Damsel bugs are generalist predators in crops and natural settings, with specialized front legs for grappling prey, and piercing-sucking mouth parts for sucking body fluids of prey.
Damsel Bug Biology
Damsel bugs are common nearly everywhere potatoes are grown in the Pacific Northwest.
Adult damsel bugs colonize potato fields in later spring, and nymphs can be found during the summer months.
In addition to aphids and Lygus, damsel bugs will feed on caterpillars like loopers and armyworms,
and the eggs and young larvae of Colorado potato beetle.
Like all beneficial insects in potatoes, damsel bugs are very sensitive to broad-spectrum insecticides such as pyrethroids.
Adult damsel bug feeding on an adult Lygus bug.
Immature damsel bug feeding on an aphid. The aphid's body fluids are sucked through the "beak."
Damsel bugs are larger than big-eyed bugs. Both are very active and hard to spot among the leaves.
Damsel bugs are generalist predators, feeding on many of the pest insects in potatoes.
They use their strong front legs to capture prey.
