True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies

Order Hemiptera

The True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Order Hemiptera) includes 7,349 species across 120 families and 1,727 genera in our directory.

About True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies

Hemiptera (true bugs) includes over 80,000 described species across cicadas, aphids, leafhoppers, shield bugs, and bed bugs. Aphids alone cost global agriculture an estimated $2.5 billion annually in crop losses.

Economic Impact

The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) caused $37 million in apple crop losses in a single year in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region. Bed bug infestations in the U.S. increased by 500% between 2001-2010, costing the hotel industry hundreds of millions annually.

Ecological Role

Many Hemiptera are essential food sources for birds and predatory insects. Cicadas provide massive nutrient pulses during emergence events - a single Brood X emergence can involve trillions of individuals across 15 states.

Families in Hemiptera (120)

Species in Hemiptera (7,349)

Oestlundiella flava

Aphididae

Identification: All viviparae are alate, delicate, lemon yellow with plumes of bluish white wax developing on antennae and legs.

Okanagana annulata

Cicadidae

Identification: Broad red borders to tergites, moderate fuscation of marginal cells, pointed front. Diagnosis tends to be very detailed. Of the fratercula group, it's one of the easier to ID. Song: Peak frequency 10.2kHz +/- 0.4 Syllable Rate 79.6 +/

Okanagana arboraria

Cicadidae

Identification: One of the more variable species of Okanagana. There are two main color forms; a rare red form and the more typical dark form with a strong degree of gradation. In the dark form the mesonotum is black with variably extensive red marki

Okanagana arctostaphylae

Cicadidae

Identification: Unmistakable. Separated from O. opacipennis by the black line down the abdomen. One of the most poorly known Okanagana . There are three widely separated localities for the species and it hasn't been seen since it was described. O. op

Okanagana aurora

Cicadidae

Identification: Bright red basal venation and costae are unmistable and unique. Okanagana magnifica has strongly thickened marginal cells and is larger, without the red basal venation but does look superficially similar.

Okanagana balli

Cicadidae

Identification: Allopatric, with no confusing species. Gerry Bunker, a well versed cicada specialist, provided the following commentary and information. Okanagana balli is the only Okanagana species known to exist at the James Woodworth Prairie & is

Okanagana cruentifera

Cicadidae

Identification: Generally best separated from tristis rubrobasalis by the shape of the uncus, more pronounced front, and generally different aspect. Abdomen usually has extensive black. The black border to the base of the pronotum quickly separates i

Okanagana ferrugomaculata

Cicadidae

Identification: Similar to O. tristis but pronotum pale on hind margin, head narrow with pronounced front, and two patches of rufous on either side of the pronotum. Underside largely pale. Female's last abdominal sternite with a single deep V-shaped

Okanagana fumipennis

Cicadidae

Identification: Identified by the opaque, whitish wings. Song: Syllable Rate (beats/second) 57.6 +/- 2.8 Peak Freq (kHz) 8.4 +/- 0.7 Distinctive among Okanagana.

Okanagana gibbera

Cicadidae

Identification: Fairly distinct among Okanagana with one exception. Wings have yellow venation except at the marginal cells which are thick, black, and fuscous. A relatively large species. Front prominent. Very similar to O. luteobasalis, but the ven

Okanagana luteobasalis

Cicadidae

Identification: Very similar to the smaller fratercula and was once lumped in with it. Identification requires an entire suite of features and close measurements to separate the two. Okanagana gibbera is also similar but considerably larger. Type loc

Okanagana magnifica

Cicadidae

Identification: Identified by yellow costa extending past the node, black dorsum and pronotum. Wings with apical cells thickened. A protoperiodical cicada that is dependent on a cumulative precipitation schedule. A very similar species, Okanagana spe

Okanagana mariposa

Cicadidae

Identification: Male genitalia distinctively squared off at apex. A protoperiodical cicada that is dependent on a cumulative precipitation schedule.

Okanagana napa

Cicadidae

Identification: Similar to O. lurida Another poorly known species.

Okanagana nigrodorsata

Cicadidae

Identification: Completely black dorsum, pronotum, and head with a bright yellow membrane visible with wings folded are distinctive. Larger than superficially similar ornata.

Okanagana noveboracensis

Cicadidae

Identification: Similar to Okanagana rimosa, but separated by the dull dorsum and lack of red borders to abdominal tergites. Okanagana canadensis (Provancher, 1889) was recently sunk into this species in Cole et al. 2023. This is the common northern

Okanagana occidentalis

Cicadidae

Okanagana lurida Davis, 1919 recently synonymized with Okanagana occidentalis (Walker, 1866) in Cole et al. 2023.

Okanagana opacipennis

Cicadidae

Identification: Opaque brown wings and black abdomen distinctive. This is a specialist of manzanita Arctostaphylos spp. . Usually local to small areas.

Okanagana ornata

Cicadidae

Identification: Resembles O. nigrodorsata but is easily differentiated by the yellow-orange border on the last abdominal tergites. The border of the anal cell is more orange than yellow. It is also much smaller. Song is distinctive within its communi

Okanagana rimosa

Cicadidae

Identification: Potentially can be confused with bella in western part of range, but in the east it is distinctive. Shiny dorsum and red-bordered abdominal tergites distinctive in that part of the range.

Okanagana schaefferi

Cicadidae

Identification: Okanagana schaefferi is the big brother to O. fratercula, and thankfully much more distinctive. Both share fuscous marginal cells and very prominent fronts. On schaefferi the tergites are strongly bordered with red (moreso than in fra

Okanagana tanneri

Cicadidae

Identification: Head with strongly produced front. Areas of pronotum lateral to midline broadly marked with yellow/brown. Posterior margin of pronotum yellow. Mesonotum with two large yellow markings and two smaller forming semicircle anterior to cru

Okanagana vandykei

Cicadidae

Identification: Unmistakable in range. Superficially similar to synodica, but vandykei is easily twice the size and they are allopatric. Two large marks on the dorsum and orange pronotum immediately identify this species.

Okanagana wymorei

Cicadidae

Identification: Small Okanagana with fairly short-wings, abundant orange markings. Drops from perch when approached, rarely flying. Song a continuous whine, often pulsing. Lower-pitched than O. vanduzeei . Allopatric from other congeners

Oliaridus aridus

Cixiidae

Identification: pronotum dark, the carinae and margins broadly light, scutellum testaceous, a dark stripe outside the carinae. Elytra milky or hyaline, nervures very lightly marked, stigma and cross nervures fuscous.

Olliffiella cristicola

Kermesidae

Identification: The female induces a gall that projects on the underside of Emory oak ( Quercus emoryi ) leaves. The dorsal side of the leaf has an open slit at the top of the gall. Olliffiella cristicola galls are often inhabited by the thrips Torvo

Oncerometopus atriscutis

Miridae

Identification: "Suggestive of nigriclavus but with black scutellum and longer second antennal segment which in both sexes exceeds the combined length of segments III and IV." Det. Jason Botz, 2020 Type Locality: AZ

Oncerometopus nigriclavus

Miridae

Identification: Dets. WonGun Kim Type Locality: Texas (BELFRAGE). Belfrage was based in Bosque County, Texas.

Oncerometopus ruber

Miridae

Identification: "Scutellum red, clavus reddish, tibiae largely pale" , femorae largely red, apical clavus occasionally dark but not black as in nigriclavus basal ant. segments are generally reddish; scutellum is orange, surrounded by red. Type Locali

Oncerotrachelus acuminatus

Reduviidae

Identification: Det. Ken Wolgemuth, 2021 comes to light ( 4 )

Oncerotrachelus pallidus

Reduviidae

Identification: Body and appendages are much less hairy than O. acuminatus (which has long hairs especially on legs and antennae) and is a more or less uniform pale brown, lacking dark markings. Compared with 0. acuminatus Say the body parts and appe

Oncocephalus geniculatus

Reduviidae

Identification: The dark patches inside the cells of the hemelytra and the presence of a lateral tubercle anterior to the transverse constriction of the pronotum separate this species from O. nubilus and O. variabilis . It is difficult to separate t

Oncocephalus nubilus

Reduviidae

Identification: characteristics that separate this from both O. geniculatus and O. apiculatus : [1] hemelytra membrane without dark patches and [2] the posterior angle of the anterior pronotal lobe lacking a tubercle. ~D.r.swanny

Oncometopia alpha

Cicadellidae

Identification: Green wings and purple body distinctive. -- Dr. Hamilton

Oncometopia hamiltoni

Cicadellidae

Identification: wings can be light blue, violet, or pink For basically half a century, what is now O. hamiltoni was misidentified as being O. clarior. Rakitov's 2016 paper fixed this issue and split out O. hamiltoni. So everything that was previously

Oncopeltus aulicus

Lygaeidae

Identification: membrane with a white mark just basad of center

Oncopeltus guttaloides

Lygaeidae

Identification: a more slender shape, and the red femorae, variable Type Locality: Mexico

Oncopsis alni

Cicadellidae

Length 5 - 6 mm; females larger than males. Sexually dimorphic and variable in colouration and intensity of markings. Nymphs cannot be verified. Predominantly yellowish-brown to reddish-brown. Detailed examination of the specimen is needed to identif

Oncopsis flavicollis

Cicadellidae

Length 4.5 - 5.5; females larger than males. Sexually dimorphic and variable in colouration and intensity of markings. Nymphs cannot be verified. Males have dark scutellum with yellow spots towards apex and dark veins on forewings, with hyaline cells

Oncopsis sobria

Cicadellidae

Identification: the male appears dark brown to black, while the female is a lighter shade of brown or orange in coloration (K.G.A. Hamilton)

Oncopsis subangulata

Cicadellidae

Oncopsis tristis

Cicadellidae

Length 3.7 - 4.6; smaller than other two species on Birch; females larger than males. Sexually dimorphic and variable in colouration and intensity of markings. There is usually a band across the face between the eyes, darker in males. Males have grey

Oncotylus viridiflavus

Miridae

Length 5 to 6 mm. The black patterning on the head and pronotum combined with the blueish green colour are unique amongst the UK Miridae . This species can be identified with care but there are similar species that it could be confused with. Occasion

One-spotted Stink Bug

Euschistus variolarius

Pentatomidae

Identification: The only reliable way to separate variolarius from servus is a ventral view. E. variolarius males have one big spot on the pygophore; servus , none. females have no dark spot at anterior corner on the edge of each abdominal segment (p

Ophiderma griseum

Membracidae

"This species is close to flaviguttula Godg., belonging to the group with banded elytra, but differs conspicuously in its more robust structure, greater average length, more slender and sharper pronotal apex, and in particular in the blue-gray shades

Ophiderma pubescens

Membracidae

Identification: Males are similar to those of Ophiderma griseum , but the humeral arches are often less well-defined and the forewings lack a median maculation.

Ophiderma salamandra

Membracidae

Identification: "Larger and not as hairy as O. pubescens" [Andy Hamilton]

Oplomus dichrous

Pentatomidae

Identification: chevron-shaped prosternum characteristic; in identifying Asopines it helps to be color blind (actually there are some consistent patterns in some of the species) (D.B. Thomas, pers. comm.) our only representative of the subg. Polypoec

Orgamara acuta

Dictyopharidae

Identification: Cephalic process long and slender, nearly twice as long as the eye; the anterior tablet of the vertex longer than wide; O. reducta has shorter cephalic process

Orgamara reducta

Dictyopharidae

Identification: Cephalic process broader and shorter, extending beyond the eye, but little more than its length; anterior tablet of vertex rectangular.

Orius insidiosus

Anthocoridae

Identification: Early nymphs have slight yellowish tinge, getting progressively darker in each successive instar. Adults are mahogany color. by far the commonest anthocorid in the entire eastern & central part of the continent ; important predator of

Orius laevigatus

Anthocoridae

Length 2.2 to 2.5 mm. Front and rear angles of pronotum each with a long hair; mid-tibia pale brown; dorsal body surface not entirely black. Microscopic examination and/or dissection required. Can be found on various plants where it searches for prey

Orius laticollis

Anthocoridae

Length 1.9-2.5mm. Angles of pronotum without long hairs. Paramere distinctive - flagellum long, blade narrow, tooth of paramere closer to internal than to external margin. Not known. Few records exist, but probably under-recorded due to difficulty of

Orius majusculus

Anthocoridae

Length 2.5-2.7mm. Angles of pronotum without long hairs. Blade of paramere broad, rather abruptly narrowed and angled apically, flagellum a little longer than the blade. Microscopic examination and dissection required. No additional images available

Orius vicinus

Anthocoridae

Length 2.0-2.6 mm. Small Flower Bug, sometimes called a Pirate Bug. Body more or less parallel, somewhat wider at abdomen in female. Head, pronotum, and scutellum dark brown or blackish; hemelytra yellowish brown, more rarely darker at cuneus. Head w

Ormenoides venusta

Flatidae

Identification: The only unmarked flatid in e. US with wing crossveins almost completely random - only a single row of them parallels the wing edge. Wings are narrower at the tip than in Anormenis and without a prominent double row of crossveins that

Orsillus depressus

Lygaeidae

Length 6mm+. This bug has a browny orange appearance with pale marks on the scutellum, and is usually associated with Cypresses. The rostrum is very long, and the head is elongated in front of the eyes. Good quality photographs taken in the field or

Orsilochides stictica

Scutelleridae

Identification: coloration light brown to orange-brown, usually with vague transverse markings

Orthocephalus coriaceus

Miridae

Length 4 to 5 mm. The two Orthocephalus species are very dark and rather squat plant bugs in which the hind tibiae are modified for jumping. The antennae are entirely black. This species is distinguished from the similar O. saltator by the entirely d

Orthocephalus saltator

Miridae

Identification: tibiae reddish-brown to dull yellowish on front and middle legs, and sometimes also hindlegs (a distinguishing feature); dorsal surface black with numerous silvery hairs; adult males have long wings that extend beyond abdomen; adult f

Orthonotus rufifrons

Miridae

A distinctive dark plant bug which is covered in pale hairs, although the sexes are markedly dimorphic. Females are brachypterous and much more rounded in shape; the more elongate and parallel-sided males are macropterous. The 2nd antennal segment ha

Orthops basalis

Miridae

This genus contains three small bugs of around 5 mm. They generally have dark antennae. Although external characters are useful, some specimens cannot be reliably identified without dissection. Detailed examination of the specimen is needed to identi

Orthops campestris

Miridae

Length around 4 mm. This genus contains three similar species which are often found on umbellifers. They generally have dark antennae. Although external characters are useful, some specimens cannot be reliably identified without dissection. O. campes

Orthops kalmii

Miridae

Length about 4.5 mm. This genus contains three small bugs (<5 mm) which are often found on umbellifers (Apiaceae). They generally have dark antennae. Although external characters are useful, some specimens cannot be reliably identified without dissec

Orthops scutellatus

Miridae

Considered invasive in this country. (Capinera, John L. North American Vegetable Pests. The Pattern of Invasion. American Entomologist. Spring 2002)

Orthotylus basicornis

Miridae

Identification: Green, large (~5.7-5.8 mm), first antennal segment darkened, tylus without dark mark, second antennal segment twice width of head

Orthotylus caprai

Miridae

Length 3mm. Bright green, cuneus paler. Dorsal pubescence: dense semi-erect long brownish-black & fine prone yellowish hairs. Rostrum ≈ apex of hind coxae. Left clasper with 4-5 distinctive large teeth on outer edge of lobe. Tibial spines >tibia thic

Orthotylus coagulatus

Miridae

Identification: Antennomere 2 longer than basal width of pronotum, dorsum mottled green with patches of whitish scales, dark spots on membrane behind veins, rostrum extends to about middle coxae, tibial spines brownish

Orthotylus ericetorum

Miridae

Green Mirid bugs are extremely similar and species identification based on external features is often difficult. The hostplant can be very informative. Orthotylus ericetorum is a small species (about 3.5 mm) found on heather. The upper surface is cov

Orthotylus flavinervis

Miridae

Length ~ 6.0 mm. Orthotylus is a large genus of predominantly green bugs. Many are extremely similar and species identification based on external features is often difficult. The hostplant can be very informative. O. flavinervis is one of the larger

Orthotylus flavosparsus

Miridae

A small green bug that is similar to many other species. It has green wing membrane cells and patches of silvery hairs on the dorsal side, giving a white-speckled appearance It is associated with Chenopodiaceae such as fat-hen and oraches. Dissection

Orthotylus fuscicornis

Miridae

Identification: "Allied to hamatus Van D., but differs in the blackish antennae, longer second antennal segment, prominent white pubescence, and in the structure of the male genital claspers." The color of the antennae ranges from pale yellow to fusc

Orthotylus marginalis

Miridae

The genus Orthotylus contains several mainly green bugs which are very hard to separate with photographs. Noting the hostplant can be helpful, but a specimen is better. O. marginalis is about 6mm in length with a dense covering of pale hairs. The fir

Orthotylus modestus

Miridae

Identification: Pronotal markings transverse; when the pronotum is all black the second antennal joint [segment?] of the male is rufo-testaceous Legs green or yellowish, not infuscated; light-colored areas of dorsum greenish or fading to yellowish, n

Orthotylus nassatus

Miridae

Length ~5mm. A blue-green species, the first antennal segment is pale above with a dark line on the underside. Photos showing key features required. Dissection of male left clasper helps with confirmation. On a range of deciduous trees, including Oak

Orthotylus ochrotrichus

Miridae

A ~5mm bright green species which is found on nettles and a variety of decidous trees, particularly elm. The length of the 2nd antennal segment is less than the 3rd and 4th combined. Extremely similar to O. prasinus, also found on elm, but this speci

Orthotylus ornatus

Miridae

Identification: variable, but usually hind femora fuscous and light-colored areas of dorsum occasionally tinged with salmon , also (but not diagnostic) buldging eyes, dark ant. (esp. A1-A2), and pale scutellum Type Locality: Described from three fema

Orthotylus ramus

Miridae

Identification: ant. pale orange, femora very pale green, end tarsi dark, subtle pale orange band along the pronotal-scutellar suture, apical wing membrane has a faint rose tinge. Dets. Michael Schwartz, 2025 Knight's indentifying characters, "hemely

Orthotylus stanleyaea

Miridae

Identification: "Allied to brevirostris but with rostrum reaching to posterior margin of mesosternum; male claspers distinctive."

Orthotylus submarginatus

Miridae

Identification: Dorsum pale salmon to orange; antennae, front of head, lateral margins of pronotal disk, scutellum, rather broad area on either side of commissure, embolium, area at apex of corium, apex of cuneus, and membrane, blackish or black; ros

Orthotylus tenellus

Miridae

Length 4.0 to 4.5 mm. Orthotylus tenellus has a ground colour that is translucent pale yellow or yellow-green and the eyes are distinctively dark. The 1st antennal segment lacks long hairs. Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is require

Orthotylus ute

Miridae

Identification: * Difference between male and female 1) antennae: male black, female brown; 2) scutellum: male black with median line pale, female all pale.

Orthotylus virescens

Miridae

A narrow oval green bug found on Broom, about 4.5mm long. The dorsal surface is covered in erect dark hairs and it has a dark wing membrane. The rostrum is very short, reaching only to the hind margin of the mesobasisternum Other species of Orthotylu

Orthotylus viridinervis

Miridae

A narrow oval green bug found on Wych Elm and other tree species, including lime. 5-6mm long. The basal (1st) antennal segment is more or less equal in length to the head, and has more than 5 (usually 7) long hairs. The underside of the front femur h

Osbornellus auronitens

Cicadellidae

Identification: Vertex yellow with the anterior traverse band black, and the posterior orange-red, black margined in middle, anteriorly. Pronotum yellowish, suffused with light brown posteriorly, and with orange-red areas near anterior margin and in

Osbornellus borealis

Cicadellidae

Identification: Markings and color similar to consors , but with the FW usually strongly tinged with brownish. Veins and markings relatively darker, giving the overall appearance of a darker insect.

Osbornellus consors

Cicadellidae

Identification: Vertex yellowish with brown & dark brown markings. Pronotum yellowish, heavily suffused with brown, and marked with dark brown. Scutellum yellow with dark brown margins. FW tinged with brown and dark brown veins.

Osbornia arborea

Tropiduchidae

Identification: Usually brachypterous, wings at least partly reticulate most often collected sweeping

Ossiannilssonola flavomarginata

Cicadellidae

the one image we have is the first time this southern species has been found northwest of Utah (comments here )

Ossiannilssonola possibly undescribed affinity rossi

Ossiannilssonola aff-rossi

Cicadellidae

This species is currently referred to by Hamilton & Chandler 2017 as Ossiannilssonola rossi , but it may be a different species as the genitalia, range, and morphology differ slightly from Ossiannilssonola rossi sensu stricto. This species is found i

Otiocerus abbotii

Derbidae

Identification: This is the only pale species in the genus marked only with spots. --Andy Hamilton, 27.viii.2013

Oystershell Scale

Lepidosaphes ulmi

Diaspididae

They can kill branches or even entire trees. An introduced species according to Invasive and exotic insects .

Ozophora maculata

Rhyparochromidae

Identification: Within the O. laticephala species group (easy to recognize as a group because they are much smaller than other North Americaon Ozophora ), this species is distinguished by having the "fourth antennomere nearly unicolorous" (no distinc

Ozophora picturata

Rhyparochromidae

Identification: Basal part of antennomere 4 white . The easiest recognition feature for FL specimens is the distinct crimson streak along the posterior portion of each apical corial margin.

Ozophora trinotata

Rhyparochromidae

Identification: One of only two species of Ozophora in FL with long pubescence dorsally, the other being O. burmeisteri ; unlike the latter, hairs on metafemur longer than the femur's diameter (Note that uses the length of the tibial hairs to disting

Pagaronia furcata

Cicadellidae

Identification: "resembling 13-punctata Ball but larger, more robust, and with much broader male plates. General ground color pale green to greenish white. Black spots on head and pronotum as in 13-punctata but frequently with an additional spot belo

Pagasa fusca

Nabidae

Identification: legs yellow, femora orange or reddish

Painted Leafhopper

Endria inimicus

Cicadellidae

Identification: Easily recognized by having a pair of black spots on the head; a pair on the pronotum; and a pair on the base of the scutellum. Has an even more recognizable nymph, which has brown stripes down the sides. --K.G.A. Hamilton common gras

Palonica nogalana

Membracidae

Identification: "Similar to viridia but smaller, narrower with a higher and more foliaceous crest, green with a dusky line on the back of the crest. Pronotum long low acute; crest nearly equilaterally triangular, much higher and more angular than in

Pantilius tunicatus

Miridae

Length 8-10 mm. The large size (antennae shorter than the body) and spectacular colouring make it almost unmistakeable. The extent of the red markings is variable, and newly emerged adults can be almost entirely green. This bug may be found on the lo