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True Bugs (Heteroptera) of the Neotropics pp 287–305Cite as

Damsel Bugs (Nabidae)

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Part of the book series: Entomology in Focus ((ENFO,volume 2))

Abstract

Damsel bugs, Nabidae, are valued predators in agricultural and urban systems. Worldwide, there are considered to be 31 genera and 386 species known, with 11 genera and 83 species from the Neotropical region. While little bionomic information is available for Neotropical nabid species, highlighting the need for future research, the biology of Nabis (Tropiconabis) capsiformis Germar, is representative of the family. N. (T.) capsiformis demonstrated a type I functional response when feeding on bollworm eggs. Under laboratory conditions, total generation time was 51.6 days. Nabids insert their eggs into plant tissue with only the operculum remaining visible. N. (T.) capsiformis averaged 105.3 eggs/female. Much remains to be discovered concerning this fascinating and important group of predatory heteropterans. Knowledge about biology and taxonomy of this group is fundamental to developing future programs in integrated pest control.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. División Entomología, Museo de La Plata, Paseo del bosque s/n, La Plata 1900, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Maria del C. Coscarón

  2. Department of Entomology, UGA Griffin Campus, 1109 Experiment Street, Griffin, GA, 30223-1797, USA

    S. Kristine Braman

  3. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de La Pampa, Uruguay 151 L6300CLB, Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina

    Marcela Cornelis

Authors
  1. Maria del C. Coscarón
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  2. S. Kristine Braman
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  3. Marcela Cornelis
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Correspondence to Maria del C. Coscarón .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Entomologia, Embrapa Trigo, Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Antônio R. Panizzi

  2. Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Jocélia Grazia

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Coscarón, M.d.C., Braman, S.K., Cornelis, M. (2015). Damsel Bugs (Nabidae). In: Panizzi, A., Grazia, J. (eds) True Bugs (Heteroptera) of the Neotropics. Entomology in Focus, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9861-7_11

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