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Minute Pirate Bug Release Instructions
Minute pirate bug (Orius spp.) adults are active fliers, about 3 mm long and dark brown with black, brown or grey patterns on their wings. Females lay up to 130 eggs over 2-3 months in plant tissue. There are 5 wingless immature stages which are voracious, nonselective feeders and can be cannibalistic in the absence of other prey. The life-cycle from egg to adult is about 3 weeks. Adults live for up to 3 months in the summer -- they hibernate through the winter.
Both adults and nymphs feed by inserting their proboscis-like mouth parts into the prey and sucking out the body juices. Minute pirate bugs attack large amounts of thrips, spider mites, scales (including whitefly), aphids, leafhoppers and the eggs and initial larval stages of many soft bodied insects such as small caterpillars.
Minute pirate bugs are released at a rate of 5-10 per 100 sq. ft. To release, gently tumble the container to mix the contents and shake the predators out close to pest infestations. Best results are achieved when minute pirate bugs are released in the early morning or late afternoon.
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