The HEMIPTERA order forms the fifth largest assemblage of insects in Britain with nearly 2,000 species in 63 families, that are taxonomically separated into three distinct suborders: HETEROPTERA (bugs), AUCHENORRHYNCHA (hoppers) and STERNORRHYNCHA (plant parasites). 

 

HEMIPTERA essentially means 'half-winged', referring to a characteristic of these insects that is particularly evident in the bugs, where their forewings are distinctly divided with a tough and thickened, leathery base, but membranous tip. They fold their wings flat over the abdomen when at rest which, typically, leaves the scutellum exposed and conspicuous. The hoppers and plant parasites have membranous or hardened, but undivided, wings that are held tent-like over their body largely obscuring the scutellum. Whilst all these hemipteran species differ quite considerably in appearance, they share an important common feature in that they're mostly plant feeders with piercing mouthparts that are adapted for sucking rather than chewing. Again, this is most obvious with the bugs who have a beak-like protruding rostrum, whereas in the other species the mouthparts are usually hidden as they point down and back. 

 

Unlike the Hymenopteran, Dipteran and Coleopteran species that undergo a complete metamorphosis, Hemipterans have a three-stage hemimetabolous development process where the eggs hatch directly into nymphs that, in varying degrees, resemble the adults. They begin this stage of their life cycle as a tiny pronymph, but then moult a number of times as they grow before becoming an adult. Although similar, the process varies between species with some having very distinctive stages, known as instars, that can be defined, whereas others are typically referred to as early instar, mid instar or late instar. In most cases the wing pads aren't evident until the latter stages. The process is best seen in the various shieldbug species, where the instars are well-documented with some excellent illustrations on the 'British Bugs' website that can prove invaluable when trying to determine the species.

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The HETEROPTERA (true bugs) suborder is split into four infraorders: PENTATOMOMORPHA (Shieldbugs and allies), CIMICOMORPHA (Plant bugs and allies), LEPTOPODOMORPHA (Shorebugs) and NEPOMORPHA (Aquatic bugs).

There are 36 families in total, although quite a few are either monotypic, small and/or obscure. They are placed in various superfamilies, subfamilies or tribes as confirmed on the associated family and/or species account pages. All of the more frequently encountered species have common names and, where appropriate, those names are used as the primary identifier. All of the important families are currently represented here to some degree apart from Salididae (shorebugs).

 

The AUCHENORRHYNCHA (hoppers) suborder is divided two infraorders: CICADOMORPHA  (Cicadas, Spittlebugs, Froghoppers, Leafhoppers and Treehoppers) and  FULGOROMORPHA (Lacehoppers and Planthoppers), both of which have their own collective, rather than family, linked account page as I've only photographed a few species. The suborder includes 9 families with about 400 species with the majority classified as leafhoppers or planthoppers. 

 

The third suborder STERNORRHYNCHA (plant parasites) is not represented here. I may include a separate page in the future for aphids, and possibly the few psyllids that I've photographed but, at present, I don't have sufficient material.

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