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biodiversity explorer

the web of life in southern Africa

Family: Anthocoridae (minute pirate bugs)

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Ecdysozoa > Panarthropoda > Tritocerebra > Phylum: Arthopoda > Mandibulata > Atelocerata > Panhexapoda > Hexapoda > Insecta (insects) > Dicondyla > Pterygota > Metapterygota > Neoptera > Eumetabola > Paraneoptera > Condylognatha > Hemiptera (bugs) > Heteroptera > Cimicomorpha > Cimicoidea

Small bugs (2 - 5 mm long) that are predators of other arthropods and their eggs (e.g. plant mites, larvae and eggs of Lepidoptera, thrips, and Hemiptera such as leafhoppers, psyllids, scale insects and whiteflies). Found in a variety of situations including on shrubs and flowers, under bark, and in leaf litter. About 12 genera and 40 species have been recorded from southern Africa.

Publications

  • Jacobs, D.H. 1985. Heteroptera. In: Insects of Southern Africa (Eds C.H. Scholtz & E. Holm). Butterworths, Durban, p. 117-152.

  • Lattin, J.D. 1999. Bionomics of the Anthocoridae. Annual Review of Entomology 44: 207-231.