from chest Typically smaller than a peppercorn 31.