Order Heteroptera, superfamily Cimicomorpha (other than Miridae)

Return to Insect Index

Himacerus mirmicoides (O. Costa, 1834)

Nymph (left): Cambridge 22 Jul 2001; Adult 18 Oct 2020 Family: Nabidae Length (nymph, excluding proboscis): 6mm Ant mimicry occurs in several Heteropteran families giving confusingly similar insects: the thickened fore femora and proboscis match this species "Although larvae, especially early instars, have occasionally been found in ants' nests, there is no evidence of a close association and such occurrences are probably accidental. Like all damsel bugs this species is a predator and has been observed feeding on Plagiognathus arbustorum (Miridae), aphids and the eggs of the Cabbage white butterfly. The adults are not ant-like."--Southwood & Leston NBN Atlas

Field Damsel Bug Nabis ferus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Cambridge 16 Mar 2002 Family: Nabidae A predator on other insects Tentative identification - other Nabis spp. are very similar. The pronotum is noticeably wider than long. NBN Atlas

Marsh Damsel Bug Nabis limbatus Dahlbom, 1851

Cambridge, Barnwell East LNR TL479582, 25 Jul 2017 Noticeably broad around the connexivum, and always brachypterous. Prey includes other hemiptera, flies, ichneumons and moths. NBN Atlas

Anthocoris nemorum (Linnaeus, 1761)

Cambridge, Gwydir Street: 30 Aug 2015 Family: Anthocoridae A predator on aphids, psyllids and mites - finds some use as a biological control agent Enlarged image NBN Atlas

Cardiastethus fasciiventris (Garbiglietti 1869)

Cambridge, Gwydir Street: 10 May 2022 Family: Anthocoridae (some authors place it in a separate family Lyctocoridae). A tiny bug less than 2.5mm long. NBN Atlas

Orius niger (Wolff, 1811)

Cambridge, Gwydir Street: 8 Nov 2020 Family: Anthocoridae Very small - 2mm - bug, darker than other members of the genus. Found on a range of low plants; feeds on thrips and red spider mites. NBN Atlas

Derephysia foliacea (Fallén, 1807)

Cambridge, Gwydir Street: 3 Jul 2022 Family: Tingidae Typically found on ivy. NBN Atlas

Physatocheila dumetorum (Herrich-Schäffer, 1838)

Cambridge, Gwydir Street: 21 Mar 2023 Family: Tingidae It is unclear whether a distinct species P. confinis exists. Typically found on lichen-covered trees, particularly hawthorn. NBN Atlas

Tingis ampliata (Herrich-Schäffer, 1838); Tingis cardui (Linnaeus, 1758)

(l.) T. ampliata, Lime Kiln Close, Cherry Hinton TL485561. 9 Sep 2014 (r.) T. cardui, Trumpington Meadows TL432542. 9 Jun 2015 Family: Tingidae T. ampliata feeds on creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense), T. cardui on spear thistle (C. vulgare). The wider lace-like trim in T. ampliata wraps alongside the head much further forward than the narrower trim of T. cardui. NBN Atlas (T. ampliata) NBN Atlas (T. cardui)

Return to Insect Index