Damsel Bug, Nabicula subcoleoptrata  
Live adult damsel bugs photographed at West Chicago Prairie, DuPage County, Illinois, USA
Order Hemiptera Linnaeus, 1758 / Suborder Heteroptera Latreille, 1810 / Infraorder Cimicomorpha -- thaumastocorid bugs / Superfamily Cimicoidea
Family Nabidae Costa, 1853 -- damsel bugs  / Genus Nabicula Kirby, 1837 / Species Nabicula subcoleoptrata Kirby, 1837  


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Female Damsel Bug

The nabids are small bugs that are relatively slender, with the front femora slightly enlarged.  Adults and nymphs are predators of many different types of insects, including aphids, moth eggs, and small caterpillars, including corn earworm, European corn borer, imported cabbageworm and some armyworms. Adults are swift and aggressive, rapidly sucking the body contents from their prey. Damsel bugs themselves are attacked by a number of natural enemies, including tachinid flies, wasps and fungi. The most common damsel bugs are are pale yellow to brown with well developed wings - genus Nabis is common throughout the United States. (See pictures of Nabis spp. here). However, this species pictured, Nabicula subcoleoptrata, is short-winged and jet black. The wings are not readily apparent, but this is definitely a flying  insect.


 

              
 
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