Species

Minute pirate bugs, Orius tristicolor, belong to order Hemiptera and family Anthocoridae.

Identification

Life Cycle

Females deposit eggs in plant tissues, leaf stems and veins 2-3 days after mating. The eggs hatch within 5 days as nymphs and will go through five stages of development before becoming adults. The development period take approximately 20 days to complete. Adult minute pirate bugs live between 3-4 weeks before they die.

Prey

Aphids
Thrips
Caterpillars
Whiteflies
Potato Leafhopper nymphs
Corn borer's larvae
Mites

Function

Minute pirate bugs actively seek out their prey both above and below the ground. Once they have a hold of their prey with their front legs, pirate bugs use their beak to penetrate the other insect several times, sucking the fluids from its body until only the exoskeleton remains. They are adaptable to areas with both high and low prey densities making them useful to have in your garden or farm at all times.

Commercial Availability

Minute pirate bugs are widely available for purchase through a number of online distributors.
They can be purchased as adults or nymphs.

Handling and Use

When releasing minute pirate bugs into your garden be sure that there are ample food sources such as other insects and pollen from flowering plants available.

Simply shake the container and release the bugs near food sources or pest infestations. General rule of thumb is to release 5-10 bugs per 100 square feet. It is best to release them in the early morning or late afternoon.

Cultivation Techniques

To encourage minute pirate bugs to live in your yard and garden be sure to have flowering plants spread throughout. They feed on pollen and plant juices, without causing harm to the plant, when there is not an abundance of prey.

References

"Minute Pirate Bug Release Instructions." 2006. Planet Natural. 30 Sept. 2008.
<http://www.planetnatural.com/site/xdpy/kb/minute-pirate-bug-instructions.html>.

"Natural Enemies Gallery: Minute Pirate Bugs—UC IPM." 2004. The University of California.
27 Sept. 2008. < http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/minute_pirate_bug.html>.

Weeden, C.R., A. M. Shelton, and M. P. Hoffman. "Minute Pirate Bugs."
Biological Control: A Guide to Natural Enemies in North America. Cornell University.
27 Sept. 2008. <http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol/predators/orius.html>.