Bug Identifier
Minute pirate bug (flower bug), likely
Community identification

Minute pirate bug (flower bug), likely

Orius sp.

Order & Family
Hemiptera; family Anthocoridae
Size
About 2–5 mm long; the pictured insect appears near the small end of this range.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Vegetation, flowers, leaf litter, and garden plants; often found where small insects and mites occur.

Diet & Feeding

Predatory, piercing and sucking fluids from thrips, aphids, mites, whiteflies, and insect eggs; may also consume pollen and plant juices.

Behavior Patterns

Active, fast-moving hunters that hide in flowers or foliage. Adults overwinter in sheltered plant debris; several generations may occur annually.

Risks & Benefits

Beneficial biological-control predators in gardens and crops. They are not dangerous, but may give a mild, short-lived defensive bite when trapped against skin.