Anthocoridae is a family of bugs, commonly called minute pirate bugs or flower bugs. Worldwide there are 500-600 species.[1]
| Minute pirate bugs | |
|---|---|
| |
| Orius insidiosus | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hemiptera |
| Suborder: | Heteroptera |
| Superfamily: | Cimicoidea |
| Family: | Anthocoridae |
| Tribes | |
Description
editAnthocoridae 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 common plant bugs (Miridae), but Anthocoridae differ by their possession of two ocelli as adults. Anthocorids possess two pairs of wings with hemelytra and membranous hindwings.[2][3]
Many species are referred to as insidious flower bugs or pirate bugs.[4] The scientific name is a combination of the Greek words anthos "flower" and koris "bug".
Habitat and behaviour
editMany 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.[5] They can feed on plant material, but mostly feed on other small soft-bodied arthropods.[1] Anthocorids are often predacious both as nymphs and adults.[2] 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.[6]
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.[7] 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.[5]
Systematics
editThere are two subfamilies and at least 8 tribes:[8]
Anthocorinae
editAuth. Fieber, 1837
- tribe Almeidini Carayon, 1972
- Almeida 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 Dufouriellini Van Duzee, 1916
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
- Cyrtosternum Fieber, 1860
Auth. Carayon, 1972 (sometimes placed at family level: "Lasiochilidae")
- tribe Lasiochilini Carayon, 1972
- Lasiochilus Reuter, 1871
- Plochiocoris Champion, 1900
- genera incertae sedis
Unplaced genera
edit- Lilia White, 1879
- Opisthypselus Reuter, 1908
- 4 fossil genera
Data sources: i = ITIS,[9] c = Catalogue of Life,[10] g = GBIF,[11] b = Bugguide.net[12][2][13]
References
edit- ^ a b Lattin, J.D. (1999). "Bionomics of the Anthocoridae". Annual Review of Entomology. 44: 207–31. doi:10.1146/annurev.ento.44.1.207. PMID 15012372.
- ^ a b c Horton, D.R. (2008). "Minute Pirate Bugs (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae)". In Capinera, J.L. (ed.). Encyclopedia of Entomology. pp. 2402–2412. doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-6359-6_4633. ISBN 978-1-4020-6242-1.
- ^ E. Wachmann, A. Melber & J. Deckert: Wanzen. Band 1: Dipsocoromorpha, Nepomorpha, Gerromorpha, Leptopodomorpha, Cimicomorpha (Teil I), Neubearbeitung der Wanzen Deutschlands, Österreichs und der deutschsprachigen Schweiz, Goecke & Evers Keltern, 2006, ISBN 3-931374-49-1
- ^ "Minute Pirate Bugs". Iowa Insect Information Notes. Iowa State University. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
- ^ a b "Minute Pirate Bugs – Little Bug with a Big Bite". University of Illinois Extension. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
- ^ "Midwest Biological Control News". Archived from the original on July 7, 2010. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
- ^ "Back to Predators Table of Contents Orius tristicolor and O. insidiosus". Cornell University. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
- ^ BioLib.cz: flower bugs - Anthocoridae Fieber, 1837 (retrieved 8 April 2022)
- ^ "Anthocoridae Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
- ^ "Browse Anthocoridae". Catalogue of Life. Archived from the original on 2019-11-15. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
- ^ "Anthocoridae". GBIF. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
- ^ "Anthocoridae Family Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
- ^ Péricart, 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.
External links
edit- Pirate bugs
- Pirate bugs (with pictures)
Media related to Anthocoridae at Wikimedia Commons
