Predatory Bugs
Order: Hemiptera
Description
Many species of true bugs are predators of insects and mites. All feed by piercing the prey with their narrow mouthparts and sucking out body fluids. Common predators in this order include:
- Predatory stink bugs
- Damsel/nabid bugs, Nabis spp.
- Minute pirate bug, Orius insidiosus (most common)
- Ambush bug, Phymata sp.
- Assassin bug

Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org
Common damsel bug, Nabis americoferus

Louis Tedders, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org
Assassin bug, Zelus exsanguis.

John Ruberson, Kansas State University, Bugwood.org
Minute priate bug, Orius insidiosus.

Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
Predatory stink bug, Podisus placidus mating pair.

David Cappaert, Bugwood.org
Ambush bug, Phymata sp.
Quick Facts
- Beneficial arthropods can prevent or limit pest problems in the yard and garden.
- These beneficial bugs can be categorized broadly as either insect predators or parasites.
- Common insect parasitoids include flies and small wasps.
- When insecticides are needed, choose ones that are selective and less likely to harm beneficial insects and mites.