Orius niger
Orius niger is a true bug. The species is found in the Palearctic from Europe east to Siberia and across Central Asia to China and India. It is widespread in Central Europe mostly in the south. In the Alps it is found up 1600 meters above sea level.[1]
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| Specimen in Zoologische Staatssammlung München | |
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| Species: | O. niger |
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| Orius niger (Wolff, 1811) | |
Orius niger lives in the herbaceous layer feeding on Boraginaceae, Ericaceae and Fabaceae, but also on stinging nettles Urtica and Artemisia.
The imago overwinters in loose ground litter, under bark scales or on stems or dried flowers. Most males die over the winter. The females lay their eggs in flowers of herbaceous plants. In favourable years there are two generations.
In laboratory conditions, the larval development of Orius niger takes 14 days at a temperature of 25 °C; females have a longevity of 60 days and can lay up to 150 eggs.[2]
References
- Ekkehard Wachmann, Albert Melber, Jürgen Deckert: Wanzen. Band 1: Cimicomorpha: Dipsocoromorpha, Nepomorpha, Gerromorpha, Leptopodomorpha, Cimicomorpha (Teil 1) (= Die Tierwelt Deutschlands und der angrenzenden Meeresteile nach ihren Merkmalen und nach ihrer Lebensweise. 77. Teil). Goecke & Evers, Keltern 2006, ISBN 3-931374-49-1.
- Jean-Lou Justine (1978) [Contribution to the study of the influence of alimentation on the development and reproduction of Orius niger Wolff, 1811 (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae)] Contribution à l'étude de l'influence de l'alimentation sur le développement et la reproduction d’Orius niger Wolff, 1811 (Heteroptera : Anthocoridae). Masters Thesis, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France, 92 pages [in French with English abstract] doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.155299
