Ant Damsel Bug - Himacerus mirmicoides

Description

Length 7 to 8 mm. This genus has a black connexivum with orange-red spots, and rather reddish wings. H. mirmicoides is partly-winged (although there is a macropterus form) and may be separated from the larger H. apterus by the shorter antennae (< length of thorax + abdomen), longer wings and shorter hairs on the hind tibiae.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Usually found on the ground or amongst low herbage.

When to see it

Adult: All year.

Life History

Adults overwinter; mating and egg-laying takes place in the spring. The new generation is complete by August. Early instar larvae are strikingly ant-like, due to the spiny posterior angles of the 2nd & 3rd thoracic segments. There is also a short spine on the 2nd abdominal segment and the margins of the 2nd & 3rd are white, giving the illusion of a narrow waist. The thoracic projections are lost in later instars.

UK Status

This bug is common in southern Britain in a variety of dry open habitats.

VC55 Status

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Ant Damsel Bug
Species group:
Bugs
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Hemiptera
Family:
Nabidae
Records on NatureSpot:
77
First record:
10/08/2008 (Gould, David)
Last record:
13/03/2024 (Pugh, Dylan)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

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