Insect · GBIF taxon 2020990
Common Damsel Bug
Nabis americoferusAlso known as American Damsel Bug
Common damsel bugs feature slender, dull tan bodies with thickened raptorial forelegs designed to grasp unsuspecting prey. They stalk low vegetation and agricultural crops, impaling aphids, caterpillars, and leafhoppers with a sharp piercing beak. Adults overwinter under leaf litter and crop debris, emerging early in spring to insert eggs directly into plant stems.
PredatoryBeneficial InsectField Dweller
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Aphids
- Caterpillars
- Leafhoppers
Predators
- Spiders
- Birds
- Assassin Bugs
ThreatsBroad-spectrum pesticide exposure, loss of natural field borders
HabitatsFields, meadows, agricultural crops, grasslands, gardens
Life span1–2 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderHemiptera
- FamilyNabidae
- GenusNabis
- SpeciesNabis americoferus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- May jab with its piercing beak if handled roughly; observe without holding.
Responsible observation
- Field Scanning: Search low vegetation and field crops on sunny days to catch them hunting.
- Gentle Observation: Avoid squeezing or cupping them to prevent a defensive jab from their beak.
- Garden Protection: Encourage their presence in garden beds as a free natural pest control.
Competitor (c) Loïc Mathieu, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Prey (c) Mihajlo Tomić, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mihajlo Tomić · cc-by
Image unavailableClose Relative
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.