10 Beneficial Insects For Gardening
1. Aphid Midge: These insects look like a delicate, small wasp. The larvae
eats more than sixty varieties of aphids from the garden. You can attract them
by growing plants with a lot of pollen and nectar.
2. Big-Eyed Bug: This is a fast-moving bug with large eyes and very small
black spots on it’s head and thorax. They are usually found in field crops and
orchards. The big-eyed bug eats leafhoppers, spider mites, plant bugs, aphids,
and small caterpillars. This bug is a real asset to gardening.
3. Ladybug: The ladybug ranges in size from 1/16 to 3/8 inch and have round
red, orange or yellow bodies with black markings. They prefer gardens that
have a large amount of pollen and nectar-producing flowers. The ladybug is
fond of aphids, mealybugs, small insects and scales. The Mexican bean beetle
is related to the ladybug but is not beneficial. |
|
|
4. Minute Pirate Bug: These bugs are
1/4 inch long in adulthood and feature a black and white pattern. Fast-moving
like the big-eyed bug and attracted to gardens where goldenrod, yarrow, alfalfa,
daisies, and other flowering, pollen-producing plants are grown. They eat small
caterpillars, thrips, spider mites, insect eggs and immature leafhoppers.
5. Mealybug Destroyer: The adult mealybug is 1/3 inch long with an oval body and
a coral-colored abdomen. Their wing covers are black. If mealybugs are present,
the mealybug destroyer is there naturally and feeds on mealybugs in the garden.
6. Spined Soldier Bug: An adult grows to ½ inch in length. They are grayish
brown and the shoulders of the thorax come to sharp points. Bugs of choice are
caterpillars, armyworms, grubs, sawflies, and Mexican bean beetle larvae. The
spined soldier bug likes the shelter of perennial plants near a garden.
7. Tachinid Fly: These bugs look like large, hairy houseflies and grow to a
length of 1/3 to ½ inch long. The females deposit eggs that kill caterpillars of
many pest species such as gypsy moths and armyworms. The adults feed on flower
nectar and enjoy sweet clover, parsley and dill. Don’t kill the caterpillars
with white eggs attached to them because the eggs will turn into more tachinid
flies.
8. Tiger Beetles: Look for adults that range in length from ½ to 3/4 inches.
They are long-legged and bright-colored and eat many kinds of pests. Plant
perennials when gardening and the tiger beetles should follow.
9. Assassin Bug: This bug is ½ to 1 3/8 inches long and have a flattened look
and elongated heads. They eat most common pests and are found naturally in any
garden where pests live.
10. Bumblebee: The adults grow to 1 inch long and are plump with yellow and
black striping. They have a hairy body and smoky-colored wings. The bumblebee is
a pollinator and is attracted to pollen and nectar flowers.
It’s important to attract beneficial insects to your garden. They pollinate and
can rid your garden of unwanted pests.
About
the author: Robert Michael is a writer for
Razo gardening which
is an excellent place to find gardening links, resources and articles. For more
information go to:
http://www.razogardening.com
Courtesy of:
http://www.article-content-king.com
Find Local Pest Control Services. Get Up to 4 Quotes Now. It's Quick, Free, and Easy!
Related Tips and Advice:
Japanese
Beetles
Get Rid of
Mosquitoes
Garden
Friendly Insects
Protecting
your yard from insects
Hummingbird
feeder pests: ants, bees and wasps
Get Rid of
Ants
Mosquito
Netting
Get rid of
cockroaches
How To Get
Rid Of Fruit Flies - DIY - Do It Yourself
Problems
With Stinging Insects
What Are
Bed Bugs?
How To Get
Rid Of Silverfish Insects - Do It Yourself
Home Pest
Control Tips - DIY - Do It Yourself
Things To
Check For Pest Control - DIY - Do It Yourself
Organic
Pesticides - DIY - Do It Yourself
|
