Daisy Drama

As I have mentioned in previous posts, bees and butterflies aren't the only insects that use flowers. Here are two insects whose life-cycles intersect on the reproductive structures of flowering plants, in this case, a daisy. 

The larger black and white bug is called a pirate bug (Hemiptera: Orius spp.). Pirate bugs are predators, but when prey is scarce they will feed on plants to supplement their diet. They us a sharp pointed straw-like mouthpart to pierce the bodies of their prey and suck out the contents (mmm, insect milk-shake).  Pirate bugs eat a variety of other insects including aphids, spider mites, and thrips. This one is probably looking for prey on this flower.  Immature thrips can often be found hidden among the flower parts of composite flowers such as daisies and other asters. 

On flowers, thrips (pictured below) feed on the flower parts and in large numbers they can do a great deal of damage.  They will also feed on other parts of the plants and thrips are serious pests in many crops, especially those grown indoors (e.g. in greenhouses). This is an adult thrips.  Immature thrips are lighter colored and much more difficult to see.

Many thrips come to flowers to find mates, and they will lay their eggs here too, so that their offspring can use the plant for food. Likewise, the pirate bug may decide to lay eggs here if there are enough thrips to provide food for her young. Thus these two insects are linked by the daisy in a life-and-death drama. Maybe not quite as exciting as cheetahs and gazelles on the African savannah, but this is happening everyday in your backyard.  Pretty cool if you think about it.