The eggs hatch into nymphs within 5-7 days, actively feeding as they grow and develop. This bug’s total lifespan is approximately 7 weeks, with 2 weeks spent as hungry nymphs and 4 weeks as predatory adults. ORIUS are most active in the presence of light. These minute piratebugeggs are tiny, white-clear, and very difficult to spot. A female lives for about four weeks and, during that time, she can lay up to 100 eggs if she has enough food. The egg production decreases in cool weather. Minute piratebugs (also known as flower bugs) are small, fast-moving predacious insects in the order Hemiptera and family Anthocoridae. Orius is a true bug, which means it has a long rostrum (feeding tube). It uses its rostrum to pierce its prey, and drain the contents, killing the pest. Three different Minute PirateBugs in different life stages, from younger to older. Both immature stages (nymphs) and adults feed on a variety of small prey including thrips, spider mites, insect eggs, aphids, and small caterpillars. The genus Orius is represented by very tiny true bugs commonly known as minute piratebugs and flower bugs. Their common names are representative of their small size and favorite hangout while on plants. Females lay approximately 150 eggs. Young piratebugs (nymphs) start to feed as soon as the hatch. It takes about 16 days (at 30°C) to go from egg to adult. They live about 100 days and can survive up to 20 days without food or water. The bug is an important predator that hunts for many kinds of insect pests, eggs, nymphs and adults smaller than themselves, as well as mites, that occur in turf, ornamentals and agricultural crops. Minute PirateBug (Orius tristicolor) and Insidious Flower Bug (O. insidiosus) are beneficial to farmers and gardeners, because they can reduce pest populations. An adult piratebug1 ( Orius vicinus ) feeding on a psyllid nymph2 . Piratebugs3 predate4 on a large variety of prey, including thrips, aphids, whiteflies, mites (including spider mites), mealybugs, psyllids and the eggs of larger insects such as butterflies and moths. Eggs hatch in three to five days, and the nymphs immediately start looking for small insects on which to feed. It takes about 20 days and five stages for a minute piratebug to reach adulthood. Then after about a month it dies. Mass multiplication of this bug was initiated on the eggs of Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) in the laboratory at NBAIR, Bangalore and an inexpensive and simple mass. rearing system for this predator was developed (Ballal et al., 2003). PirateBug or Orius insidiosus for thrips control from Evergreen Growers Supply.Orius nymphs grow through 5 stages over 2-3 weeks, until they moult to the adult stage. Adults live for 3-4 weeks. Orius will diapause in the fall when day lengths are less than 12.5 - 14 hours. Adult bugs are very small about 2-3 mm long, oval shaped and black colored. They have two pairs of wings with white markings. Females of Orius insidiosus lay about over 150 eggs during their lifespan in plant tissues. Eggs hatch into small first instar (stage) nymphs and develop through 5... Biology: The minute piratebug overwinters as an adult in leaf litter both inside and outside the orchard. They normally appear in Virginia orchards about mid-April and begin to feed on aphids, mites, or other soft-bodied insects or eggs.
