Hemiptera (Heteroptera): Anthocoridae

Identification
• Pirate bugs are < ¹/₈ inch long, black and white, with mouthparts held below the body.
• Pirate bugs have piercing-sucking mouthparts.

Host Range
• Pirate bugs are true generalist predators and feed on many different prey.  Both adults and nymphs feed on thrips, aphids, spider mites, and many insect eggs.
• They can also feed on plants, but are not pests.

Life Cycle
• Pirate bugs have incomplete metamorphosis with eggs usually laid in a leaf or stem.
• Development from egg to adult takes about 3 weeks.

Other Information
• Pirate bugs can consume as many as 30 spider mites per day.
• Pirate bugs will also bite humans, particularly in late summer or fall when the bugs are plentiful.