A taxonomic study on Damsel bugs (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Nabidae, Nabinae) of Guilan province and adjacent areas in Iran, with an illustrated key to the genera and species

Abstract

Damsel bugs (Hemiptera, Nabidae) are predatory insects belonging to the order of Hemiptera. During the spring-summer of 2021–2022, nabid specimens were collected from Guilan province and adjacent areas. In this study, three species (four subspecies) belonging to two genera were collected and identified: Himacerus mirmicoides (O.Costa, 1834); Nabis viridulus Spinola, 1837; Nabis pseudoferus pseudoferus Remane, 1949 and Nabis pseudoferus orientarius Remane, 1962, furthermore, four species (four subspecies) belonging to two genera were examined from the insect collection of the Natural History Museum of the University of Guilan (UGNHM) including Himacerus major (A.Costa, 1842); Nabis pseudoferus transcaspicus Remane, 1962; Nabis punctatus punctatus A.Costa, 1847 and Nabis capsiformis Germar, 1838. In this paper, based on the morphological characteristics and genitalia of males, brief diagnostic descriptions, illustrated identification key and digital images of species habitus were provided to facilitate the identification of Nabidae of Guilan province and its adjacent areas.

Keywords

• biocontrol
• fauna
• iran
• identification key
• predator
• male genitalia