Brazilian Leaf-Footed Bug Many Hemiptera suck plant juices
although some have evolved to suck blood and body fluids.
Hemiptera groups include water scorpions, water boatman,
backswimmers, water striders, plant bugs, bed bugs, assassin
bugs, flat bugs, seed bugs, red bugs and stink bugs. This sap-
sucking Leaf-Footed Bug from Southern Brazil shows it’s swollen
femora hind legs. A few tropical Cor?id have elaborate tibial
leaf structures as part of their modified hind legs. This one is
relatively conservative although also has spines at the tips of
it’s pronotum. These true bugs are capable of emitting a scent
from a couple of glands on the thorax. Notice the membranous
patch of the fore wing. Although most feed on sap, a few are
predaceous towards other insects.