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)

Cloudy-tipped Cixius

Cixius coloepeum

Cixiidae

Identification: has the shortest head among the smaller species in the genus [comment by Andy Hamilton]

Clover Leafhopper

Aceratagallia sanguinolenta

Cicadellidae

Identification: Very short rounded wings distinguish it from other eastern spp. (there are western spp. with the same characteristic, however). (Dr Hamilton)

Cnemodus hirtipes

Rhyparochromidae

Identification: Femora and tibiae with many hairs (as opposed to having very few hairs in C. mavortius)

Cnemodus mavortius

Rhyparochromidae

Identification: Front lobe of pronotum much longer than hind lobe. Lacks thick hair on legs, unlike C. hirtipes . nymph: Active runner on open ground; often brachypterous . Sweet found it be parasitized by a tachinid ( Catharosia sp.)

Coastal Scissor(s) Grinder

Neotibicen latifasciatus

Cicadidae

Guide based on comments on images and e-mails by Bill Reynolds . ---------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: Species seems abundant in the webs of Nephila clavipes , an important predator of this and other cicadas.

Cochlorhinus opertus

Cicadellidae

Identification: From "Studies on insects of the Redwood Empire I: New Phytophagous Hemiptera from the Coast Range mountains", self-published by Bliven 1955 (Eureka, CA): "Runs to couplet 4 in Beamer's key where it differs from unispinosus in the long

Cochlorhinus pluto

Cicadellidae

Identification: According to the key in Beamer 1940 , the other species of Cochlorhinus with "only a white dash on cross-veins, remainder of dorsum black" is C. stygicus, which has "vertex about a right angle" rather than the "vertex acute, longer th

Cochlorhinus stygicus

Cicadellidae

Identification: Per the key in Beamer 1940 , similar to C. pluto in having "only a white dash on the cross-veins, remainder of dorsum black", but differs from that species in having the "vertex about a right angle".

Cochlorhinus unispinosus

Cicadellidae

Identification: "Externally C. unispinosus is very close to C. pasadenus and C. ziczac and still closer to the new species C. bidentatus . This latter species, however, has the aedeagus of C. unispinosus and the pygofer with the two spines of C. plut

Coconut Scale

Aspidiotus destructor

Diaspididae

Introduced species. Apparently originated in the Pacific islands (Burger and Ulenberg, 1990) but is now recorded in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Present in almost all countries where coconuts are grown.

Colladonus furculatus

Cicadellidae

Identification: Identifications of non-vouchered photographs should be treated as tentative: "[ Colladonus furculatus ] is so similar to clitellarius that dissection of the genitalia is necessary to separate the two species. From clitellarius , to wh

Colladonus mendicus

Cicadellidae

Identification: "the color pattern, particularly the pale veins, are distinctive" [as per a comment by Andy Hamilton on this post ]

Colladonus okanaganus

Cicadellidae

Identification: http://dmitriev.speciesfile.org/taxahelp.asp?hc=139769&key=Erythroneura&lng=En

Common Backswimmer

Notonecta glauca

Notonectidae

Up to nearly 2 cm in size, and commonly called backswimmers because they swim upside down and are often seen at the surface of the water. Notonecta glauca is light brown in colour with a number of dark markings and large reddish eyes. It often looks

Common Birch Aphid

Calaphis betulaecolens

Aphididae

Identification: Viviparae all alate, bright lemon yellow without dorsal markings, with blackish antennae and tibiae and dark wing veins.

Common Cactus Dodger

Cacama valvata

Cicadidae

Identification: A common and widespread species TL - ? Similar by most accounts to C. moorei with which it may be sympatric across parts of Arizona. Similar to several other species incl. C. dissimilis (MEXICO) & C. furcata (MEXICO) Described as a "d

Common Cotton Stainer

Dysdercus suturellus

Pyrrhocoridae

Identification: Corium light to dark brown, not reddish; black spot absent, but a dark bar sometimes variously developed from obscure to distinct. First antennomere distinctly longer than the second. a pest of cotton; "Feeding on the cotton bolls st

Common Damsel Bug

Nabis rugosus

Nabidae

Length 6.5 to 7.5 mm, and, N. rugosus is yellow-brown in colour, with rather pale forewings. The length of the 2nd antennal segment is greater than the maximum width of the pronotum. This species is almost always brachypterous, the forewings reaching

Common Flower Bug

Anthocoris nemorum

Anthocoridae

Length 3.5-4.5mm. Probably the most common species of this difficult genus. The forewings are entirely reflective and the pronotum entirely black. The legs are mostly orange-brown, with variable development of small dark patches near the tip of the f

Common Green Capsid

Lygocoris pabulinus

Miridae

Length 5-6.5 mm. Lygocoris species can be distinguished from similar green bugs by the very fine and inconspicuous pale brown tibial spines and at high magnification, the break in the keel between the eyes. The pronotum is rather straight-sided. In L

Common Green Shieldbug

Palomena prasina

Pentatomidae

Length 12-13.5 mm. A large shieldbug with a dark wing membrane and reddish antennae (4th and 5th segments). Adults are bright green in the spring and summer but finely punctured with dark marks. They become a darker bronze-brown prior to winter hiber

Common Maple Aphid

Periphyllus testudinaceus

Aphididae

In the winged form of this aphid (alate) the pterostigma on the wing is brown, rather than black. Widespread but under recorded in Britain. https://influentialpoints.com/Gallery/Periphyllus_testudinaceus_Common_Periphyllus_Aphid.htm

Common Nettle Bug

Liocoris tripustulatus

Miridae

Length 4-5 mm. A variable but distinctive species, the colour of the scutellum and cuneus ranges from cream to deep yellow and the pale legs are striped with black rings. Short dark spines are present on the tibiae. Head width = 1/2 pronotum width, l

Common Pondskater

Gerris lacustris

Gerridae

Approximately 8-10mm, generally brown with a black pronotum and black antennae. There are several similar-looking species of pondskaters, of which this is the commonest and most likely to be found in a garden pond, but examination of a specimen is ne

Common Shorebug

Saldula saltatoria

Saldidae

Length 4 to 4.5 mm. This genus comprises 11 rather oval saldids which have an entirely dark pronotum and forewings which completely overlap. There are several very similar species which are often difficult to identify. In S. saltatoria, the most comm

Common Sycamore Aphid

Drepanosiphum plantanoidis

Aphididae

By nitrogen tracking, they enter a reproductive diapause in summer, avoiding period of low nitrogen availability.

Common Waterlily Planthopper

Megamelus davisi

Delphacidae

Identification: Anal processes projecting posteriorly

Compsidolon salicellum

Miridae

Length about 4mm. The pale greyish-yellow ground colour of this bug is often broken up by brown spotting across the forewings, although the cuneus is pale. The hind femora are dark, particularly towards the apex and there are dark marks on the wing m

Conocephalocoris nasicus

Miridae

Identification: Monotypic genus. Similar to Eurychilopterella spp., "but head longer and more cone-shaped; antennal segment III about equal to segment IV (in Eurychilopterella segment III distinctly longer than IV)." Overall look is reminiscent of an

Conomelus anceps

Delphacidae

Length 4 mm. The males are distinctive, with reddish-brown ground colour and wings with dark spots on the veins. It is most commonly brachypterous and in these individuals the forewings are darker at the base and tip. Macropters occur less frequently

Conosanus obsoletus

Cicadellidae

Length: 5 to 6 mm. A large leafhopper, light brownish in colour with darker markings in the forewing cells. The vertex normally has four dark marks in a V-shape pointing toward the tip. Dissection of the male will confirm identification; females have

Conostethus venustus

Miridae

Length 3.0 mm. Conostethus species have a distinctively shaped pronotum, which is much wider than long and has concave lateral margins. This species is usually easily recognised by the rosy markings on the clavus, cuneus and part of the corium, altho

Coquillettia albiclava

Miridae

Identification: white clavus, pale translucent basal half of corium, embolium dark; antennomeres II & III equal in length

Coriander aphid

Hyadaphis coriandri

Aphididae

Introduced from Asia probably Central Asia. Now worldwide.The 2 other members of this genus in the US are also introduced.

Corimelaena agrella

Thyreocoridae

Identification: White costal stripe with inner angulate margin; apex of corium acute.

Corimelaena lateralis

Thyreocoridae

Identification: Pale stripe of corium does not extend over cubital vein and is complete its entire length

Corimelaena obscura

Thyreocoridae

Identification: Similar to C. lateralis, but the white corial stripe is obscured, especially in the middle third; sometimes with just apex white.

Corimelaena pulicaria

Thyreocoridae

Identification: Pale stripe of corium extends over cubital vein. Head and pronotum distinctly arched and head with margins emarginate before eyes. Very similar to the apparently rare C. alpina (the two will be difficult to distinguish from photos) se

Corimelaena virilis

Thyreocoridae

Identification: Differentiated from very similar species by the sloping anterior rim of the pygophore (McAtee and Malloch's "hypopygium"), forming a carina, with raised setulose knobs on either side of this carina.

Corixa dentipes

Corixidae

The species is similar in size (12 to 15 mm.) and appearance to the more common Corixa punctata . C. dentipes is easily distinguished from other Corixa species by the indentation or notch in the tibia of the middle leg, where it joins the femur. Unle

Corixa panzeri

Corixidae

Corixa panzeri is 10 to 11 mm in length and has 10 to14 pale lines on the pronotum. Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required and the specimen should be examined with a microscope. In the comments box, state the key or ID method u

Corixa punctata

Corixidae

12-15 mm. There are 15-20 lines on the pronotum. The dorsal surface is not keeled on this species and the middle and back legs are more or less the same length. The strigil of the male (on the left under the wings) has 9-10 ridges. Corixa dentipes is

Corn Delphacid

Peregrinus maidis

Delphacidae

Identification: distinctive, larger than many delphacids with slightly patterned wings and a pale stripe along the midline of the body; the middle carina of the face is forked well below the top of of the head in frontal view. Also, when viewing the

Corn Leafhopper

Dalbulus maidis

Cicadellidae

Identification: Dets. Kyle Kittelberger Considered invasive in this country. (Capinera, 2002)

Cornuplura nigroalbata

Cicadidae

C. nigroalbata For additional IMAGE, please refer to the link below (C. nigroalbata specimen is exhibited at the header for this site)

Corylobium avellanae

Aphididae

Corylobium avellanae apterae are usually yellowish-green but in one form the aphid is mottled with red. For additional information see ‘Further info’ link below. Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required. If the photo doesn't show

Corythucha mollicula

Tingidae

Identification: Differs from the other northern and eastern species in having the lateral spines on the pronotum (except anterior border) and elytra almost entirely wanting.

Cosmopepla conspicillaris

Pentatomidae

Identification: contrasting creamy white tip of the scutellum is the most obvious difference from C. uhleri (in which the apex is concolorous with the disc of the scutellum) [D.B. Thomas, pers.comm.] Often found on plants in the genus Stachys of the

Cosmopepla decorata

Pentatomidae

Identification: The yellow markings on the prothorax, scutellum, and hemelytra can vary from pale yellow to bright orange-red. Type Locality: Mexico

Cosmopepla uhleri

Pentatomidae

Identification: scutellum uniformly dark (no pale margin around the tip)

Cotton Fleahopper

Pseudatomoscelis seriatus

Miridae

Identification: Dark spots on the pale green dorsum and on A2 Type Locality: Texas ( Belfarge )

Cottony Alder Psyllid

Psylla floccosa

Psyllidae

Identification: General color typically green to greenish-yellow; antennae usually 3 times as long as width of head; pterostigma absent or diminutive

Cottony Ash Psyllid

Psyllopsis discrepans

Liviidae

Length 3-4mm. Very similar to P. fraxini but with less intense wing markings. It causes marginal leaf-fold galls on ash leaves, which are pale with reddish/violet marking; the galls cannot be distinguished from others in the Psyllopsis fraxini specie

Cottony Camellia Scale

Pulvinaria floccifera

Coccidae

This brown scale insect can sometimes be detected by the white wax film it produces, usually on the underside of leaves, which protects its eggs. Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required. If the photo doesn't show the key ID feat

Cottony Cushion Scale

Icerya purchasi

Monophlebidae

The white fluted part of the insect is an egg sac that can contain up to 1000 eggs. The insect is hermaphroditic, producing sperm that can fertilize its own ova, but in an alternate reproductive strategy it can also make winged males that can fertil

Cottony Maple Leaf Scale

Pulvinaria acericola

Coccidae

Identification: Slightly convex; brown with a longitudinal yellow-brown ridge. The body is covered with flakes of clear wax. Legs absent.

Cowpea Aphid

Aphis craccivora

Aphididae

Identification: Adults shiny black, immatures lightly dusted with wax and light brownish. Det. Andrew Jensen, 2009 Young colonies concentrate on the growing points of plants and are usually attended by ants. Can be a serious pest of many crops and or

Crape Myrtle Bark Scale

Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae

Eriococcidae

Introduced from Asia. Found in Texas in 2004. It keeps spreading through southern states. It has become a serious pest of crape myrtle.

Crapemyrtle Aphid

Sarucallis kahawaluokalani

Aphididae

Identification: Adults are light green to yellow with black thoracic markings and black markings on dorsal of abdomen. The second abdominal segment has a double-pronged hump in the black marking. Wings are clear with black markings and held roof-like

Craspedolepta martini

Aphalaridae

Identification: General color from green to brown, wings white and uniformly covered in dark spots; female genitalia short The nymphs are often abundant on the ventral surface of younger leaves, producing sticky honeydew and inducing the leaves to cu

Craspedolepta schwarzi

Aphalaridae

Identification: Similar to C. nebulosa , with wings more heavily maculate

Craspedolepta suaedae

Aphalaridae

Identification: Forewings densely spotted, on Suaeda sp.

Craspedolepta subpunctata

Aphalaridae

Identification: Apical veins darkened, but lacking the extensive dark wing markings usually present on the other species associated with Chamaenerion angustifolium

Creontiades debilis

Miridae

Identification: Uniformly green or yellowish-green dorsal coloration without red lines or a red tinge Type Locality: Georgia

Creontiades rubrinervis

Miridae

Identification: red-tinged A1 and apically red A2 & A3, yellowish-green upper surface and legs variously tinged or marked with red.

Creosote Stink Bug

Dendrocoris contaminatus

Pentatomidae

Identification: Yellowish to brick red, pronotal cicatrices contrastingly dark brown (characteristic), connexivum unicolorous Dets. Salvador Vitanza the most common pentatomid on Larrea

Criomorphus albomarginatus agg.

Delphacidae

Length 2 to 4 mm. This is a difficult genus and examination of male genitalia is needed to separate the 3 species. Criomorphus albomaginatus has a rear genital segment that is approximately triangular in rear view. The frons (face) has 2 median keels

Crown Whitefly

Aleuroplatus coronata

Aleyrodidae

Original 1900 description by Quaintance here with supporting Figs. 13-15 of Plate I and Fig. 69 of Plate VII . Supplementary description given on on pg. 497 of Bemis(1904) with Fig. 9 of Plate 27 illustrating the extruded, waxy ribbons of the pupa.

Cryphocricos hungerfordi

Naucoridae

Identification: A total of 790 adults was collected in the South Llano River; six were macropterous (0.8%) and one was submacropterous (0.1%). The remainder (783 specimens) were brachypterous. With the discovery of the submacropterous form, this spec

Cryphula abortiva 0

Cryphula abortiva

Rhyparochromidae

Identification: last key couplet: Dorsum pilose; antennae without long setae

Cryphula parallelogramma 0

Cryphula parallelogramma

Rhyparochromidae

Identification: Corium without conspicuous transverse fascia; posterior margin of pronotum inconspicuously pale

Cryphula subunicolor

Rhyparochromidae

Identification: last key couplet: Dorsum uniformly castaneous; antennae with long semi-erect setae Very easily distinguished from other members of the genus by reason of its nearly uniform, castaneous color. Type Locality: Tucson Mts., Ariz., Jan. 1,

Cryptic Leatherbug

Bathysolen nubilus

Coreidae

Length 5.5 to 7 mm. This squashbug is characterised by a short and broad pronotum which lacks spines and has pale sides. The scutellum has a pale tip and the 1st antennal segment is rather broad, wider than the 4th. Unless identified by a recognised

Ctenotrachelus shermani

Reduviidae

Identification: easily distinguished from species of other regional genera ( Oncocephalus, Narvesus, Pygolampis, Stenopoda ) of Stenopodainae by the antennal and femoral characters used in Blatchley’s key , but is further set off by the wide separati

Cuerna alpina

Cicadellidae

Identification: tentative det: Kyle Kittelberger, 2020

Cuerna fenestella

Cicadellidae

Identification: Forewing color does not consistently distinguish this species from C. sayi. Distinctive characters are the short, curved macrosetae on the female metatibiae and the shape of the male aedeagus.

Cuerna sayi

Cicadellidae

Identification: Forewing color does not consistently distinguish this species from C. fenestella. Distinctive characters are the long, curved macrosetae on the female metatibiae and the shape of the male aedeagus.

Cuerna striata

Cicadellidae

This is a complex of many closely-related and variable species with their limits poorly defined. The most recent revision collapsed the complex back into one species until further study can be used to determine the limits of the species. " C. striata

Cuerna unica

Cicadellidae

This species is externally identical to C. occidentalis (except for female eighth sternites), but is more northern in distribution: central California to Washington.

Curalium cronini

Curaliidae

Identification: Male: Recognized superficially by the very small size and striking ruby-red coloration of the head, thorax, and cuneus only ♂♂ have been collected (all at UV lights)

Currant Psyllid

Cacopsylla ribesiae

Psyllidae

Identification: Dark spot on clavus, pterostigma small

Cycad Aulacaspis Scale

Aulacaspis yasumatsui

Diaspididae

Introduced from Asia. First found in the US in the Miami area in 1996, has gradually moved northwards and is extremely damaging to sago palms, causing necrosis of individual fronds and eventual plant death.

Cyllecoris histrionius

Miridae

The adult is a strikingly marked and elongate bug reaching a length of 6 to 8 mm. The largely black pronotum is strongly narrowed at the front, forming a distinct collar which is marked with yellow or white. The antennae are red tipped. This species

Cymatia bonsdorffii

Corixidae

Length 6-6.5mm. Pronotum uniform colour (no stripes), eyes protruding, wings transversely patterned, pronotum length ≈ head length. Detailed photos and measurements required. No additional images available for this species.

Cymatia coleoptrata

Corixidae

3.4-4mm. One of the few Corixidae that can usually be identified from an image. It is usually brownish in colour with large eyes and a yellow face. It is the only corixid with pale and dark longitudinal lines. The pronotum is smaller than the head. W

Cymatia rogenhoferi

Corixidae

About 7.5 mm, and lacks lines on the pronotum and also transverse wrinkles on the rostrum. It has pale yellow patches at the top of the corium. There are three Cymatia species in the UK. The genus is characterised by the lack of lines on the pronotum

Cymodema breviceps

Cymidae

Identification: first key couplet: Preocular part of head notably shortened, 1st antennomere extending well beyond apex of tylus; 3rd twice as long as 2nd readily distinguished by the long 3rd antennomere and short head. Color uniform light yellowish

Cymus claviculus

Lygaeidae

A small bug - length 2.5 to 3.5 mm, with a narrow shape. Cymus species have a distinctively punctured head, pronotum, scutellum and forewings. Cymus claviculus has a narrow band without punctures just next to the suture between the clavus and corium.

Cymus glandicolor

Lygaeidae

Length 4 to 5 mm. Cymus species have a narrow shape and densely punctured head, pronotum, scutellum and forewings. Cymus glandicolor is slightly larger than the two other common species , and has a pale keel on the scutellum and a dark streak on each

Cymus melanocephalus

Lygaeidae

Length 3 to 4 mm. Cymus species have a distinctively punctured head, pronotum, scutellum and forewings. Cymus melanocephalus does not have a pale keel on the scutellum, and the forewings are entirely punctured. Although it often has a dark head, pale

Cyptocephala elegans

Pentatomidae

Identification: distinguished from all congeners by its striking green and white markings and much elongated head. The head of T. brevis is much broader. (Malloch 1919) Type Locality: "male, Loma, Texas, July 7, 1908." Allotype Locality: "Lake Lomalt

Cyrpoptus belfragei

Fulgoridae

Identification: Forewing with distal midline solidly darkened from apex to or almost to opaque basal portion

Cyrpoptus pudicus

Fulgoridae

Identification: Head in lateral view produced anteriorly for about 1x width of eye; forewing with more hyaline areas

Cyrpoptus reineckei

Fulgoridae

Identification: Forewing extensively darkened distally, with distinct transparent oblique vitta from costal margin in apical portion reaching to or beyond midline Similar to Cyrpoptus belfragei , but generally lacks dark markings on the vertex and ha

Cyrpoptus vanduzeei

Fulgoridae

Identification: Midline of crown darkened to form wide stripe or longitudinal band, coronal length at middle 2x or less length next to eyes

Cyrtolobus acuminatus

Membracidae

" C. acuminatus has a relatively high crest for that genus, but it doesn't have the inflated characteristics of Xantholobus muticus . I have collected C. acuminatus primarily in the midwest - mostly in Missouri and southern Ohio." - M.J. Rothschild

Cyrtolobus arcuatus

Membracidae

Identification: This is one of the few that lacks a band across the front of the crest in the female; males are similar to those of C. fulginosus . Members of this genus do not exceed 7 mm in length. … Andy Hamilton, 26 September, 2008