Hemipterans

Hemipterans are known as the true bugs, a varied group of insects that share a special kind of mouthpart shaped like a needle or beak. This feature sets them apart from all other insects and allows them to feed by piercing and sucking fluids from plants, fungi, or other animals, depending on the species. Most hemipterans have two pairs of wings. The front wings are usually thicker at the base and thin towards the tips, but many species do not have wings at all. They live all over the world in almost every land and freshwater environment you can think of, from gardens and forests to ponds and streams. This group includes a wide range of insects such as shield bugs, aphids, cicadas, leafhoppers, pond skaters, and water boatmen. Their size varies greatly, from tiny scale insects less than a millimetre long to large cicadas that can be more than five centimetres. Many hemipterans are important because they can cause damage to crops or spread diseases, while others help by eating pests that harm plants.