Hosts or Prey
Predaceous on mites and small insects
Identification
Adult minute pirate bugs have bulging eyes and an oblong to oval body that appears somewhat flattened on top. Adult Orius species are 1/12 to 1/5 inch (2–5 mm) long and black and white. Adult Anthocoris species are 1/8 to 1/5 inch (3–5 mm) long and mostly black, brown, or purplish.
Nymphs (immatures) are oblong to pear-shaped and commonly brown, orange, reddish, or yellowish. With Orius species, the eyes may be apparent as two red spots. In older instars the developing wings (wing pads) are oblong and partially cover the abdomen.
Eggs are oblong with a flattened, circular cap. They are inserted into succulent plant tissue so only the round top protrudes. An oblong swelling may be apparent in plant tissue where each egg occurs.
Lookalikes
Adult minute pirate bugs can be distinguished from most other true bugs (Heteroptera) by the absence of obvious veins or cells (vein-bordered areas) near the tip of the forewings. Damsel bugs have multiple, elongated cells (translucent areas segregated by veins) around the tip of the forewings. Plant bugs have one or two, closed cells near the tip of each front wing.
Life Cycle
Minute pirate bugs develop through three life stages. Eggs hatch into wingless nymphs, which develop through five, increasingly larger instars, which mature into adults without any pupal stage.
Minute pirate bugs have several generations per year. Development time from egg to adult is about 3 weeks during warm weather.
Habitat
Minute pirate bugs are one of the first predaceous insects to begin feeding early in the growing season. They are common in field crops including alfalfa, corn, cotton, small grains, soybean, and tomato and on herbaceous plants in gardens, landscapes, and wildlands.
Adults and nymphs feed through needlelike mouthparts, sucking the body fluids of their prey. Preferred prey include spider mites and thrips. Minute pirate bugs also feed on aphids, psyllids, small caterpillars, whiteflies, and insect and mite eggs. They feed harmlessly on pollen and plant juices and are not plant pests.
Commercial Availability
Orius species or other minute pirate bugs are sometimes purchased and released in commercial greenhouses to help control thrips. In most outdoors situations, purchasing and releasing minute pirate bugs is unlikely to control pests; conserving resident natural enemies is the most important strategy.
To increase the effectiveness of resident natural enemies and any that are released
- Control ants and dust.
- Grow flowering plants that provide nectar and pollen for adults (insectary plants).
- Avoid the use of broad-spectrum and persistent insecticides and miticides (acaricides).
See Natural Enemy Releases for Biological Control of Crop Pests, Protecting Natural Enemies and Pollinators, and Vendors of Beneficial Organisms in North America for more information.
Species
At least 12 genera of minute pirate bugs occur in California. These include at least 6 Anthocoris species and 3 each Orius and Xylocoris species.
More Information
- Biological Control and Natural Enemies of Invertebrates, UC Integrated Pest Management Program
- The Anthocoridae of Canada and Alaska, Canada Department of Agriculture
- Family Anthocoridae - Minute Pirate Bugs, BugGuide, Iowa State University
- Insectary Plants, UC Integrated Pest Management Program
- Natural Enemies Handbook, UC Integrated Pest Management Program
- Protecting Natural Enemies and Pollinators, UC Integrated Pest Management Program
Scientific classification:
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Hemiptera
- Suborder: Heteroptera
- Family: Anthocoridae
