| Himacerus mirmicoides | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Himacerus mirmicoides, upperside | |
 | |
| Side view | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hemiptera |
| Suborder: | Heteroptera |
| Family: | Nabidae |
| Genus: | Himacerus |
| Species: | H. mirmicoides |
| Binomial name | |
| Himacerus mirmicoides (O. G. Costa, 1834) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Himacerus mirmicoides, common name ant damsel bug, is a species of damsel bugs belonging to the family Nabidae, subfamily Nabinae.
The name “mirmicoides” comes from the similarity of nymphs in the early instars to ants.
These bugs can be found on the ground, in low herbage and in dry open areas. [2]
Himacerus mirmicoides can reach a length of 7–8 millimetres (0.28–0.31 in). [2] These bugs have a brown body with a black connexivum showing orange-red spots. They are partly-winged, with quite reddish wings. [2]
This species is rather similar to Himacerus apterus , but it is smaller, with shorter antennae and longer wings. Moreover, the hairs on the hind tibiae are shorter. [2]
The nymphs resemble ants and the appearance of a typical hymenopteran "waist" is created by the paler coloration of the back of the thorax, contrasting with the rest of the body which is mainly black. [2]
Adults can be found all year around. Mating and egg-laying begins in spring with the new generation occurring in August. [2]
Hemiptera is an order of insects, commonly called true bugs, comprising over 80,000 species within groups such as the cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, assassin bugs, bed bugs, and shield bugs. They range in size from 1 mm (0.04 in) to around 15 cm (6 in), and share a common arrangement of piercing-sucking mouthparts. The name "true bugs" is often limited to the suborder Heteroptera.
The Reduviidae is a large cosmopolitan family of the suborder Heteroptera of the order Hemiptera. Among the Hemiptera and together with the Nabidae almost all species are terrestrial ambush predators; most other predatory Hemiptera are aquatic. The main examples of nonpredatory Reduviidae are some blood-sucking ectoparasites in the subfamily Triatominae. Though spectacular exceptions are known, most members of the family are fairly easily recognizable; they have a relatively narrow neck, sturdy build, and a formidable curved proboscis. Large specimens should be handled with caution, if at all, because they sometimes defend themselves with a very painful stab from the proboscis.
The Gerridae are a family of insects in the order Hemiptera, commonly known as water striders, water skeeters, water scooters, water bugs, pond skaters, water skippers, water gliders, water skimmers or puddle flies. Consistent with the classification of the Gerridae as true bugs, gerrids have mouthparts evolved for piercing and sucking, and distinguish themselves by having the unusual ability to walk on water, making them pleuston (surface-living) animals. They are anatomically built to transfer their weight to be able to run on top of the water's surface. As a result, one could likely find water striders present in any pond, river, or lake. Over 1,700 species of gerrids have been described, 10% of them being marine.
The insect family Nabidae contains the damsel bugs. There are over 500 species in 20 genera. They are soft-bodied, elongate, winged terrestrial predators. Many damsel bugs catch and hold prey with their forelegs, similar to mantids. They are considered helpful species in agriculture because of their predation on many types of crop pests.
Treehoppers and thorn bugs are members of the family Membracidae, a group of insects related to the cicadas and the leafhoppers. About 3,200 species of treehoppers in over 400 genera are known. They are found on all continents except Antarctica; only five species are known from Europe. Individual treehoppers usually live for only a few months.
The Cimicomorpha are an infraorder of insects in the order Hemiptera, the true bugs. The rostrum and other morphology of all members apparently is adapted to feeding on animals as their prey or hosts. Members include bed bugs, bat bugs, assassin bugs, and pirate bugs.
Reduvius personatus or the masked hunter is an insect belonging to the assassin bug (Reduviidae) family. The name is because its nymphs camouflage themselves with dust. The masked hunter is a predator of small arthropods, including woodlice, lacewings, earwigs, bed bugs and termites. Masked hunters do not feed on human blood, but can bite humans in self-defense when mishandled. The bite can be painful, but masked hunters do not carry Chagas disease unlike the kissing bug for which they are sometimes mistaken.
Alydidae, commonly known as broad-headed bugs, is a family of true bugs very similar to the closely related Coreidae. There are at least 60 genera and 300 species altogether. Distributed in the temperate and warmer regions of the Earth, most are tropical and subtropical animals; for example Europe has a mere 10 species, and only 2 of these occur outside the Mediterranean region.
Thaumatoneura inopinata is a species of damselfly, sometimes called the cascade damselfly or giant waterfall damsel, and the only member of the genus Thaumatoneura. It is unusual in flying among the falling water and spray from waterfalls in moist tropical or subtropical forests in Costa Rica.
Dolycoris baccarum, the sloe bug or hairy shieldbug, is a species of shield bug in the family Pentatomidae.
Nabis ericetorum is a species of damsel bug in the family Nabidae.
Nabis flavomarginatus is a species of damsel bug in the family Nabidae.
Nabis limbatus is a species of damsel bug in the family Nabidae. It is found in Northern Europe and the northern part of Western and Central Europe. It occurs in the East in Eastern Europe and across the Palearctic to Siberia to China and Korea. It is introduced in Canada. In the Alps, it rises to about 1400 meters above sea level. In the South of Europe, it is found only in the central uplands.
Nabis lineatus is a species of damsel bug in the family Nabidae.
Eurydema oleracea is a species of shield bug in the family Pentatomidae and is commonly known as the rape bug, the crucifer shield bug, the cabbage bug or the brassica bug.
Himacerus is a genus of damsel bugs belonging to the family Nabidae, subfamily Nabinae.
Himacerus apterus, known as the tree damsel bug, is a species of damsel bug belonging to the family Nabidae, subfamily Nabinae.
Ptilocnemus lemur is a species of feather-legged bug in the family Reduviidae native to Australia. Commonly known as the feather-legged assassin bug, it is a predator with a specialized gland called a trichome that it uses to attract and paralyse ants before feeding on them.
Himacerus boops is a species of damsel bug in the family Nabidae. It is found from South Scandinavia and the South of the British Isles over Western and Central Europe and East across the Palearctic to Siberia and in the Caspian region. They are not present in most parts of the Mediterranean.
Himacerus major is a species damsel bug in the family Nabidae. It is found in the Holarctic. The range is from South Scandinavia and the South of the British Isles over West Europe including the Western Mediterranean, Central Europe and Eastern Europe and in the Caucasus. It is also found in North America. Himacerus major occurs in many different habitats with grass, regardless of the level of humidity. The species occurs on very dry dune habitats, and nutrient-poor grasslands,as well as wet shores of waters without woody vegetation and salt places inland. The species occurs in very large numbers near the coast of the Northern Baltic Sea. It is absent from woodland.
 | This Cimicomorpha article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |