True Bugs, Aphids, Cicadas, and Hoppers

Hemiptera comes from the Greek words "hemi," meaning half, and "pteron," meaning wing. This diverse group of insects includes cicadas, aphids, hoppers, and water bugs.

Aphids are universally known as pests, but only a small percentage of the thousands of aphid species actually do much damage to plants. Insect enthusiasts will find aphids fascinating to study, and gardeners should learn more about their habits.

If conditions were right, a single aphid could turn into 600 billion of the sap sucking pests in just one growing season. Good thing conditions are never quite right.

What's cooler than an assassin bug? As their name suggests, these insects are skilled hunters and natural born killers. Which is good, if you have a garden full of pests. It's worth getting to know these beneficial bugs.

Bed bugs were thought to be a pest of the past, but these parasites have made a resurgence in recent years. Learn to recognize bed bugs, and understand their life cycle.

As bed bugs make headlines around the country, people are wondering what causes bed bugs. Here's what causes bed bugs, and what doesn't.

There's a lot of misinformation about bed bugs out there. Make sure you know the facts about these blood-sucking pests.

Before you wage war against bed bugs, be sure you know which bed bug treatments work, and which don't. This article outlines the top 10 myths about treating bed bugs.

How do bed bugs get in your home? They travel home with family members who stay in bed bug infested hotels, usually. Learn how to avoid bed bugs at hotels by planning wisely, inspecting thoroughly, and taking control measures when you return home.

Box elder bugs invade homes and other structures in fall, looking for a warm place to spend the winter months. Though such bug invasions can be unsettling for homeowners, box elder bugs won't bite, don't reproduce indoors, and can't damage your home or belongings. Before you call the exterminator, learn more about box elder bugs.

The brown marmorated stink bug, a native of eastern Asia, was discovered in several U.S. states in the past ten years. Its status as a serious agricultural pest makes its presence a cause for concern. Get to know this insect, and report any sightings to your county extension office.

Get Rid of Stink Bugs - How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs

Hemlock woolly adelgid, a destructive pest of hemlock trees, came to North America from its native Asia in the 1920's. This sapsucking pest hides under woolly secretions on the underside of hemlock branches.

Every 13 or 17 years, cicadas emerge from the ground by the thousands. These periodical cicadas boast the longest life cycles in the insect world. Their collective mating calls fill the air, and may be the loudest insect songs on record.

The cicadas that emerge together in the same year are collectively called a brood. These maps identify the approximate locations where each of the 15 present-day broods emerge. The brood maps combine the data of C. L. Marlatt (1923), C. Simon (1988), and unpublished data. Broods I-XIV represent 17-year cicadas; the remaining broods emerge in...

Cicadas calling for mates produce a deafening sound. How do cicadas produce such a loud sound? Male cicadas use their species-specific calls to attract female mates.

Stink bugs may be friend or foe of the gardener, depending on the species. Some feed on plants, wreaking havoc in the garden, while others prey on insects, keeping pests under control. If you find a stink bug, be sure not to disturb it or you'll discover how they got their name.