University of Michigan Biological Station

Biology 442 - Biology of Insects

Lecture Notes - Families of Hemiptera

1. Nepomorpha (Aquatic Bugs). Short antennae.
   1. Nepidae (Waterscorpions). 12 spp.
      1. Size - usually large.
      2. Diagnostic characters.
         1. Long cerci used as breathing tube.
         2. Raptorial front legs.
      3. Habitat. Among aquatic vegetation.
      4. Food. Both nymphs and adults predaceous on small aquatic animals.
      5. Other. Can give a painful bite.
   2. Belostomatidae (Giant Water Bugs). 19 spp.
      1. Size - up to 65 mm.
      2. Diagnostic characters.
         1. Elongate oval, somewhat flattened.
         2. Membrane with veins.
         3. Raptorial front legs.
      3. Habitat. Ponds and lakes.
      4. Food. Both nymphs and adults predaceous on insects, snails, tadpoles, small fish.
      5. Other. Can give very painful bite.
   3. Corixidae (Water Boatmen). 120 spp.
      1. Size - medium.
      2. Diagnostic characters.
         1. Body elongate oval, somewhat flattened.
         2. Hindlegs oarlike.
         3. Front tarsi scoop-shaped.
         4. Dorsal surface often crosslined.
      3. Habitat. Ponds and lakes, occasionally streams.
      4. Food. Algae and other minute aquatic organisms. A few predaceous.
      5. Other. Do not bite. Can be important food source.
   4. Gelastocoridae (Toad Bugs). 7 spp.
      1. Size - medium.
      2. Diagnostic characters.
         1. Look like little toads, morphologically and behaviourly.
      3. Habitat. Margins of ponds and streams.
      4. Food. Predaceous on other insects they pounce on.
   5. Notonectidae (Backswimmers). 34 spp.
      1. Size - 5 to 17 mm.
      2. Diagnostic characters.
         1. Dorsal surface more convex than corixids.
         2. Front legs not raptorial.
         3. Reverse countershading.
      3. Habitat. Aquatic places.
      4. Food. Predaceous on other insects, tadpoles and small fish. Drift underneath prey.
      5. Other. Swim upsidedown.
2. Gerromorpha. Semi-aquatic. Skate on water surface.
   1. Veliidae (Broad Shouldered Water Striders). 30 spp.
      1. Size - small to medium.
      2. Diagnostic characters.
         1. Midcoxae midway between front and hind coxae.
         2. Often wingless.
         3. Usually exclamation point shaped.
      3. Habitat. Surface of ponds or in riffles of streams.
      4. Food. Predaceous on insects that fall on surface.
      5. Other. Riffle bugs often gregarious.
   2. Gerridae (Water Striders). ? spp.
      1. Size - medium to large.
      2. Diagnostic characters.
         1. Midcoxae closer to hindcoxae than forecoxae.
         2. Winged or wingless.
         3. Usually parallel sided.
      3. Habitat. Surface of quiet waters, 1 genus on ocean.
      4. Food. Predaceous on insects.
      5. Other. Some hibernate in mud when streams dry up.
3. Leptopodomorpha. Semi-aquatic.
   1. Saldidae (Shore Bugs). 70 spp.
      1. Size - Small to medium.
      2. Diagnostic characters.
         1. Body oval, flattened.
         2. 4 or 5 long closed cells in hemelytra.
      3. Habitat. Shores of streams, ponds, or ocean.
      4. Food. Predaceous on other insects.
      5. Other. Some burrowing in habit.
4. Cimicomorpha. Terrestrial bugs.
   1. Tingidae (Lace Bugs). 140 spp.
      1. Size - < 5mm.
      2. Diagnostic characters.
         1. Dorsal surface elaborated sculptured or reticulate.
         2. Usually without distinct membrane on wings.
      3. Habitat. Many on trees, but some in fields.
      4. Food. Herbivorous.
      5. Other. May cause damage to trees.
   2. Miridae (Plant Bugs). 1750 spp.
      1. Size - mostly 4 to 10 mm.
      2. Diagnostic characters.
         1. Have cuneus. Gives appearance of flat rear.
         2. 1 or usually 2 closed cells in membrane.
      3. Habitat. All terrestrial habitats.
      4. Food. Herbivorous on many spp. of plants.
      5. Other. Many are important pests.
   3. Nabidae (Damsel Bugs). ? spp.
      1. Size - 3.5 to 11 mm.
      2. Diagnostic characters.
         1. Fore and midtibiae with flat moveable process.
         2. Membrane with numerous small cells around the margin.
         3. Front legs slightly raptorial.
         4. 4-segmented beak.
      3. Habitat. Most common in fields.
      4. Food. Predaceous on other insects.
      5. Other. Often wingless.
   4. Reduviidae (Assassin Bugs, Ambush Bugs, Thread-legged Bugs). at least 160 spp.
      1. Size - medium to large.
      2. Diagnostic characters.
         1. Raptorial front legs.
         2. 3-segmented beak fitting into groove on prosternum.
      3. Habitat. Most terrestrial habitats.
      4. Food. Most predaceous on other insects. A few bloodsucking.
      5. Other. Often elongate head. Can bite.
5. Pentatomorpha. Terrestrial bugs.
   1. Berytidae (Stilt Bugs). ? spp.
      1. Size - 5 to 9 mm.
      2. Diagnostic characters.
         1. Long thin appendages that are clavate.
         2. Head not elongate.
         3. Front legs not raptorial.
      3. Habitat. In fields mainly.
      4. Food. Herbaceous. A few may include small insects in diet.
   2. Lygaeidae (Seed Bugs). at least 250 spp.
      1. Size - 2 to 18 mm.
      2. Diagnostic characters.
         1. Only 4 or 5 viens in membrane.
         2. Front legs sometimes slightly raptorial.
      3. Habitat. Many in fields.
      4. Food. Primarily seeds, some on sap of host, a few predaceous.
      5. Some are brightly marked, e.g. milkweed bug. Some are pest species.
   3. Coreidae (Leaf-footed Bugs). 80 spp.
      1. Size - medium to large.
      2. Diagnostic characters.
         1. > 5 veins in membrane.
         2. Head distinctly narrower than pronotum.
      3. Habitat. Wooded or fields.
      4. Food. Most herbaceous. A few predaceous.
      5. Other. Many have hind femora expanded and leaflike. Have scent glands.
   4. Alydidae (Broad-headed Bugs). ? spp.
      1. Size - medium.
      2. Diagnostic characters.
         1. > 5 veins in membrane.
         2. Head about as wide as pronotum.
      3. Habitat. Common in fields.
      4. Food. Herbivorous.
      5. Other. Conspicuous scent glands. Some immatures look like ants and some adults look like spider wasps.
   5. Scutelleridae (Sheild-backed Bugs). ? spp.
      1. Size - 8 to 10 mm.
      2. Diagnostic characters.
      3. Scutellum extended as shield over entire abdomen.
      4. Antennae 5 segmented.
      5. Habitat. Often in fields, a few in woods.
      6. Food. Herbivorous.
      7. Other. Often brown or yellow.
   6. Pentatomidae (Stink Bugs). at least 200 spp.
      1. Size - medium to large.
      2. Diagnostic characters.
         1. Antennae 5-segmented.
         2. Oval in shape.
         3. Scutellum not extended over entire abdomen, usually a large triangle.
         4. 3 tarsal segments
      3. Habitat. All terrestrial habitats.
      4. Food. Some herbivorous, some predaceous.
      5. Other. Have scent glands. May be brightly colored.

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