Hemiptera

Common name:

True bugs, stink bugs, smelly bugs

Distribution:

Every continent except Antarctica

Habitat:

Mostly terrestrial, while some are living on freshwater surfaces

Diet:

Plant sap, some to prey on other insects or invertebrates

Number of species globally

82000

Number of species in Hong Kong :

1364

Morphology
(how to recognize them) :

-Piercing and sucking mouthparts
-Hardened forewing with a leathery base and a membranous tip;
-Compressed body
-Antennae usually divided into 4 or 5 segments

Diagram

Did you know ?

The stylet contains a channel for the outward movement of saliva and another for the inward movement of liquid food- the prey. The predacious bug would pierce its mouthpart into the prey and release saliva through the stylet. While the enzyme injected is digesting the prey, which is turned into liquid, the bug would suck the liquified food with its “straw”.