Water-bugs (Heteroptera)

Insects in the order Hemiptera are the 'true bugs'. They are unique amongst insects in having their mouthparts formed into a piercing beak or 'rostrum', used to suck juices from plants or other animals.   Their life cycles do not have a larval and pupal stage; instead, juvenile bugs have a series of nymph-stages or 'instars', which progressively have more adult-like characteristics. Hemiptera are divided into distinct sub-orders:

Heteroptera include the shield-bugs, plant bugs, ground bugs, water bugs and allied families.  These have a thickened and opaque basal part to their forewings, with a transparent outer part.  

Auchenorrhyncha are the leafhoppers, planthoppers, cicadas and allies. Some authorities divide this into two separate sub-orders: Cicadamorpha and Fulgoromorpha.  Many have enlarged back legs and can jump.

Sternorrhyncha are aphids, psyllids and allies.    

The 'British Bugs' website (https://www.britishbugs.org.uk/index.html) is a very good source of on-line information about true bugs, including photos of many species.  Many can be identified from photographs but some very similar species need examination of the actual specimens. Where this is the case we have put this in the description text. If you are unsure which part of the insect the description refers to, see https://www.britishbugs.org.uk/bug_bits.html

Facebook Group: UK Hemiptera

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