Beneficial
Insects...
We hope that this information "Beneficial Insects"
will offer some helpful information for your garden. If you have
any suggestions about this topic or other gardening suggestions
let us know! We will be glad to add them to our "FAQ"
pages. A link to our E-mail is found at the bottom of our pages.
Many homeowners are wanting to spray their plants because
there is a BUG on them. Is that the correct solution to the
problem?
Before choosing to use a pesticide, remember
that not all insects are harmful. The overly protective homeowner
spraying any and all insects may actually be contributing to
a buildup of harmful insects. Ladybugs, for example, eat aphids.
Destroying the ladybugs will allow the aphid population to increase.
Positive identification of insects is important.
Equally important is the identification of the insect at its
different life stages. For example, most people are familiar
with the adult form of the ladybug, but few recognize this beneficial
insect in its larval form. Unfortunately, the larvae looks nothing
like the adult and are often sprayed by homeowners who assume
they are harmful insects.
The following is a list and
description of some of the most common beneficial insects. Homeowners
should take care not to kill any of these insects. If the population
of these beneficial insects is high, there is a high population
of harmful insects to feed on; with no harmful insects to feed
on, the beneficial insects will leave.
Dragon
Fly: Both the adult and
nymph form of this insect are active predators on many insects,
but are especially predacious on mosquitoes. The dragon fly
spends much of its life cycle around or in water, which is also
the breeding grounds for mosquitos. Many type of dragon flies
are common to this area. Adult size may range from 3.8 - 7.6
cm. in length, and color ranges from brown to blue.
Ladybug: Also called
the "lady bird," this insect is more correctly called
a "lady beetle." Many different types of lady beetles
are found in North America, and almost all are considered extremely
valuable predatory insects. As a whole they prey mainly on soft-bodied
insects such as aphids, mealy bugs and scale insect, but they
also feed on egg masses of many other insects. The soft-bodied,
unattractive, black-and-orange spotted larvae of this insect
do not resemble the attractive hard-bodied-orange and black
spotted parents, but the larvae are ferocious insects with an
insatiable appetite for aphids.
Green
Lacewing: These beautiful
and delicate insects have earned a common name of "aphid
lions," because of their enormous appetite for aphids.
Both adult and larvae forms also feed on mealy bugs, other small
larvae and eggs of many insects and mites. The brown lacewing
is more common in the USA, where it is often called the "aphid
wolf." Green lacewings are easily recognized by their large,
delicate and usually transparent wings, with green and black
venation. The fierce-looking mouth parts of the lacewing larvae
help to reinforce its common name of aphid lion. Adult lacewings
are approximately 1-2 cm. long..
Blister
Beetle: This insect can
be both beneficial and harmful. The adult form of the Nuttall
blister beetle will consume foliage and flowers of plants in
the legume family, and therefore can be quite destructive. However,
the larvae form of this same insect will also consume large
volumes of grasshopper egg masses. The blister beetle is easily
recognized by its dark, metallic green or purple shell, giving
it an iridescent sheen. These insects are seldom noticed except
when the adults swarm in June. The adult form is approximately
2 cm. in length. If blister beetles are found feeding on desirable
plants (caragana, honeysuckle, beans, peas), spray the plants
with water to discourage the insects. If this fails, resort
to a pesticide to protect the plants.
