Anthocoridae

The Anthocoridae are a family of bugs, commonly called pirate bugs.

Name

The vernacular name probably stems from the notion that these very small animals can do much pain to humans, just like small pirate vessels can do so to big ships. The scientific name is a combination of the Greek words anthos "flower" and koris "bug".

Appearance

Pirate bugs are only about 0.5mm long. Their body is oval to triangular and somewhat flattened with a black and white patterned back.

Habits

Pirate bugs feed on other small insects, spider mites and insect eggs. They cut a hole into their prey, pump saliva into it and drink the contents. This makes them beneficial as biological control agents. Orius insidiosus, the "insidious flower bug", for example, feeds on the eggs of the corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea). Especially O. insidiosus is often released in greenhouses against mites and thrips.

These small insects can bite humans, with surprising pain for such a small insect. However, they do not feed on human blood or inject venom or saliva. In some people the bite swells up, in others there is no reaction.

Systematics

The following genera belong to this family:

• Acompocoris
• Alofa
• Amphiareus
• Anthocoris
• Calliodis
• Cardiastethus
• Coccivora
• Dufouriellus
• Elatophilus
• Lasiochilus
• Lyctocoris
• Macrothacheliella
• Melanocoris
• Nidicola
• Orius
• Paratriphleps
• Pehuencoris
• Physopleurella
• Plochiocoris
• Scoloposcelis
• Solenonotus
• Temnostethus
• Tetraphleps
• Xylocoris

External links

• Anthocoridae Taxonomy Site
• Pirate bugs
• Pirate bugs (with pictures)

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