Damsel-bug
Guides
Carthasis decoratus
Carthasis decoratus is a species of damsel bug in the family Nabidae. It is found in North America. The species was described by Uhler in 1901. As a member of the damsel bug family, it belongs to a group of predatory true bugs.
Himacerus
damsel bugs
Himacerus is a genus of predatory damsel bugs in the family Nabidae, subfamily Nabinae. The genus includes several Eurasian species, with Himacerus apterus being the most studied. These bugs are generalist predators that inhabit forest edges, meadows, and open woodlands. Some species have been introduced to North America, notably H. apterus in eastern Canada.
Himacerus apterus
tree damsel bug
Himacerus apterus, commonly known as the tree damsel bug, is a predatory hemipteran in the family Nabidae. It is native to Eurasia and was first recorded in North America from eastern Nova Scotia between 1943 and 1989. The species exhibits wing polymorphism, with most individuals being brachypterous (short-winged). It is a generalist predator of small arthropods and has been considered for biological control applications, though cannibalism complicates mass rearing efforts.
Hoplistoscelis pallescens
damsel bug
Hoplistoscelis pallescens is a small predatory true bug in the family Nabidae, commonly known as damsel bugs. Adults measure less than 12 millimeters in length. Like other nabids, it is a nocturnal predator that subdues prey, including insects larger than itself. The species has been documented in the northeastern United States, including Massachusetts and Vermont.
Lasiomerus annulatus
damsel bug
Lasiomerus annulatus is a species of damsel bug in the family Nabidae, native to North America. The last-instar nymph was first described in 1993, providing important taxonomic clarification for this poorly known species. It ranges across southern Canada and the northern United States, with its northern limit established at 45°37′N latitude in Quebec. The species has been collected from 1979 to 1985 in Quebec, indicating a stable population in that region. As a nabid, it is presumed to be predatory, though specific prey records remain limited.
Lasiomerus constrictus
Lasiomerus constrictus is a species of damsel bug in the family Nabidae, first described by Champion in 1899. It belongs to a genus of predatory true bugs found in the Americas. The species has been documented in both North and Middle America, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Metatropiphorus
Metatropiphorus is a genus of damsel bugs in the family Nabidae, established by Reuter in 1872. The genus contains at least four described species distributed across North America. Members of this genus are predatory true bugs that inhabit vegetation.
Metatropiphorus belfragii
Metatropiphorus belfragii is a species of damsel bug in the family Nabidae. It is found in the Caribbean and North America, with confirmed records from the United States including Vermont. Damsel bugs in this family are predatory true bugs. The species has been documented in citizen science observations.
Nabis
damsel bug
Small predatory true bugs in the family Nabidae. Adults typically under 12 mm. Nocturnal hunters that subdue prey larger than themselves using raptorial front legs. Attracted to artificial lights, possibly to exploit other insects drawn there. Economically significant as natural pest control agents in agricultural systems.
Nabis alternatus
Western Damsel Bug
Nabis alternatus, commonly known as the western damsel bug, is a predatory true bug in the family Nabidae. It occurs across western North America and into Central America. As a member of the damsel bug family, it is a small, active predator that feeds on other insects. The species has been documented in agricultural settings where it contributes to biological control of pest populations.
Nabis americoferus
Common Damsel Bug
Nabis americoferus, the common damsel bug, is a small predatory true bug in the family Nabidae. It occurs across North America and Central America, with well-documented populations in eastern Ontario and agroecosystems of the United States. The species produces two generations per year in temperate regions, overwinters as adults in field margins, and colonizes crop fields in late spring. It is an economically important biological control agent, feeding on agricultural pests including aphids, leafminers, and mirid bugs.
Nabis flavomarginatus
Broad Damsel Bug
Nabis flavomarginatus is a small predatory true bug in the family Nabidae, commonly known as the Broad Damsel Bug. It exhibits a Holarctic distribution spanning northern Europe, Siberia, Central Asia, East Asia, and North America including Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. The species inhabits wet, open grassland habitats with high proportions of grasses, sedges, and rushes, and shows a preference for cooler microclimates compared to other Nabinae. It is an effective predator in agricultural and natural systems, with cicadas documented as frequent prey.
Nabis inscriptus
damsel bug
Nabis inscriptus is a species of damsel bug in the family Nabidae. It occurs across Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. As a member of the genus Nabis, it shares the characteristic predatory habits of damsel bugs, though species-specific behavioral details are not well documented. The species was first described by William Kirby in 1837.
Nabis vanduzeei
Nabis vanduzeei is a species of damsel bug in the family Nabidae, a group of small predatory true bugs. Like other members of the genus Nabis, this species is a nocturnal predator that subdues insects often larger than itself using raptorial forelegs. The species is documented from limited observations, with 14 records on iNaturalist. Damsel bugs in this genus are economically significant as biological control agents in agricultural systems.
Pagasa nigripes
Pagasa nigripes is a small, dark damsel bug in the family Nabidae. Like other members of its genus, it is ground-dwelling and has a compact, beetle-like appearance. The species exhibits wing dimorphism, with individuals either fully winged or having reduced, non-functional wing pads. As a nabid, it is a predatory true bug with raptorial front legs adapted for capturing prey.
Pagasa pallipes
Pagasa pallipes is a small predatory true bug in the family Nabidae (damsel bugs), subfamily Prostemmatinae. The species was described by Stål in 1873 and has been recorded from Mexico and parts of North America. Members of the genus Pagasa are ground-dwelling predators with somewhat beetle-like appearance.
Phorticus collaris
collared nabid, yellow-collared nabid
Phorticus collaris is a species of damsel bug in the family Nabidae, commonly known as the collared nabid or yellow-collared nabid. It was first described by Stål in 1873. The species has been documented across Central America and North America, with recent first records from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Panama extending its known distribution range. Like other nabid bugs, it is a predatory true bug.