Warehouse Pirate Bug

Category: NOLI
Minimum Life Cycle: Egg to adult 16 days (30°C). Adult female longevity is five to six weeks. Fecundity: approximately 150 eggs. 
Distribution: Widespread and common in grain storage. Not injurious to stored grain.

pirate bug
Figure 30. Warehouse pirate bug (Predator).

Biology:
Most important predatory insect in grain storage. Nymphs and adults prey on eggs, larvae, and pupae of many species of grain insects.

Warehouse Pirate Bug (Xylocoris flavipes). This predator is an anthocorid bug that is commonly found in storages. This insect shows considerable promise as a biological control agent since it preys on moths as well as several important beetle species, such as red and confused flour beetles and sawtoothed grain beetles. This predator also is produced commercially for release in grain bins (Figure 30).

(Slide courtesy of USDA, J. Brower.)