The genus Orius consists of omnivorous bugs

Hemiptera

Hemiptera is an order of insects most often known as the true bugs , comprising around 50,000–80,000 species of cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, shield bugs, and others...

 in the family Anthocoridae

Anthocoridae

The Anthocoridae are a family of bugs, commonly called minute pirate bugs or flower bugs.-Name:The vernacular name probably stems from the notion that these very small animals can do much pain to humans, just like small pirate vessels can do so to big ships.The scientific name is a combination of...

 (pirate bugs). Adults are 2–5 mm long and feed mostly on spider mites

Tetranychus urticae

Tetranychus urticae is one of many species of plant-feeding mites found in dry environments across the world, and generally considered a pest. It is the most widely known member of the family Tetranychidae or spider mites...

, thrips

Thrips

Thrips are tiny, slender insects with fringed wings . Other common names for thrips include thunderflies, thunderbugs, storm flies, thunderblights, and corn lice...

, and their eggs, but will also feed on pollen and vascular sap .

These predators are common in garden

Garden

A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form today is known as a residential garden, but the term garden has...

s and landscapes. They have a fairly painful bite, but are not venom

Venom

Venom is the general term referring to any variety of toxins used by certain types of animals that inject it into their victims by the means of a bite or a sting...

ous.

Some species are raised commercially and sold to growers as a form of biological control.

Species

• Orius candiope Herring, 1966
• Orius diespeter Herring, 1966
• Orius harpocrates Herring, 1966
• Orius insidiosus
  Orius insidiosus
  Orius insidiosus, common name the insidious flower bug, is a species of minute pirate bug, a predatory insect in the order Hemiptera . They are considered beneficial, as they feed on small pest arthropods and their eggs...
  
  (Say, 1832) (insidious flower bug)
• Orius minutus (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Orius nigra (Wolff, 1811)
• Orius pumilio (Champion, 1900)
• Orius thyestes Herring, 1966
• Orius tristicolor (White, 1879)

External links

• Iowa State University Department of Entomology Iowa Insect Information Notes, minute pirate bug entry (with picture)