Hemiptera

Class: Insecta

Order: Hemiptera

Identifying Characteristics:

- mouthparts that form a beak or rostrum which are capable of piercing tissues

- The hindwings are entirely membranous and are usually shorter than the forewings

-The antennae are typically five-segmented

- oval, hard body, 14 mm or less

Special Adaptations:

- True bugs

- Do not undergo metamorphosis between a larval phase and an adult phase

- Most hemipterans are phytophagous, feeding on plant sap such as aphids, scale insects, and cicadas.