The genus ''Orius'' (commonly called minute pirate bug) consists of omnivorous bugs in the family Anthocoridae (pirate bugs). Adults are 2–5 mm long and feed mostly on smaller insects, larva and eggs, such as spider mites,

thrips Thrips (order Thysanoptera) are minute (mostly long or less), slender insects with fringed wings and unique asymmetrical mouthparts. Different thrips species feed mostly on plants by puncturing and sucking up the contents, although a few are ...

, jumping plant lice, and white fly, but will also feed on pollen and vascular sap. These

predator Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill th ...

s are common in

garden A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the cultivation, display, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The single feature identifying even the wildest wild garden is ''control''. The garden can incorporate bot ...

s and landscapes. They have a fairly painful bite, but are not

venom Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a st ...

ous. Some species are raised commercially and sold to growers as a form of

biological control Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, such as insects, mites, weeds, and plant diseases, using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also i ...

. In laboratory conditions, the larval development of '' Orius niger'' takes 14 days at a temperature of 25°; females have a longevity of 60 days and can lay up to 150 eggs.Jean-Lou Justine (1978) ontribution to the study of the influence of alimentation on the development and reproduction of ''Orius niger'' Wolff, 1811 (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae)Contribution à l'étude de l'influence de l'alimentation sur le développement et la reproduction dOrius niger'' Wolff, 1811 (Heteroptera : Anthocoridae). Masters Thesis, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France, 92 pages n French with English abstract

Species

* '' Orius candiope'' * '' Orius diespeter'' * '' Orius harpocrates'' * ''

Orius insidiosus ''Orius insidiosus'', common name the insidious flower bug, is a species of minute pirate bug, a predatory insect in the order Hemiptera (the true bugs). They are considered beneficial, as they feed on small pest arthropods and their eggs. They ar ...

'' (insidious flower bug) * '' Orius minutus'' * '' Orius niger'' * '' Orius pumilio'' * '' Orius tantillus'' * '' Orius thyestes'' * '' Orius tristicolor''

References

External links

Iowa State University Department of Entomology ''Iowa Insect Information Notes'', minute pirate bug entry
(with picture) Anthocoridae Cimicomorpha genera {{Cimicomorpha-stub