To most people, “bugs” is a generic term for insects and other creeping or crawling invertebrates. To an entomologist, a true bug is actually a member of the Order Hemiptera. This Order includes plant bugs, Boxelder bugs, stink bugs, lace bugs, lots of water bugs, and aphids to name only a few. Sucking/piercing mouthparts, incomplete metamorphosis and wings that look half hard and half membranous characterize the true bugs. In fact, Hemiptera is Latin for “half-wing.” The membranous halves of the wings usually overlap to form a diamond shape over the bugs’ abdomen, which helps with identification.
