Pirate Bugs

Anthocoridae is a family of bugs, commonly called minute pirate bugs or flower bugs. Worldwide there are 500-600 species.

Description

Anthocoridae are 1.5–5 mm long and have soft, elongated oval, flat bodies, often patterned in black and white. The head is extended forward and the antennae are longer than the head and visible from above. They possess a piercing and sucking three-segmented beak or labium used to inject prey with digestive enzymes and consume food. In general appearance, they resemble soft bugs Miridae, but Anthocoridae differ by their possession of two ocelli as adults. Anthocorids possess two pairs of wings with hemelytra and membranous hindwings.

Many species are referred to as insidious flower bugs or pirate bugs. The scientific name is a combination of the Greek words ''anthos'' "flower" and ''koris'' "bug".

Habitat and behaviour

Many species can be found in cryptic habitats such as galls, but can also be present in open surface environments. They can often be found in many agricultural crops. They can feed on plant material, but mostly feed on other small soft-bodied arthropods. Anthocorids are often predacious both as nymphs and adults. They are beneficial as biological control agents. '' Orius insidiosus'', the "insidious flower bug", for example, feeds on the eggs of the corn earworm (''Helicoverpa zea''). ''Orius insidiosus'' is often released in greenhouses against mites and thrips.

Eggs are laid in plant material and hatch in approximately 3 to 5 days. Nymphs require at least 20 days to progress through five instars. Adults live for approximately 35 days.
These small insects can bite humans, however, they do not feed on human blood or inject venom or saliva. Reactions to bites in individuals can range from no effect to minor swelling and irritation.

Systematics

There are two subfamilies and at least 8 tribes:

Anthocorinae

Auth. Fieber, 1837
;tribe Almeidini Carayon, 1972
# '' Almeida (bug)'' Distant, 1910
# '' Australmeida'' Woodward, 1977
# ''Lippomanus'' Distant, 1904
;tribe Anthocorini Fieber, 1837
Selected genera:
* '' Acompocoris'' Reuter, 1875 ^{i c g b}
* '' Anthocoris'' Fallen, 1814 ^{i c g b}
* '' Coccivora'' McAtee & Malloch, 1925 ^{i c g b}
* ''Dufouriellus'' Kirkaldy, 1906
* '' Elatophilus'' Reuter, 1884 ^{i c g b}
* '' Melanocoris'' Champion, 1900 ^{i c g b}
* '' Temnostethus'' Fieber, 1860 ^{i c g b}
* '' Tetraphleps'' Fieber, 1860 ^{i c g b}
;tribe Blaptopstethini Carayon, 1972
# '' Blaptostethoides'' Carayon, 1972
# '' Blaptostethus'' Fieber, 1860
;tribe Cardiastethini Carayon, 1972
Selected genera:
* '' Amphiareus'' Distant, 1904
* '' Brachysteles'' Mulsant & Rey, 1852
* '' Buchananiella'' Reuter, 1884
* '' Cardiastethus'' Fieber, 1860
;tribe Oriini Carayon, 1955
Selected genera:
* '' Orius'' Wolff, 1811 ^{i c g b}
;tribe Scolopini Carayon, 1954
Selected genera:
* '' Calliodis'' Reuter, 1871
* '' Scoloposcelis'' Fieber, 1864
;tribe Xylocorini Carayon, 1972 (monotypic)
# '' Xylocoris'' Dufour, 1831
;''incertae sedis''
# '' Crytosternum'' Fieber, 1860

Lasiochilinae

Auth. Carayon, 1972 (sometimes placed at family level: "Lasiochilidae")
* tribe Lasiochilini Carayon, 1972
# '' Lasiochilus'' Reuter, 1871
# '' Plochiocoris'' Champion, 1900
* genera ''incertae sedis''

Unplaced genera

# ''Lilia (bug)'' White, 1879
# '' Opisthypselus'' Reuter, 1908
* 4 fossil genera

Data sources: i = ITIS, c = Catalogue of Life, g = GBIF, b = Bugguide.netPéricart, J. 1996. Family Anthocoridae Fieber, 1836 flower bugs, minute pirate bugs, pp. 108–318. In Aukema, B. and C. Rieger, eds. ''Catalogue of the Heteroptera of the Palaearctic Region''. Vol. 2. Cimicomorpha I. Netherlands Entomological Society, Amsterdam. 359 pp.

References

External links

Pirate bugsPirate bugs
(with pictures)

Heteroptera families

{{Cimicomorpha-stub