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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. |
