The family of ANTHOCORIDAE, which is known as flower bugs, are small predators and feed on many different species of injurious arthropods. The present study made use of white tray, sweeping net and lamp trap for faunistic study of ANTHOCORIDAE. Random sampling was carried out in Mashhad weekly during 2006-2007. Six species and 1 subspecies belonging to Anthocorinae (Oriini and Anthocorini) were identified as follows: Orius vicinus (Ribaut, 1923), O. niger (Wolff, 1811), O. horvathi (Reuter, 1884), Anthocoris nemoralis (Fabricius, 1794), A. pilosus (Jakovlev, 1877), A. guentheri Pericart, 2007 and Temnostethus redovinus parilis (Horvath, 1891). In order to assess biodiversity of these species, the dominance index and diversity index (Shannon-Wiener Index and Simpson's Index) were calculated by using the specimens collected by white tray. Among these species, Orius vicinus was determined as predominant species of ANTHOCORIDAE in Mashhad.

During 1999-2001 studies were carried out to collect and identify bugs of the family ANTHOCORIDAE in Shiraz region (Fars province). A total of 11 species were recorded from t his region.They are listed as follows:1.Temnostethus sp. 2.Anthocoris gallarumulmi (De Geer) 3.Anthocoris pilosus (Jakovlev) 4.Orius (Orius) niger Wolff spp. aegyptiacus Wagner 5.Orius (O.) laevigatus (Fiber) 6.Orius (O.) pallidicornis (Reuter) 7.Orius (Heterorius) horvathi (Reuter) 8.Orius (H.) vicinus (Ribaut) 9.Orius (H.) laticollis (Reuter) 10.Orius (H.) perpunctatus (Reuter) 11.Orius (Dimorphella) albidipennis (Reuter) Two species of Orius albidipennis and Orius niger were found to be important flower bugs as biocontrol agents in the region. Information about collection data for each species were also presented.

The species of Orius Wolff, 1811 are well known as predaceous bugs to control many kinds of agricultural pests effectively, such as thrips, aphids and mites. During 2008-2009 faunistic studies were carried out on the species ofOrius from Shiraz and Marvdasht region. A total of eight species were collected and identified. Of these Orius (Microtrachelia) retamae(Noualhier) is a new record for Iran. This is also the first report of subgenusMicrotrachelia from Iran.

Species of Orius Wolff are widely recognized as predators of small insects such as aphids and thrips, insect eggs, hemipteran nymphs and mites. During 2010- 2011 faunistic studies were carried out according to the recognition of anthocorid bugs in Iran, some species were collected and identified, of which Orius maxidentexGhauri is newly reported from Iran. This species was collected from the Hormozgan province (Bandargah and Ziaratali regions).

In order to find the suitable diet for mass rearing of Orius albidipennis (Reut.), an experiment was carried out under controlled conditions. Six diets were tested: Eggs of MFM (Mediterranean Flour Moth; Ephestia kuehniella Zeller), MFM eggs + pollen grains, IMM (Indian Meal Moth, Plndia interpunctella Hubner), larvae, IMM larvae + pollen grains, pollen grains alone, and control (without a diet). In this experiment an unbalanced CRD was used and Experimental means were compared using Duncan's multiple rang test. In each replication a total of twenty first ins tar nymphs (24oId) were used. The results showed that, hatching and sex ratio were not affected by the diet. The means of hatching percentages were 84-89% in different treaments. Effects of diets on adult emergence were significantly different with the highest of MFM eggs + pollen grains and IMM larvae + pollen grains. IMM larvae and pollen grains alone had no significant difference. Also, the results showed that nymphs in control couldn't complete their developments. Fecundity was affected by diet with the highest effect of MFM eggs + pollen grains and IMM larvae + pollen grains. When a diet of MFM eggs was supplemented with pollen grains total fecundity was increased by about 30%. Similarly when a diet of IMM larvae supplemented by pollen grains, the total fecundity was increased by about 68%. Females which were fed with pollen grains alone laid four times less eggs than those fed with MFM eggs + pollen grains. The results indicated that MFM eggs + pollen grains and IMM larvae + pollen grains suitable for mass rearing.

Thrips and aphids are important pests in greenhouses, due to transmitting viruses. Orius bugs have been proved to be effective predators of these pests, especially in greenhouses. One of the most important factors related to efficiency of predators and parasitoids is their functional response, which refers to the change in the number of prey consumed by a predator per unit time, in relation to prey density. The functional response of adult female of Orius albidipennis Reuter to Thrips tabaci Lind and Aphis pomi Degeer were studied in the laboratory conditions (25±2oC, 50±10% RH, 12L: 12D photoperiod), and densities of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 adult T. tabaci and A. pomi per petrydish, over 24h. The data provided good fit to Rogers-II functional response model for both preys. Searching efficiency (a) and handling time (Th) were determined 1.517 and 0.068 for T. tabaci; and 1.369 and 0.067 for A. pomi which not significantly different. Finally these results show high efficiency of O. albidipennis for controlling mentioned pests.