Natural Enemies of Aphids

Native and Naturalized
Predators
Parasitoids
Pathogens

Exotic Natural Enemies Under Review

Damsel bugs

Damsel bugs are a small family of insects, all of which are predators of other insects. Some species are very common and frequently found in agricultural crops, gardens, and natural areas. Members of the genus Nabis are the most abundant damsel bugs in crops.

Adults are tan colored, slender, and about 6-10 mm long (1/4 - 1/3"). They have piercing-sucking mouthparts and prey on a diversity of small insects.

Damsel bugs are in the insect order Homoptera (formerly Hemiptera), the true bugs, and family Nabidae, the damsel bugs.

Damsel bug adult Photo credit: Peter Sonnentag, courtesy Eileen Cullen