What is the tiny critter on this pumpkin blossom?

Minute pirate bug (Orius insidiosus), also called the insidious flower bug
Justin Ballew, ©2025, Clemson Extension
This tiny black and white insect is a minute pirate bug (Orius insidiosus), also called the insidious flower bug. Minute pirate bugs are beneficial insects and are excellent predators of small soft-bodied pests, such as thrips, mites, aphids, whiteflies, scale, and even small caterpillars. They are very common in South Carolina, though populations can quickly be wiped out by broad-spectrum insecticides. So, here’s another reminder: ONLY use broad-spectrum insecticides when absolutely necessary. Read more about minute pirate bugs here.