During the late summer, small, obscure insects known as pirate bugs make their presence known in a very convincing manner by biting with an impact that is out of proportion with their size. Their name describes their small size and their habits. They are beneficial as predators, feeding on small insects and the eggs of other insects. One pirate bug, the insidious flower bug, is an important predator of corn earworm eggs in corn fields.
Pirate bugs are present all summer in fields, woodlands, gardens and landscapes.
They quietly go about their business as a natural control of insect pests without anyone taking notice. In the late summer, however, they migrate from fields and woodlands and begin the disagreeable behavior of biting humans. Their bite is surprisingly painful for such a small insect as they probe their short blunt beak into the skin. They do not feed on blood or inject a venom or saliva. People differ in their response to pirate bug bites.