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How many species of true bugs belong to the suborder Heteroptera?

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heteropteran Squash bug (*Anasa tristis*)

There are more than 40,000 known species of heteropterans, which are commonly referred to as true bugs within the order Hemiptera.1

While the suborder Heteroptera is a significant group, it is important to note that the broader order Hemiptera contains over 50,000 insect species characterized by piercing-sucking mouthparts. The number of described species within the suborder specifically is estimated to exceed 40,000.21