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Minute Pirate Bugs
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Minute Pirate Bugs

Photo of an Orius insidiosus (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae)

Orius insidiosus (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae), is an important generalist predator in a multitude of agroecosystems, including open-air agriculture (e.g. field crops, vegetables, and fruit orchards) and greenhouse operations. The phenology and chemical ecology of this predator was studied in the laboratory and in sequentially planted field-plots of Bt-sweet corn. Olfactometer tests determined that adults were significantly more attracted to leaves, silk, and pollen than to a control. In tests comparing one corn plant sample to another, silk attracted significantly more O. insidiosus adults (females more so than males) than other plant parts. In laboratory choice tests, an arrestant-type pheromone produced by virgin and mated females elicited responses in both sexes. In field tests, synthetic blends mimicking volatiles from adults were tested in traps to examine their attractiveness to the predator. Male adults were significantly more attracted to a blend consisting of (2E,7)-octadienal (female-specific)and (E)-2-octenal (from both sexes) than to a control, indicating that females attract males with a pheromone.