Anthocoridae
Guides
Acompocoris pygmaeus
minute pirate bug
Acompocoris pygmaeus is a minute pirate bug in the family Anthocoridae. It is native to Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. The species has a documented association with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), suggesting a specialized ecological relationship with this conifer host.
Amphiareus
minute pirate bugs
Amphiareus is a genus of minute pirate bugs in the family Anthocoridae, established by Distant in 1904. Species occur in Eurasia and North America. At least one species, Amphiareus constrictus, has been successfully mass-reared in laboratory conditions for biological control research. The genus includes species associated with dead-leaf microhabitats and agricultural pest management.
Anaelia
Anaelia is a genus of minute predatory bugs in the family Anthocoridae, established by Carpintero in 2014. The genus is currently classified as doubtful by GBIF, indicating taxonomic uncertainty regarding its validity or circumscription. It belongs to the order Hemiptera, which includes true bugs with piercing-sucking mouthparts. Members of Anthocoridae are generally small insects that prey on other small arthropods, particularly mites and thrips, though specific information for Anaelia is unavailable.
Anthocoris
minute pirate bugs
Anthocoris is a genus of minute pirate bugs in the family Anthocoridae, containing at least 30 described species. These small predatory true bugs are important biological control agents in orchards and natural ecosystems, feeding on aphids, psyllids, mites, and other small arthropods. Several species have been studied extensively for their potential in integrated pest management, particularly in pear orchards and pistachio cultivation. The genus exhibits host-specific associations with particular tree species and prey types, with life cycles often synchronized to exploit seasonal aphid or psyllid populations.
Anthocoris antevolens
minute pirate bug
Anthocoris antevolens is a species of minute pirate bug in the family Anthocoridae, native to North America. Research has documented significant geographic variation in mating behavior among populations from British Columbia, Washington, and California, with asymmetric compatibility patterns in interpopulation crosses. Like other Anthocoris species, it is presumed to be a predatory true bug, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Anthocoris bakeri
minute pirate bug
Anthocoris bakeri is a species of minute pirate bug in the family Anthocoridae, a group of predatory true bugs. It occurs in North America. As a member of the genus Anthocoris, it is part of a diverse group of small predatory insects commonly found on trees and shrubs. The species was described by Poppius in 1913.
Anthocoris dimorphicus
Anthocoris dimorphicus is a species of minute pirate bug in the family Anthocoridae, described by Anderson & Kelton in 1963. It occurs in North America, including the Nearctic region and parts of Beringia. As a member of the Anthocoris genus, it likely shares the predatory habits typical of this group, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Anthocoris musculus
minute pirate bug
Anthocoris musculus is a species of minute pirate bug in the family Anthocoridae, found across Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. At 3.4–4.0 millimeters, it is notably larger than many congeners. The species is associated with cottonwood, willow, and other deciduous trees and shrubs, and has been documented as a predator of red mites and eye-spotted bud moth in orchard settings.
Anthocoris nemoralis
Orchard Bug, Pear Bug
Anthocoris nemoralis is a predatory true bug in the family Anthocoridae, native to Europe and introduced to North America. It serves as a dominant natural enemy of pear psylla (Cacopsylla pyri) in European pear orchards and is commercially reared for biological pest control. Adults are approximately 3 mm long, predominantly black with distinctive white markings on the wings. The species exhibits temperature-insensitive predation efficiency, with females demonstrating higher attack rates and shorter handling times than males.
Calliodis
Calliodis is a genus of minute pirate bugs in the family Anthocoridae, established by Reuter in 1871. The genus is placed in the tribe Scolopini. At least one species, C. maculipennis, has been documented to reproduce by constant parthenogenesis. Adults of C. temnostethoides have been observed in dead-leaf clusters of black oak following wind disturbance events.
Calliodis temnostethoides
Calliodis temnostethoides is a minute predatory bug in the family Anthocoridae. Adults are saproxylic, associated with dead wood and found in clusters of dead leaves, particularly following wind disturbances. The species is known from limited collections in North America, with specific documentation from Michigan.
Cardiastethus borealis
minute pirate bug
Cardiastethus borealis is a species of minute pirate bug in the family Anthocoridae, a group of small predatory true bugs. The species was described by Kelton in 1977 and is known from North America. Members of this genus are typically small, oval-shaped insects that feed on small arthropods and insect eggs. Beyond its taxonomic placement and geographic distribution, specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in published literature.
Coccivora
minute pirate bugs
Coccivora is a genus of minute pirate bugs (family Anthocoridae) containing a single described species, C. californica. These small predatory true bugs belong to the diverse Anthocoridae family, whose members are generally recognized as beneficial predators in agricultural and natural ecosystems. The genus was established by McAtee & Malloch in 1925. As a member of Anthocoridae, Coccivora likely shares the family's general characteristics of small size and predatory habits, though species-specific biology remains poorly documented.
Coccivora californica
Coccivora californica is a species of minute pirate bug in the family Anthocoridae, first described by McAtee and Malloch in 1925. The genus name 'Coccivora' indicates a diet centered on scale insects (Coccoidea). This species is native to North America and has been recorded from California.
Dilasia fuscula
Dilasia fuscula is a species of minute pirate bug in the family Lasiochilidae, originally described by Reuter in 1871. The species has been recorded from the Caribbean and North America. It is currently treated as a synonym of Lasiochilus fusculus in some taxonomic databases, reflecting ongoing taxonomic uncertainty in this group of predatory Hemiptera.
Dufouriellini
Dufouriellini is a tribe of minute pirate bugs (family Anthocoridae) comprising approximately 7 genera and 15 described species. The tribe was established by Van Duzee in 1916 and is classified within the subfamily Lyctocorinae. Members are small predatory heteropterans found in diverse habitats. Genera include Alofa, Amphiareus, Brachysteles, Buchananiella, Cardiastethus, Dufouriellus, and Physopleurella.
Elatophilus
minute pirate bugs
Elatophilus is a genus of minute pirate bugs (family Anthocoridae) comprising approximately 15 described species. Species in this genus are specialist predators associated with coniferous trees, particularly pine. Several species have been studied as biological control agents of scale insects that damage commercially important pine stands. The genus shows strong host-specificity, with life cycles tightly coupled to their prey and host tree phenology.
Elatophilus inimicus
minute pirate bug
Elatophilus inimicus is a species of minute pirate bug in the family Anthocoridae. The species was originally described as Xenotracheliella inimica by Drake & Harris in 1926 before being transferred to Elatophilus. It is known from North America, with a 2002 publication in Florida Entomologist documenting a new distribution record for the species.
Elatophilus pullus
minute pirate bug
Elatophilus pullus is a species of minute pirate bug in the family Anthocoridae, first described by Kelton and Anderson in 1962. It belongs to the genus Elatophilus, which comprises predatory bugs associated with conifer habitats. The species is recorded from North America.
Lyctocoris campestris
Debris bug
Lyctocoris campestris is a predatory true bug in the family Lyctocoridae, commonly known as the debris bug. It occurs in stored grain environments and natural habitats across multiple continents. The species is a generalist predator with documented importance in biological control of stored product pests.
Lyctocoris sp-one
Lyctocoris sp-one is an undescribed or provisionally named species within the genus Lyctocoris, a group of minute predatory bugs in the family Anthocoridae (minute pirate bugs). Species in this genus are small, oval-bodied insects that inhabit decaying organic matter and prey on other small arthropods. The specific epithet "sp-one" indicates this taxon has not received a formal scientific description.
Macrotracheliella
Macrotracheliella is a genus of minute pirate bugs in the family Anthocoridae, established by Champion in 1900. The genus is currently considered taxonomically doubtful, with limited available information regarding its constituent species and biology. It belongs to the subfamily Anthocorinae, a group of predatory true bugs commonly found in diverse terrestrial habitats.
Melanocoris nigricornis
minute pirate bug
Melanocoris nigricornis is a minute pirate bug in the family Anthocoridae, described by Van Duzee in 1921. The species is documented from North America. As a member of Anthocoridae, it belongs to a family of predatory true bugs commonly employed in biological control.
Montandoniola
Montandoniola is a genus of minute pirate bugs in the family Anthocoridae. Species in this genus are predatory, with documented cases of thrips predation. The genus was established by Poppius in 1910. At least two species have received focused study: M. confusa as a predator of gall-forming thrips, and M. moraguesi regarding its distribution in the United States.
Nidicola
minute pirate bugs
Nidicola is a genus of minute pirate bugs (family Anthocoridae) established by Harris & Drake in 1941. Members of this genus are small predatory insects within the subfamily Lyctocorinae. The genus includes at least one described species, Nidicola jaegeri, from Southern California. These insects belong to a family known for biological control potential against agricultural pests.
Nidicola engys
Nidicola engys is a species of minute pirate bug in the family Anthocoridae, a group of predatory true bugs. The genus Nidicola is specialized for life in bird nests, with species adapted to this microhabitat. N. engys has been recorded from North America. Like other anthocorids, it likely preys on small arthropods within its nest habitat.
Nidicola jaegeri
minute pirate bug
Nidicola jaegeri is a minute pirate bug (family Anthocoridae) described from southern California in 1979. The species is specifically associated with bird nests, having been collected from the nests of the cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) and the house finch (Carpodacus mexicanus). As a member of the genus Nidicola, it belongs to a group of anthocorids that have evolved close associations with vertebrate nesting environments.
Oriini
minute pirate bugs
Oriini is a tribe of minute pirate bugs within the family Anthocoridae, comprising approximately 6 genera and more than 60 described species. Members are small predatory true bugs distributed across multiple continents. The tribe includes economically important genera such as Orius, which are widely used in biological pest control.
Orius tristicolor
minute pirate bug, minute flower bug
Orius tristicolor is a minute pirate bug in the family Anthocoridae, known for its role as a generalist predator of small arthropod pests. The species exhibits behavioral plasticity in foraging, adjusting search effort based on leaf damage and prey type. It develops through five nymphal instars before reaching adulthood and has been documented in agricultural systems, particularly in association with thrips and spider mites. The species occurs across a broad geographic range including North, Central, and South America, the Caribbean, and Oceania.
Orius vicinus
minute pirate bug
Orius vicinus is a predatory minute pirate bug (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) studied extensively for biological control potential. Under laboratory conditions at 26°C, it completes development from egg to adult in approximately 18–23 days, with females living 15–17 days and producing 31–61 eggs. The species exhibits Type II or Type III functional responses depending on prey stage, with adult prey generally preferred over eggs. It has been observed feeding on spider mites, whiteflies, thrips, and other small arthropods in agricultural settings. Unlike some congeners, O. vicinus does not enter reproductive diapause and continues oviposition through winter conditions.
Scolopini
Scolopini is a tribe of minute predatory bugs within the family Anthocoridae, established by Carayon in 1954. The tribe comprises at least 10 described species distributed across two subtribes (Calliodina and Scolopina) plus several unplaced genera. Members are classified in the subfamily Lyctocorinae and share the general anthocorid body plan of small, oval to elongate-oval insects with raptorial forelegs adapted for capturing prey. The tribe shows notable diversity in the Southern Hemisphere, with several genera described from New Zealand and South America.
Scoloposcelis
minute pirate bugs
Scoloposcelis is a genus of minute pirate bugs in the family Anthocoridae, established by Fieber in 1864. The genus contains approximately seven described species distributed across Europe and Asia, with records from Scandinavia, Korea, and Malaysia. Species are typically found in concealed microhabitats such as under bark of decaying wood. One species, S. seidaii, was described from a single specimen collected in West Malaysia, representing the first record of the genus from that region.
Scoloposcelis flavicornis
Scoloposcelis flavicornis is a species of minute pirate bug in the family Anthocoridae, first described by Reuter in 1871. It belongs to the genus Scoloposcelis, which comprises small predatory bugs found in various habitats. The species is documented from Central America and North America. Like other anthocorids, it is likely predatory, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Temnostethus
minute pirate bugs
Temnostethus is a genus of minute pirate bugs in the family Anthocoridae, established by Fieber in 1860. The genus comprises approximately eight described extant species plus one fossil species from the Oligocene. Members of this genus are small predatory true bugs found primarily in the Palearctic region.
Tetraphleps
minute pirate bugs
Tetraphleps is a genus of minute pirate bugs in the family Anthocoridae, containing approximately 10 described species. Five species occur in North America: T. canadensis, T. pilosipes, T. feratis, T. latipennis, and T. uniformis. The genus was established by Fieber in 1860. Species in this genus are small predatory true bugs.
Tetraphleps canadensis
Canadian minute pirate bug
Tetraphleps canadensis is a species of minute pirate bug in the family Anthocoridae. It occurs in North America, including Canada and the United States. Like other members of its family, it is a predatory true bug that feeds on small arthropods and their eggs. The species was described by Provancher in 1886.
Tetraphleps latipennis
minute pirate bug
Tetraphleps latipennis is a species of minute pirate bug in the family Anthocoridae, described by Van Duzee in 1921. It is one of five Tetraphleps species documented from North America. Minute pirate bugs in this family are generally predatory, though species-specific ecological details for T. latipennis remain limited in published literature.
Xylocorini
Xylocorini is a monotypic tribe of minute predatory bugs in the family Anthocoridae, containing only the genus Xylocoris. The tribe comprises approximately 50 described species worldwide, with the highest diversity in the Palaearctic Region. Members are small, cryptic insects associated with concealed microhabitats.
Xylocoris californicus
Xylocoris californicus is a small predatory bug in the family Anthocoridae (minute pirate bugs). The species is native to western North America and is found in California and surrounding regions. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a generalist predator of small arthropods, though specific ecological studies on this species are limited.
Xylocoris hirtus
Xylocoris hirtus is a minute predatory bug in the family Anthocoridae, described by Kelton in 1976. The species is known from North America, with distribution records indicating presence across the Nearctic region excluding the Western Cordillera and Beringia. Like other members of the genus Xylocoris, it is likely a predator of small arthropods, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.