Ant Damselbug

Himacerus mirmicoides

''Himacerus mirmicoides'', common name ant damsel bug, is a species of ''damsel bugs'' belonging to the family Nabidae, subfamily Nabinae.
Himacerus mirmicoides - Nymph lateral  Cimicomorpha,Himacerus,Himacerus mirmicoides,Jane's garden,Nabidae,Nabinae,Nymph,cimicoidea,nl: Miersikkelwants

Appearance

''Himacerus mirmicoides'' can reach a length of 7–8 millimetres . These bugs have a brown body with a black connexivum showing orange-red spots. They are partly-winged, with quite reddish wings.

This species is rather similar to ''Himacerus apterus'', but it is smaller, with shorter antennae and longer wings. Moreover the hairs on the hind tibiae are shorter.

The nymphs resemble ants and the appearance of a typical hymenopteran "waist" is created by the paler coloration of the back of the thorax, contrasting with the rest of the body which is mainly black.
Himacerus mirmicoides - Female  Cimicoidea,Cimicomorpha,Geotagged,Himacerus,Himacerus mirmicoides,Nabidae,Nabinae,Netherlands,nl: Miersikkelwants

Naming

The name “mirmicoides” comes from the similarity of nymphs in the early instars to ants.
Himacerus mirmicoides, Heesch, Netherlands Some interesting facts about this species:

It's mimicking the thin waist of an ant by having transparent parts on the abdomen, creating an optical illusion. It probably mimics ants to avoid predation.

In terms of behavior, it always seems to be digging into the core of flowers, suggesting it's feeding on plant juice or nectar. In reality, it's trying to stir up thrips, triggering them to come up. Similar to how birds thumb on a lawn to get rain worms to come up.
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/163094/himacerus_mirmicoides_heesch_netherlands.html Ant Damselbug,Heesch,Himacerus mirmicoides,Netherlands

Distribution

These bugs can be found in most of Europe.
Himacerus mirmicoides - Nymph  Cimicomorpha,Himacerus,Himacerus mirmicoides,Jane's garden,Nabidae,Nabinae,Nymph,cimicoidea,nl: Miersikkelwants

Behavior

Adults can be found all year around. Mating and egg-laying begins in spring with the new generation occurring in August.
Himacerus mirmicoides - Nymph Old photo (2009). IMHO this should be the last (5th) stadium nymph of what will become a macropterous imago. Compare here with what I take to be a 5th std. of brachypterous individual:
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/119855/himacerus_mirmicoides_-_nymph.html
  Ant Damselbug,Cimicoidea,Cimicomorpha,Geotagged,Himacerus,Himacerus mirmicoides,Nabidae,Nabinae,Netherlands,Nymph,nl: Miersikkelwants

Habitat

These bugs can be found on the ground, in low herbage and in dry open areas.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderHemiptera
FamilyNabidae
GenusHimacerus
SpeciesH. mirmicoides