Hemiptera – True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids & Allies - Driftless Prairies: Native Ecosystems

Hemiptera are called True Bugs and although the term “bug” is used to refer to most any insect, its proper use is for this group of insects. True bugs have syringe-like beaks that suck the liquified insides from their prey.

Hemiptera are mostly plant eaters but there’s always exceptions: some are predators, some are ectoparasites, and some are fungi feeders. You can find these insects in nearly every habitat. They are considered to be mostly host specific (need a specific plant to rear their young), yet we do not clearly understand all their relationships and behaviors. Each instar can require a certain host, and without it would not mature to the next instar. This makes it doubly important to note the plant a Hemiptera is feeding on when photographing or collecting.

Most Hemiptera overwinter as adults and a few overwinter as eggs or larvae. The shape of their eggs varies. The outside covering is dependent upon where the egg is laid. Those laid in the open have a thick outer membrane and are ornately formed while those laid in plant tissue or tight crevices are soft and drawn out. Most species lays a certain number of eggs in a certain pattern but there are a few species that lay single eggs.

These are arranged alphabetically by family and then by species within the family. This is for ease of use. The information I have gathered on the Hemiptera have come from the references on this page.

Acanaloniidae (Planthopppers)
Acanalonia bivittata – Two-striped Planthopper
Acanalonia conica – Green Coneheaded Planthopper

Alydidae (Broad-headed Bugs)
Alydus eurinus

Aphididae (Aphids)
Myzocallis asclepiadis
Uroleucon nigrotuberculatum – Red Goldenrod Aphid
Wooly Aphids – Subfamily Eriosomatinae

Belostomatidae (Giant Water Bugs)
Lethocerus americanus – Giant Water Bug

Berytidae (Stilt Bugs)
Jalysus spinosus or wickhami

Cercopidae – (Spittlebugs)
Aphrophora cribrata – Pine Spittlebug
Lepyronia sp
Philaenus spumarius – Meadow Spittlebug
Spittle masses of the larvae

Cicadellidae (Leafhoppers)
Aphrodes sp
Athysanus argentarius – Silver Leafhopper
Coelidia olitoria
Colladonus clitellarius – Saddleback Leafhopper
Fieberiella florii – Privet Leafhopper
Graphocephala teliformis
Gyponana octolineata – Eight-lined Leafhopper
Gyponana procera
Latalus ocellaris
Neokolla hieroglyphica
Paraphlepsius irroratus – Irrorate Leafhopper
Ponana pectoralis
Prescottia lobata
Scaphytopius acutus – Sharp-nosed Leafhopper
Scaphytopius frontalis – Yellowfaced Leafhopper

Cicadidae (Cicadas)
Tibicen canicularis – Dog Day Cicada

Clastopteridae (Froghoppers)
Clastoptera obtusa – Alder Spittlebug

Coreidae (Leaf-footed Bugs)
Acanthocephala terminalis
Anasa tristis – Squash bugs
Euthochtha galeator – Helmeted Squash Bug
Leptoglossus occidentalis – Western Conifer Seed Bug
Piezogaster sp

Corixidae (Water Boatmen)
Hesperocorixa sp
Trichocorixa sp

Dictyopharidae (Dictyopharid Planthoppers)
Scolops sulcipes – Partridge Bug

Flatidae (Flatid Planthoppers)
Metcalfa pruinosa – Citrus Flatid Planthopper

Gerridae (Water Striders)
Aquarius remigis

Lygaeidae (Seed Bugs)
Lygaeus turcicus -False Milkweed Bug
Lygaeus Kalmii – Small Eastern Milkweed Bug
Neortholomus scolopax

Membracidae (Treehoppers)
Acutalis tartarea
Atymna inornata
Atymna querci
Ceresa diceros – Two-horned Treehopper
Ceresa taurina – Buffalo Treehopper
Cyrtolobus maculifrontis
Cyrtolobus vau
Enchenopa binotata – Thorn Mimic Treehopper
Entylia carinata
Heliria gibberata
Publilia concava
Telamona monticola – Smiliine Treehopper
Telamona spreta
Vanduzea sp-cf-arquata

Miridae (Plant Bugs)
Adelphocoris lineolatus – Alfalfa Plant Bug
Blepharidopterus provancheri
Fulvius imbecilis
Hyaliodes harti
Lygus lineolaris – Tarnished Plant Bug
Megaloceroea recticornis
Metriorrhynchomiris dislocatus
Neurocolpus nubilus group
Paraxenetus guttulatus
Plagiognathus fuscosus
Phytocoris tibialis
Poecilocapsus lineatus – Four-lined Plant Bug
Sericophanes heidemanni
Stenodema vicinum

Notonectidae (Backswimmers)
Buenoa sp

Pentatomidae (Stink Bugs)
Banasa calva
Banasa sordida
Chinavia hilaris – Green Stink Bug
Cosmopepla lintneriana – Twice stabbed Stink Bug
Euschistus servus – Brown Stink Bug
Euschistus variolarius – One spotted Stink Bug
Holcostethus limbolarius
Perillus bioculatus -Two spotted Stink Bug
Trichopepla atricornis

Reduviidae (Assassin Bugs)
Phymata americana – Jagged Ambush Bugs
Phymata fasciata
Reduvius personatus – Masked Hunter
Sinea diadema – Spined Assassin Bug
Zelus luridus

Rhopalidae (Scentless Plant Bugs)
Arhyssus nigristernum
Boisea trivittata – Eastern Box Elder bug
Stictopleurus punctiventris

Rhyparochromidae (Dirt colored Seed Bugs)
Ligyrocoris diffusus
Sphragisticus nebulosus

Thyreocoridae (Negro Bugs)
Corimelaena sp

Tingidae (Lace Bugs)
Corythucha marmorata – Chrysanthemum Lace Bug