Hemiptera noun. [hɪ'mɪpt(ǝ)rǝ] E19.
[mod. Latin, neut. pl. of hemipterus, formed as HEMI- + Greek pteron wing (with ref. to the partly hardened forewings of bugs): see -A³.]
(Members of) a large order of insects characterized by having piercing and sucking mouthparts, and comprising two suborders, Heteroptera (bugs in the narrower sense) and Homoptera (cicadas, leafhoppers, aphids, scale insects, etc.).

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