ARS | Publication request: First North American records for the Palearctic Orius majusculus (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Anthocoridae)

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: May 30, 2008
Publication Date: November 20, 2008
Citation: Henry, T.J. 2008. First North American records for the Palearctic Orius majusculus (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Anthocoridae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 111:953-959.

Interpretive Summary: Members of the pirate bug family are predators of aphids, leafhoppers, scale insects, and numerous other arthropod pests that cause many millions of dollars damage annually to ornamental and agricultural crops. A European pirate bug, well-known for its use in controlling aphids, thrips, and mites on fruit crops and in greenhouses, was recently discovered in three counties of southern Ontario, Canada. This report gives the first Western Hemisphere record of this important predator and provides a description, photographs of the adults, and illustrations of certain structures to help distinguish this exotic species from other North America pirate bugs. This information will be of great interest to all researchers working on the biological control of insect crop pests in Canada and the US.

Technical Abstract: Orius majusculus (Reuter), a widespread Palearctic species, is reported in North America for the first time, based on specimens collected in Ontario, Canada. A diagnosis, discription, photographs of the adult, photomicrographs of selected structures, and illustrations of male genitalia are presented to help distinguish O. majusculus from other North America species of the genus.