The Heteroptera is a suborder within the Hemiptera, and encompasses 7 infraorders, ca. 90 families, 6,000 genera, and over 42,000 species. They are distributed nearly worldwide, but most diverse in the tropics. The majority are terrestrial, but the Nepomorpha, Gerromorpha, and Leptopodomorpha are aquatic, or semiaquatic. Soft or hard-bodied insects, often dorsoventrally flattened, with a prominent scutellum, 4-5 segmented antennae, and piercing mouthparts; 1-65 mm long. The forewings (hemelytra) are partly hardened, and partly membranous; the hindwings are fully membranous; some species are wingless. Most true bugs possess thoracic scent glands used for defense. Heteropterans undergo gradual or incomplete metamorphosis (lack pupa stage); the juveniles (nymphs) may be different in coloration, have reduced wings, and are incapable of flight. The majority feed on plant juices; others are predatory, or omnivorous; some species are hematophagic parasites.

		Giant Water Bugs (Belostomatidae)
		Leaf-footed Bugs (Coreidae)
		Water Striders (Gerridae)
		Seed Bugs (Lygaeidae)
		Stink Bugs (Pentatomidae)
		Assassin Bugs (Reduviidae)
		Ebony Bugs (Thyreocoridae)
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