Heteroptera > Heteroptera Index

Welcome to our section on Australia’s True Bugs (the suborder Heteroptera). These true bugs include some species that may be familiar to some of us including Amorbus alternatus (commonly known as the Eucalyptus Tip-wilting Bug) and Choerocoris paganus (commonly known as the Ground Shield Bug or the Red Jewel Bug).

Check out some of our listed insects in the Heteroptera Index.

Hibiscus Harlequin Bug (Tectocoris diophthalmus) on the Cottonwood Tree (Hibiscus Tiliaceus), Mackay QLD © Wayne Jeffree
Hibiscus Harlequin Bug (Tectocoris diophthalmus) on the Cottonwood Tree (Hibiscus Tiliaceus),
Mackay QLD © Wayne Jeffree

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

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).
Hyocephalus aprugnus (Ground Dwelling Bug), Onkaparinga SA © Connor Margetts / C.Margetts Photography
Hyocephalus aprugnus (Ground Dwelling Bug), Onkaparinga SA
© Connor Margetts / C.Margetts Photography
Assassin Bug (Pristhesancus plagipennis), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Assassin Bug (Pristhesancus plagipennis), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones

The suborder Heteroptera are a group of some 40,000 species of insects. This group are referred to as “true bugs”, although the common name is also used to describe the order Hemiptera.

Green Jewel Bug (Lampromicra senator), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Green Jewel Bug (Lampromicra senator), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones

Heteroptera comes from the Greek for “different wings”, as most species of this group have forewings with both membranous and hardened portions (called hemelytra, elytra, or tegmina). The hemelytra (plural), is the modified forewings, that is thick and cornified (horny) at the base, and membranous at the apex (tips). At rest the forewings are folded over the hindwings.

Nymph - Eucalyptus Tip-wilting Bug (Amorbus alternatus), Alice Springs NT
Nymph – Eucalyptus Tip-wilting Bug (Amorbus alternatus), Alice Springs NT
Eye of the Leptocoris mitellatus, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Eye of the Leptocoris mitellatus, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman

This is a work in progress, check back as we add more true bugs…

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Hemiptera
  • Suborder: Heteroptera
  • Infraorder: Pentatomomorpha
  • Superfamily: Pentatomoidea
  • Family: Scutelleridae
  • Subfamily: Scutellerinae
  • Genus: Cantao
  • Species: Cantao parentum
  • Genus: Lampromicra
  • Species: Lampromicra senator
  • Family: Pentatomidae
  • Subfamily: Asopinae
  • Genus: Asopinae
  • Species: Amyotea hamata
  • 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. Heteroptera, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/b809bc05-d1c2-4664-8727-cc6493b7a3cd

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