Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
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)
Family Anthocoridae - Minute Pirate Bugs
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)
Other Common Names
Flower Bugs
(
1
)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
formerly treated to include
Lasiochilidae
and
Lyctocoridae
(e.g., in
(
2
)
)
Explanation of Names
Anthocoridae Fieber 1837
Numbers
~90 spp. in 22-23 genera in our area
(
2
)
, >500 spp. in >70 genera total
Overview of our fauna
* –taxa not yet in the guide (linked to off-BG images) | classification adapted from
(
3
)
by Steven Paiero
Family Anthocoridae
(subfamilies not currently used)
Tribe
Anthocorini
Acompocoris
·
Anthocoris
·
Coccivora
·
Elatophilus
·
Macrotrachelia
·
Melanocoris
·
Temnostethus
·
Tetraphleps
Tribe
Dufouriellini
Amphiareus
·
Brachysteles
·
Buchananiella
·
Cardiastethus
·
Dasyleistes
·
Dufouriellus
·
Physopleurella
Tribe
Oriini
Macrotracheliella
·
Montandoniola
·
Orius
·
Paratriphleps
Tribe
Scolopini
Calliodis
·
Nidicola
·
Scoloposcelis
·
*Solenonotus
Tribe
Xylocorini
Xylocoris
Identification
Key to genera in
(
4
)
; keys to spp. of Canada & AK in
(
5
)
Range
worldwide; most diverse in the tropics and the Holarctic Region
(
1
)
Habitat
many are common on flowers and trees, some live under bark or in mammal/bird nests
(
2
)
Food
small arthropods
Remarks
Some species are used as biocontrol agents. Some are known for their irritating bites and may be a nuisance if landed on one's bare skin.
See Also
Lasiochilidae
|
Lyctocoridae
Print References
(
6
)
Works Cited
1.
Australian Faunal Directory
2.
American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico
Ross H. Arnett. 2000. CRC Press.
3.
True Bugs of the World (Hemiptera:Heteroptera): Classification and Natural History
Randall T. Schuh & James Alexander Slater. 1995. 1995. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York.
4.
Keys to genera of Anthocoridae of America north of Mexico, with descriptions of a new genus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera)
J.L. Herring. 1976. The Florida Entomologist, 59 (2): 143-150.
5.
The Insects and Arachnids of Canada Part 4: The Anthocoridae of Canada and Alaska
Leonard A. Kelton. 1978. Supply and Services Canada.
6.
Encyclopedia of Entomology, 2nd ed
Capinera J.L., ed. 2008. Springer, lxiii+4346 pp. (4 vols.).
Contributed by
Jim McClarin
on 4 October, 2005 - 5:55pm
Additional contributions by
Beatriz Moisset
,
Bbarnd
,
Ron M.
,
v belov
Last updated 20 December, 2023 - 5:50pm