Tree Damsel Bug

Himacerus apterus

Despite its species name apterus, meaning wingless, individuals possess reduced wings, and fully winged forms occasionally develop.

Scientific name: Himacerus apterus
Taxonomy: Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Hemiptera › Nabidae › Himacerus
IUCN Red List status: Least Concern
Population trend: stable
Biome: forest
Habitat: Deciduous woodland canopies, hedgerows, scrub, orchards, and gardens
Diet: Carnivorous, preying on aphids, caterpillars, spider mites, and other small invertebrates
Range: Europe, Northern Asia, Temperate Palearctic
Size: 8–11 mm in length
Lifespan: 1 yr
Active: diurnal
Threats: Broad-spectrum insecticide use, hedgerow removal, and loss of deciduous woodland cover
Safe to approach?: Harmless to humans and beneficial to garden plants. Maintain a respectful distance to observe naturally. If handled roughly, it can deliver a sharp, painful defensive poke with its piercing rostrum. If bitten, wash the site thoroughly with soap and water; symptoms typically resolve quickly without medical intervention.

Himacerus apterus , known as the tree damsel bug , is a species of damsel bug belonging to the family Nabidae, subfamily Nabinae.

Photo: Jon Mortin, CC-BY, via iNaturalist