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 Hyocephalus aprugnus Ippatha australiensis Leptocoris Mictis profana (Crusader Bug) Reduviidae Assassin Bugs

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