Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Bugs (Heteroptera) » Cimicomorpha » Cimicoidea » Minute Pirate Bugs (Anthocoridae) » Oriini » Orius » Orius insidiosus

Species Orius insidiosus

Small plant bug on Symphyotrichum pilosum - Orius insidiosus

Insidious Flower Bug 2 - Orius insidiosus

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)

Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)

Infraorder Cimicomorpha

Superfamily Cimicoidea

Family Anthocoridae (Minute Pirate Bugs)

Tribe Oriini

Genus Orius

Species insidiosus (Orius insidiosus)

Other Common Names

Insidious Flower Bug

Explanation of Names

Orius insidiosus (Say 1832)

Size

~2 mm(1)

Identification

Early nymphs have slight yellowish tinge, getting progressively darker in each successive instar. Adults are mahogany color.

Range

e. NA (QC-FL to MB-CO-TX; CA, *BC) to S. America; W. Indies - Map (2)(3)(4)

*introduced, prob. not established(5)

Food

Generalist predator

Common predator of insect eggs (6)

Life Cycle

Overwinters as adult. Nymphs go through 5 instars.

Can develop from egg to adult on pollen alone.(7)

Remarks

by far the commonest anthocorid in the entire eastern & central part of the continent(8);

important predator of phytophagous mites and mite eggs, insect eggs, soft-bodied insects(1)

Internet References

Fact sheet (Hull & Horsburgh)(1)

Works Cited

1.	Pfeiffer D.G. (1997-2013) The Virginia fruit page [at The Mid-Atlantic Regional Fruit Loop]

2.	Catalog of the Heteroptera, or True Bugs of Canada and the Continental United States Thomas J. Henry, Richard C. Froeschner. 1988. Brill Academic Publishers.

3.	Checklist of the Hemiptera of Canada and Alaska Maw, H.E.L., R.G. Foottit, K.G.A. Hamilton and G.G.E. Scudder. 2000. NRC Research Press.

4.	Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)

5.	The non-indigenous Lyctocoridae and Anthocoridae (Hemiptera : Heteroptera : Cimicoidea) of America North of Mexico Lattin J.D. 2007. Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash. 109: 366-376.

6.	Eastern Forest Insects Whiteford L. Baker. 1972. U.S. Department of Agriculture · Forest Service.

7.	Insect Ecology: Behavior, Populations and Communities P. W. Price, R. F. Denno, M. D. Eubanks. 2011. Cambridge University Press.

8.	How to Know the True Bugs Slater, James A., and Baranowski, Richard M. 1978. Wm. C. Brown Company.

Contributed by tom murray on 24 December, 2008 - 11:10pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, Bbarnd, Mike Quinn, ceiseman, v belov, Marci Hess
Last updated 22 September, 2023 - 12:10pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by: