Enlist Beneficial Insects for Natural Pest Control

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North America is home to nearly 2,000 species of braconid wasps.
North America is home to nearly 2,000 species of braconid wasps.
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Ground beetles eat asparagus beetles, caterpillars, Colorado potato beetles, corn earworms, cutworms, slugs, squash vine borers and tobacco budworms.
Ground beetles eat asparagus beetles, caterpillars, Colorado potato beetles, corn earworms, cutworms, slugs, squash vine borers and tobacco budworms.
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Black-and-yellow-striped hover or syrphid flies resemble yellow jackets but are harmless to humans.
Black-and-yellow-striped hover or syrphid flies resemble yellow jackets but are harmless to humans.
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Lacewing larvae prey upon aphids, small caterpillars and caterpillar eggs, other larvae, mealybugs, whiteflies and more.
Lacewing larvae prey upon aphids, small caterpillars and caterpillar eggs, other larvae, mealybugs, whiteflies and more.
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The predatory bugs category includes big-eyed (shown here), minute pirate, assasin, damsel and even certain predatory stink bugs.
The predatory bugs category includes big-eyed (shown here), minute pirate, assasin, damsel and even certain predatory stink bugs.
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Nearly 200 beneficial species of lady beetles exist in North America.
Nearly 200 beneficial species of lady beetles exist in North America.
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Adult soldier beetles feed on aphids and other soft-bodied insects, as well as on nectar and pollen.
Adult soldier beetles feed on aphids and other soft-bodied insects, as well as on nectar and pollen.
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All of the more than 3,000 North American species of spiders are predatory.
All of the more than 3,000 North American species of spiders are predatory.
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Most tachinid flies resemble houseflies but with short, bristly hairs on the abdomen.
Most tachinid flies resemble houseflies but with short, bristly hairs on the abdomen.
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Tiny trichogramma mini-wasps lay their eggs inside a host's eggs, where the young trichogramma develop as internal parasites.
Tiny trichogramma mini-wasps lay their eggs inside a host's eggs, where the young trichogramma develop as internal parasites.

Day and night, pesticide-free organic gardens are abuzz with activity, much of it a life-and-death struggle between predators and prey. We seldom see much of this natural pest control, in which tiny assassins, soldiers and lions?–?aka “beneficial insects” (the bugs that eat other bugs)?–?patrol their surroundings in pursuit of their next meal. Assassin bugs aren’t picky: They will stab, poison and devour a wide range of garden pests, including caterpillars, leafhoppers and bean beetles. Soldier and carabid beetles work the night shift, emerging after dark from beneath rocks, mulch and other daytime hiding places to feast upon soft-bodied insects and the eggs of Colorado potato beetles. Aphid lions (the larvae of the lacewing) have a hooked jaw that helps them dispatch huge numbers of aphids, caterpillars, mites and other pests.

These and many other beneficial insects (find profiles of our Top 10 later in this article and pictures of each in the Image Gallery) are well-equipped to see, smell and/or taste a potential meal. Sometimes they’re alerted by the plants themselves, as some emit a chemical alarm signal when pest insects begin feeding on them, and nearby beneficial insects are quick to respond. If your garden is teeming with beneficials, these bugs may often thwart budding pest infestations before you’ve even noticed the threat. It’s nature’s way of managing pests?–?no pesticides required.

Judging from reports from MOTHER EARTH NEWS readers across the continent, tapping the support of beneficial garden insects is one of our best tools for natural pest control. By providing a welcoming habitat?–?shelter, water and alternate food?–?you’ll encourage these insect helpers to maintain year-round residence in your garden. You can then kick back and enjoy the natural pest control provided by the diverse and amazingly complex balance among what we humans see as the “good bugs” and the “bad bugs.”

Habitats for beneficial bugs go by several names, such as “farmscape,” “eco-scape” and, in Europe, “beetle banks.” The concept of “farmscaping” to promote natural pest control isn’t new, but designing studies to confirm exactly what works best for a given crop in various regions is challenging. An increasing number of researchers has been exploring these complex interactions between insects and plants to find new ways gardeners and farmers can grow food without resorting to toxic pesticides. The information here will equip you to put this growing body of knowledge to work in your garden.

7 Ways to Welcome Beneficial Insects

  • Published on Feb 27, 2012
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