HemipteraIppatha australiensis Leptocoris Mictis profana (Crusader Bug) Reduviidae Assassin Bugs

The order Hemiptera represent a group of insects known as True Bugs, Hoppers, Aphids, and Allies.

There are approximately 60,000 known species of bugs worldwide, with many more yet to be discovered and identified. Australia has about 5,650 known species, and again with many more yet to be identified.

Mictis profana (Crusader Bug), Alice Springs Desert Park NT
Mictis profana (Crusader Bug), Alice Springs Desert Park NT

The term ‘bug’ is used to describe members of the group Hemiptera, of which there are many different forms including aphids, hoppers, scale insects, cicadas and, confusingly, a group known as the ‘true’ bugs.

The one thing all bugs have in common is sucking beak-like mouth parts. Most bugs use this to suck juices (sap) from plants but some, such as the assassin bugs, are predators of other animals. There are also scavengers and a few, such as the bed bugs, are parasites of mammals, feeding on their blood. The majority live in terrestrial habitats but there are also specialist aquatic bugs – those that live on water (such as water striders) and those that live under water (such as fish-killers). True bugs are the only group of insects that are found on the open ocean, with seaskaters being found far from land.3

Newly emerged cicada from nymph skin
Newly emerged cicada from nymph skin (Thopha colorata), 2007 © Greg Sully
Nymph - Eucalyptus Tip-wilting Bug (Amorbus alternatus), Alice Springs NT
Nymph – Eucalyptus Tip-wilting Bug (Amorbus alternatus), Alice Springs NT
Ground Shield Bug (Choerocoris paganus), Alice Springs NT
Ground Shield Bug (Choerocoris paganus), Olive Pink Botanic Garden, Alice Springs NT
Large Milkweed Bugs (Spilosethus hospes), Alice Springs NT
Large Milkweed Bugs (Spilosethus hospes), Alice Springs NT
Desert Screamer (Burbunga hillieri), Alice Springs, NT
Desert Screamer (Burbunga hillieri), Alice Springs, NT
Soapberry Bug (Leptocoris tagalicus) on Needlewood (Hakea leucoptera), Alice Springs NT
Soapberry Bug (Leptocoris tagalicus) on Needlewood (Hakea leucoptera), Alice Springs NT
Mango Planthopper (Colgaroides acuminata)
Mango Planthopper (Colgaroides acuminata)
Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis), Alice Springs, NT
Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis), Alice Springs, NT
  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Subclass: Pterygota
  • Order: Hemiptera
  • Suborder:
    • Auchenorrhyncha
    • Coleorrhyncha
    • Heteroptera
    • Sternorrhyncha
  • Genus:
    • Amastris
    • Gargaphia
  • Mictis profana (Crusader Bug) 2nd instar
Mictis profana (Crusader Bug) 2nd instar, Alice Springs Desert Park NT
Mictis profana (Crusader Bug) 2nd instar, Alice Springs Desert Park NT

Footnote & References

  1. True Bugs, Hoppers, Aphids, and Allies (Order Hemiptera), iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/47744-Hemiptera
  2. Hemiptera, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/7630fe33-a00e-4743-80da-4fa6a36cd8b2#overview
  3. Bugs: Order Hemiptera, Australian Museum, https://australian.museum/learn/animals/insects/bugs-order-hemiptera/
  4. Hemiptera: bugs, aphids and cicadas, Insects and their Allies, CSIRO, https://www.ento.csiro.au/education/insects/hemiptera.html

HemipteraIppatha australiensis Leptocoris Mictis profana (Crusader Bug) Reduviidae Assassin Bugs

InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera (True Bugs) Mango Planthopper Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Syrphidae Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub