Tree Damsel Bug Himacerus apterus (Fabricius, 1798)
Himacerus apterus is the only Damsel Bug which is found on shrubs and the lower branches of trees. Generally common over much of Nottinghamshire, adult H. apterus are normally micropterous and fully-winged individuals (macropterous) are rare. The macropterous form is shown in the middle two photographs. It is regularly found as both adults and nymphs, by beating the branches of deciduous trees.
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Himacerus apterus nymph
 
 
Nottinghamshire (VC56) distribution of Himacerus apterus
 
Male Tree Damsel Bugs have a narrower abdomen.
 
The records for the Nottinghamshire distribution map are currently provided by the following contributors - Richard Rogers. Trevor and Dilys Pendleton. Sherwood Forest Trust (2008 Oak Tree Heath invertebrate survey). Netherfield Wildlife Group. Pauline Bradford. K N A Alexander (Invertebrate assemblage condition at Birklands and Bilhaugh SSSI and Birklands West and Ollerton Corner SSSI survey reports 2009-10). Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. Tim Sexton. Andy Godfrey (2006 Sherwood Heath SSSI invertebrate survey). Sean Tobin. Sherwood Forest Invertebrate Directory 2014. Peter Kirby (Bentinck Tip & Void Invertebrate survey 2007). Jim Flanagan. Sorby Natural History Society. NBGRC. David Shaw. Brian Wetton.

You can contribute your own records to help us gain an accurate status of this species in Nottinghamshire. Send an Excel spreadsheet of your records via the 'contact us' link at the top of the homepage.

Updated January 2024

copyright © Trevor and Dilys Pendleton (www.eakringbirds.com) . .
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