Anthocoridae

{{Short description|Family of true bugs}} {{Automatic taxobox | name = Minute pirate bugs | image = Orius insidiosus from USDA 2.jpg | image_caption = ''Orius insidiosus'' | taxon = Anthocoridae | subdivision_ranks = Tribes | subdivision = see text | authority = Fieber, 1837<ref name=itis/> }} [[File:Amphiareus obscuriceps P1310618a.jpg| thumb|''Amphiareus obscuriceps'']]

'''Anthocoridae''' is a family of bugs, commonly called '''minute pirate bugs''' or '''flower bugs'''. Worldwide there are 500 to 600 species.<ref name=Lattin>{{cite journal|author=Lattin, J.D.|year=1999|title=Bionomics of the Anthocoridae|journal=Annual Review of Entomology|volume=44|pages=207–31|doi=10.1146/annurev.ento.44.1.207|pmid=15012372}}</ref>

==Description== Anthocoridae 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.<ref name=Horton>{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Entomology|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaento00capi|url-access=limited|editor=Capinera, J.L.|author=Horton, D.R.|chapter=Minute Pirate Bugs (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) |pages=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaento00capi/page/n2465 2402]–2412|year=2008|doi=10.1007/978-1-4020-6359-6_4633|isbn=978-1-4020-6242-1}}</ref><ref>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}}</ref>

Many species are referred to as insidious flower bugs or pirate bugs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Minute Pirate Bugs|url=http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/iiin/minutep.html|website=Iowa Insect Information Notes|publisher=Iowa State University|access-date=12 January 2017}}</ref> The scientific name is a combination of the Greek words ''anthos'' "flower" and ''koris'' "bug".

==Habitat and behaviour== Many 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.<ref name="Cornell"/> They can feed on plant material, but mostly feed on other small soft-bodied arthropods.<ref name=Lattin/> Anthocorids are often predacious both as nymphs and adults.<ref name=Horton/> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/mbcn/kyf101.html|title=Midwest Biological Control News|access-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707084233/http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/mbcn/kyf101.html|archive-date=July 7, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Back to Predators Table of Contents Orius tristicolor and O. insidiosus|url=https://biocontrol.entomology.cornell.edu/predators/Orius.php|publisher=Cornell University|access-date=12 January 2017}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Cornell">{{cite web|url=https://web.extension.illinois.edu/cfiv/homeowners/021005.html|title=Minute Pirate Bugs – Little Bug with a Big Bite|access-date=March 5, 2016|publisher=University of Illinois Extension}}</ref>

==Systematics== There are two subfamilies and at least 8 tribes:<ref>[https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id17135/ BioLib.cz]: flower bugs - Anthocoridae Fieber, 1837 (retrieved 8 April 2022)</ref>

===Anthocorinae=== Auth. 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

===Lasiochilinae=== Auth. Carayon, 1972 (sometimes placed at family level: "Lasiochilidae") * tribe Lasiochilini Carayon, 1972 # ''Lasiochilus'' Reuter, 1871 # ''Plochiocoris'' Champion, 1900 * genera ''incertae sedis''

===Unplaced genera=== # ''Lilia'' White, 1879 # ''Opisthypselus'' Reuter, 1908 * 4 fossil genera

Data sources: i = ITIS,<ref name=itis/> c = Catalogue of Life,<ref name=catlife/> g = GBIF,<ref name=gbif/> b = Bugguide.net<ref name=bugref/><ref name=Horton/><ref>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.</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name=itis>{{ITIS|id=106903|taxon=Anthocoridae Fieber, 1837|access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref> <ref name=catlife>{{Cite web | title=Browse Anthocoridae | url=http://www.catalogueoflife.org/col/browse/tree/id/7db2885a55b2338a7e04c4264e822677 | website=Catalogue of Life | access-date=2018-04-23 | archive-date=2019-11-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115080525/http://www.catalogueoflife.org/col/browse/tree/id/7db2885a55b2338a7e04c4264e822677 | url-status=dead }}</ref> <ref name=gbif> {{Cite web| title=Anthocoridae | url=https://www.gbif.org/species/7876 | website=GBIF | access-date=2018-04-23 }}</ref> <ref name=bugref> {{Cite web| title=Anthocoridae Family Information | url=https://bugguide.net/node/view/33701 | website=BugGuide.net | access-date=2018-04-23 }}</ref> }}

==External links== {{Refbegin}} *[http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/1997/10-10-1997/pirates.html Pirate bugs] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060520213518/http://www.entomology.umn.edu/cues/Web/264Insecta.Hemiptera.Anthocoridae.pdf Pirate bugs] (with pictures) *{{Commons-inline}} {{Refend}}

Category:Anthocoridae Category:Heteroptera families