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

Heteroptera (True Bugs)

Heteroptera > Heteroptera Index

— see Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies

Australia’s Heteroptera are a group of insects commonly named “True Bugs”, within the order Hempitera and suborder Heteroptera. These insects are found in a variety of habitats, some species being aquatic or semi-aquatic, shore bugs and terrestrial. Most species feed on plant juices (sap), others are predators or mixed feeders and a some are parasites (blood-sucking).

Soapberry Bug (Leptocoris tagalicus) on Needlewood (Hakea leucoptera), Alice Springs NT
Soapberry Bug (Leptocoris tagalicus) on Needlewood (Hakea leucoptera), Alice Springs NT


How to identify a bug from a beetle

  • If the antenna has 4‒5 segments, then it’s a bug. Beetles (with some exceptions) have at least 8 segments and usually 11 antennomeres (the segments of the antenna are called antennomeres).
  • Bugs have piercing, sucking mouthparts that usually folded back against the underside. Beetles have pinching jaws (mandibles).
Cotton Harlequin Bug (Tectocoris diophthalmus), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Cotton Harlequin Bug (Tectocoris diophthalmus), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Hemiptera
  • Suborder: Heteroptera
  • Infraorder:
    • Cimicomorpha
    • Dipsocoromorpha
    • Enicocephalomorpha
    • Gerromorpha
    • Leptopodomorpha
    • Nepomorpha
    • Pentatomomorpha

Footnote & References

  1. Suborder HETEROPTERA, Gerrids, Reduviids, Water-striders, Australian Biological Resources Study, Australian Faunal Directory, Compiler/Date details June 2012 UNSW Sydney / June 1995 Australian Museum, Sydney / South Australian Museum, Adelaide, Department of Climate Changem Energy, the Environment and Water, Australian Government, https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/HETEROPTERA;HEMIPTERA
  2. Heteroptera, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/HETEROPTERA

HeteropteraHeteroptera Index Amyotea hamata (Yellow Predatory Shield Bug) Choerocoris paganus (Red Jewel Bug) Hyocephalus aprugnus Ippatha australiensis Leptocoris Melanacanthus margineguttatus (Bean Bug) Mictis profana (Crusader Bug) Poecilometis strigatus Reduviidae Assassin Bugs Shield Bugs – Stink Bugs Tectocoris diophthalmus (Hibiscus Harlequin Bug)

InsectsInsects Life Cycle… Bees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Mantodea Moths Neuroptera Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub

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