Have piercing
mouthparts called a rostrum which contains 2 pairs of stylets. The outer 2 pairs (the modified mandibles and maxillae) have serrated edges for piercing, and the labium and labrum form a tube around the stylets for food to pass up and saliva to pass down. The tip pf the rostrum has receptor cells to assess the suitability of the food source.
Mouthparts usually fold
under the body like a clasp knife.
Adults usually have two pairs of wings,
the front pair may be partially hardened.
The plant feeders can be serious
agricultural pests as they can transmit viral diseases.
Body length from 1 mm to 130 mm.
Divided into two
sub-orders; Heteroptera and Homoptera.
Over 90,000 species worldwide, over 8,000 in Europe, 1700 in the British Isles.
Honeydew is the sugar-rich liquid excreted by some sap suckers in this family, e. g. aphids. The "manna from heaven" in the bible is believed to be honeydew. And the first animas to be farmed were in this group, and the first farmers were ants.
Hemiptera taxonomy
The taxonomy of the hemiptera is confusing, and is constantly being changed. In many books they are subdivided into 2 groups as above, however this division is often changed to incorporate extra divisions.
Below is a heteropteran land bug.
Their bodies are generally flattened, with the wings folded flat over the body.
The mouthparts (stylets or rostrum) form two channels allowing food to be
sucked up one and saliva to be pumped down the other (see the diagram of a bug head below).
