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Ray Wilson
Bird & Wildlife Photography
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True Bugs
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Order: Hemiptera
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| Hemipteran bugs can be split into two main groups based on their wing structure and the position of the rostrum: |
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| There are over 80000 species of hemipterans currently known to science, of which about 1700 species occur in the British Isles. Most species feed on plants, with some being quite serious agricultural pests (such as the aphids), but there are also a few carnivorous groups, including a few species of blood-sucking Reduvid bugs in South America that are responsible for the transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi to humans. This is the protozoan parasite that causes Chagas Disease an often fatal condition unless treated in its early stages. Current estimates suggest that between 8-11 million people are infected with the disease in the tropical Americas. |
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| Disclaimer: Although I always endevour to correctly identify the subjects displayed in the photos, I am not an expert in insect identification and cannot guarantee the names stated in this gallery are all 100% correct. Where possible I have used the relavent keys to ensure correct identification, but errors may still have been made. If you think I have misidentified any of the specimens in the photos, or know the identites of any unidentified species, please e-mail me. |
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