Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #229307
Title: Three new species, notes and new records of poorly known species, and an updated checklist for the North American Nabidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera)

Author
item KERZHNER, ISYASLAV - ZOOL. ST. PETERSBURG, RUS
item Henry, Thomas

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/15/2008
Publication Date: 11/20/2008
Citation: Kerzhner, I.M., Henry, T.J. 2008. Three new species, notes and new records of poorly known species, and an updated checklist for the North American Nabidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 110:988-1011.

Interpretive Summary: True bugs cause millions of dollars damage to crops each year. Many true bugs, such as lygus bugs, chinch bugs, and the cotton fleahopper, are among the most serious crops pests, but a significant number of bugs are predatory and consider beneficial. The true bugs treated in this paper, often called damsel bugs, are frequently used as biocontrol agents in agroecosystems. In this paper, we describe three North American species that are new to science; give updated distributions for previously known species, including a new US record for one Mexican species; and provide an updated checklist of all 41 species of damsel bugs occurring in Canada and the United States. This paper will be of interest to all researchers interested in biological control of various crop systems.

Technical Abstract: Three new species of North American Nabidae are described: Hoplistoscelis confusa, n. sp., Nabis latior n. sp., and Pagasa lattini n. sp. Given for each are a diagnosis, description, a dorsal and lateral color photograph, a pen and ink dorsal habitus illustration, drawings of male and or female genitalia, and comments on their relationship with other species. Nabis mexicanus Remane is recorded from the United States for the first time and new US state or Canadian province records for several species, and clarification of misidentifications since the 1988 North American nabid catalog are reported. A revised checklist of the North American Nabidae is provided, giving current generic and subgeneric combinations for 41 species.