Is it a bug, insect or lion?

My Master Gardner class this week was on Entomology and we learned quite a few fascinating tidbits about the crawly part of the animal kingdom.

One of the things I found interesting was the term "bug". Yes, there are those types of insects that are considered "true bugs" (as opposed to those sneaky insect posers.) A true bug is shield shaped, has a triangle on it's back, and has only half wings. Stink Bugs, Assassin Bugs, Leaf-footed Bugs, and Seed Bugs are all examples. They belong to the suborder Heteroptera in the scientific classification of the Insecta class. Here's an example of the Southern Green Stink Bug found here in Texas.

What's really funny is the way these scientists give each other little hints via the common name on whether the creature is a "true" bug, or just another type of insect. If the name of the crawly thing has two words, with "bug" being separate, it is a true bug - like Stink Bug. If the name of the insect is one word, it is not a bug. Ladybug is not a bug, it's a beetle. Same with Junebug. Lovebug? No, not a Volkswagen that starred in a Disney movie (that was Love Bug, improperly named.) Lovebugs are actually flies.

But my absolute favorite is the Antlion.

Because it is one word, not two, it is not a true Lion. Good to know!