Hemiptera is an
order of
insects, comprising some 67,500 known
species in two
suborders,
Heteroptera and
Homoptera. Originally the Homoptera were treated as a separate order. Members of the Hemiptera, and of the Heteroptera in particular, are sometimes called "true bugs". The name comes from their
forewings[?] having both membranous and hard portions. It is also this which gives the order its name,
hemiptera, coming from the
Latin for
half-wing.
Species of order Hemiptera occcur worldwide; they are distinguished from all other insects by both adults and nymphs having piercing and sucking mouthparts housed in a long "beak". These are used mostly to feed on plant juices, but some species are adapted to suck blood from animals or other insects.
25,000 known species in over 60 families:
42,500 known species
See also: http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/hemip1.htm
Cicadas and hoppers; 33,000 species in over 30 families.
12,500 species.