
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.
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.