Beneficial Insects

From Antivist

(Difference between revisions)
(→General Gardening Advice for Attracting Bees and Other Pollinators)
Line 97: Line 97:
==General Gardening Advice for Attracting Bees and Other Pollinators==
==General Gardening Advice for Attracting Bees and Other Pollinators==
 +
# Don’t use pesticides. Most pesticides are not selective. You are killing off the beneficial bugs along with the pests. If you must use a pesticide, start with the least toxic one and follow the label instructions to the letter.
 +
# Use local native plants. Research suggests native plants are four times more attractive to native bees than exotic flowers. They are also usually well adapted to your growing conditions and can thrive with minimum attention. In gardens, heirloom varieties of herbs and perennials can also provide good foraging.
 +
# Chose several colors of flowers. Bees have good color vision to help them find flowers and the nectar and pollen they offer. Flower colors that particularly attract bees are blue, purple, violet, white, and yellow.
 +
# Plant flowers in clumps. Flowers clustered into clumps of one species will attract more pollinators than individual plants scattered through the habitat patch. Where space allows, make the clumps four feet or more in diameter.
 +
# Include flowers of different shapes. There are four thousand different species of bees in North America, and they are all different sizes, have different tongue lengths, and will feed on different shaped flowers. Consequently, providing a range of flower shapes means more bees can benefit.
 +
# Have a diversity of plants flowering all season. Most bee species are generalists, feeding on a range of plants through their life cycle. By having several plant species flowering at once, and a sequence of plants flowering through spring, summer, and fall, you can support a range of bee species that fly at different times of the season.
 +
# Plant where bees will visit. Bees favor sunny spots over shade and need some shelter from strong winds.
-
  1. Don’t use pesticides. Most pesticides are not selective. You are killing off the beneficial bugs along with the pests. If you must use a pesticide, start with the least toxic one and follow the label instructions to the letter.
+
==Perennial Flowers and Herbs==
-
 
+
{| border="1"
-
  2. Use local native plants. Research suggests native plants are four times more attractive to native bees than exotic flowers. They are also usually well adapted to your growing conditions and can thrive with minimum attention. In gardens, heirloom varieties of herbs and perennials can also provide good foraging.
+
|-
-
 
+
| '''Common Name''' || '''Scientific Name''' || '''Attracts'''
-
  3. Chose several colors of flowers. Bees have good color vision to help them find flowers and the nectar and pollen they offer. Flower colors that particularly attract bees are blue, purple, violet, white, and yellow.
+
|-
-
 
+
| Anise Hyssop || Agastache foeniculum || Bees, butterflies and beneficial insects
-
  4. Plant flowers in clumps. Flowers clustered into clumps of one species will attract more pollinators than individual plants scattered through the habitat patch. Where space allows, make the clumps four feet or more in diameter.
+
|-
-
 
+
| Basket of Gold || Alyssum montanum, Alyssum saxatile || Ladybugs and hoverflies
-
  5. Include flowers of different shapes. There are four thousand different species of bees in North America, and they are all different sizes, have different tongue lengths, and will feed on different shaped flowers. Consequently, providing a range of flower shapes means more bees can benefit.
+
|-
-
 
+
| Bronze Fennel || Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpureum || lacewings, ladybugs, hoverflies, parasitic mini-wasps and butterflies
-
  6. Have a diversity of plants flowering all season. Most bee species are generalists, feeding on a range of plants through their life cycle. By having several plant species flowering at once, and a sequence of plants flowering through spring, summer, and fall, you can support a range of bee species that fly at different times of the season.
+
|-
-
 
+
| Buckwheat  || Eriogonum || pirate bugs.
-
  7. Plant where bees will visit. Bees favor sunny spots over shade and need some shelter from strong winds.
+
|-
-
 
+
| Catnip || Nepeta || bees, butterflies and beneficial insect
-
Perennial Flowers and Herbs
+
|-
-
 
+
| Chives || Allium schoenoprasum || bees and butterflies like crazy
-
Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) -- Edible, licorice-flavored leaves for tea. Spikes of blue flowers attract bees, butterflies and beneficial insects. Blooms the first year from seed.
+
|-
-
 
+
| Common Fennel || Foeniculum vulgare || ladybugs, lacewings, paper wasps and soldier bugs.
-
Basket of Gold (Alyssum montanum, Alyssum saxatile) -- The bright yellow flowers bloom in May, providing an early food source for ladybugs and hoverflies.
+
|-
-
 
+
| Coreopsis || Coreopsis sp. || parasitoid wasps, ladybugs and lacewings.
-
Bronze Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpureum') -- Handsome bronze foliage. The flowers attract lacewings, ladybugs, hoverflies, parasitic mini-wasps and butterflies, and the foliage feeds swallowtail butterfly larvae. Freshly-ground fennel seeds are great for sausage and spagghetti sauce, and the leaves are used in fish dishes.  
+
|-
-
 
+
| Crown Pink || Lychnis coronaria || parasitoid wasps.
-
Catnip (Nepeta) -- Attracts bees, butterflies and beneficial insects. There are both edible and ornamental varieties.
+
|-
-
 
+
| Dame's Rocket || Hesperis matronalis || Bees and butterflies.
-
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) -- Leaves and flower buds are used in recipes. Makes a nice edging. Deadhead to prevent excessive self-sowing. Attracts bees and butterflies like crazy.
+
|-
-
 
+
| Garlic Chives || Allium tuberosum || bees and beneficial insects
-
Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum) -- The flowers attract bees and beneficial insects. The leaves have a nice, strong garlic flavor. Chives and garlic chives make good companion plants for roses because they repel aphids.
+
|-
-
 
+
| Golden Marguerite || Anthemis tinctoria || Lacewings, ladybugs, hoverflies, tachinid flies and parasitic mini-wasps.
-
Golden Marguerite (Anthemis tinctoria) -- The daisy-like flowers attract lacewings, ladybugs, hoverflies, tachinid flies and parasitic mini-wasps.
+
|-
-
 
+
| Lavender 'Lady' || Lavandula angustifolia || hoverflies and bees
-
Hesperis matronalis (Dame's Rocket) -- Pretty purple or white flowers. The young leaves are edible. Attracts bees and butterflies.
+
|-
-
 
+
| Lemon Balm || Melissa officinalis || Hoverflies, tachinid flies and parasitic mini-wasps.
-
Lavender 'Lady' (Lavandula angustifolia) -- A nice compact lavender for the herb garden. The flowers attract hoverflies and bees. The fragrant foliage is used in potpourri. Blooms the first year from seed.
+
|-
-
 
+
| Lemon Bee Balm || Monarda citriodora || Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
-
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) -- The lemon-flavored leaves make a good tea. The tiny flowers attract hoverflies, tachinid flies and parasitic mini-wasps.  
+
|-
-
 
+
| Parsley || Petroselinum crispum || hoverflies, tachinid flies and parasitic wasps
-
Lemon Bee Balm (Monarda citriodora) -- Like the name says, it attracts bees like crazy. The lemon-scented leaves are edible, and the flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
+
|-
-
 
+
| Purple Coneflower || Echinacea purpurea || Bees and butterflies.
-
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) -- The umbel flowers attract hoverflies, tachinid flies and parasitic wasps. Parsley is a favorite food of Eastern black swallowtail butterfly larvae.
+
|-
-
 
+
| Red Valerian || Centranthus ruber || butterflies and beneficial insects
-
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) -- This perennial wildflower is sometimes listed as an herb because the roots are used in herbal medicine as an immune stimulant. The flowers attract bees and butterflies.
+
|-
-
 
+
| Rocky Mountain Penstemon || Penstemon strictus || ladybugs, hoverflies, hummingbirds and bees.
-
Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber) -- Attracts butterflies and beneficial insects. The young leaves and roots are edible.
+
|-
-
 
+
| Rue || Ruta graveolens || parasitoid wasps and potter wasps.
-
Rocky Mountain Penstemon (Penstemon strictus) -- Lovely spikes of blue flowers in June and July. Attracts ladybugs, hoverflies, hummingbirds and bees.
+
|-
-
 
+
| Sage || Salvia sp. || bees and butterflies, and some species attract hummingbirds.
-
Sage (Salvia sp.) -- There are many forms of sage, including culinary sage. They all attract bees and butterflies, and some species attract hummingbirds.  
+
|-
-
 
+
| Speedwell || Veronica spicata || ladybugs and hoverflies.
-
Speedwell (Veronica spicata) -- Attracts ladybugs and hoverflies.
+
|-
-
 
+
| Tansy || Tanacetum vulgare || parasitoid wasps, ladybugs, lacewings and pirate bugs.
-
Thyme (Thymus sp.) -- Attracts bees, hoverflies, tachinid flies and parasitic mini-wasps.
+
|-
-
 
+
| Thyme || Thymus sp. || bees, hoverflies, tachinid flies and parasitic mini-wasps.
-
Viola -- I let these self-sow wherever they like. They don't disturb the vegetables, and the edible flowers make nice cake decorations.
+
|-
-
 
+
| Violet || Viola ||
-
Yarrow (Achillia sp.) -- Attracts ladybugs, hoverflies and parasitic mini-wasps.
+
|-
-
 
+
| Yarrow || Achillia sp. || ladybugs, hoverflies and parasitic mini-wasps.
-
Perennials:
+
|-
-
 
+
{|
-
    Buckwheat (Eriogonum) -
+
-
 
+
-
        Yellow, white, pink and rose flowers on 1 - 4 ft. plants; blooms May - Oct. or later. Attracts pirate bugs.
+
-
 
+
-
    Common Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) -
+
-
 
+
-
        Soft, fernlike foliage and yellow, flat flowers on 3 - 5 ft. plants; blooms April - Nov. Attracts ladybugs, lacewings, paper wasps and soldier bugs.
+
-
 
+
-
    Coreopsis (Coreopsis sp.) -
+
-
 
+
-
        Yellow, orange and maroon flowers on 1 - 3 ft. plants; blooms May - Sept. Attracts parasitoid wasps, ladybugs and lacewings.
+
-
 
+
-
    Crown Pink (Lychnis coronaria) -
+
-
 
+
-
        Soft, gray foliage on 2 ft. plants; magenta, pink and white flowers; blooms April - Aug. Attracts parasitoid wasps.
+
-
 
+
-
    Rue (Ruta graveolens) -
+
-
 
+
-
        Blue-gray foliage and small yellow flowers on 2 - 3 ft. plants; blooms in early Summer. Attracts parasitoid wasps and potter wasps.
+
-
 
+
-
    Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) -
+
-
 
+
-
        Yellow flowers and fernlike foliage on 2 - 3 ft. plants; blooms Jun - July. Attracts parasitoid wasps, ladybugs, lacewings and pirate bugs.
+
-
 
+
-
    Yarrow (Achillea) -
+
-
 
+
-
        Pink, yellow, red , lavender and white flowers on plants from few inches to 3 feet tall; blooms April - Sept. Attracts parasitoid wasps, ladybugs, damsel bugs and big-eyed bugs.
+
==Plants That Attract Beneficial Insects==
==Plants That Attract Beneficial Insects==

Revision as of 22:19, 7 September 2007

A garden insectary is a small garden plot of flowering plants designed to attract and harbor beneficial insects. These "good insects" prey on many common garden insect pests and offer the gardener a safer, natural alternative to pesticides.

The garden insectary is a form of "companion planting," based on the positive attributes plants can share in deterring pests, acquiring nutrients, or attracting natural predators. By becoming more diverse with your plantings, you're providing habitat, picture of predatory wasp shelter, and alternative food sources (such as pollen and nectar), something many predators need as part of their diet.

Your insectary plot does not have to be large, just big enough to hold six to seven varieties of plants that attract insects. Once the garden has matured, you can watch your personal security force of beneficial insects do the work for you.

Contents

Natural Pest Control by Insect Species

Pest Insect Predator Insect
Aphids Aphidius
Aphids Aphidoletes
Thrips, spidermites, fungus gnats Beneficial mites
Eggs of many pest insects Damsel bugs (Nabidae)
Whiteflies, aphids, thrip, spider mites Dicyphus
Slugs, small caterpillars and grubs Ground beetles
Grubs Spring Tiphia wasp
Aphids, mealybugs and others Hoverflies
Scale, aphids, mites, soft-bodied insects Lacewings
Aphids, mites Ladybugs
Thrips, aphids, mites, scales, whiteflies Pirate bugs
Caterpillars; beetle and fly larvae Tachinid flies
Whiteflies; moth, beetle and fly larvae Parasitic wasps

What to Plant to Attract Beneficial Insects (Predator Insects)

Predator Insect What to Plant (Insectary Plant)
Lacewings, aphidius, ladybugs Achillea filipendulina
Hoverflies Alyssum
Ground beetles Amaranthus
Spring Tiphia wasp Peonies, firethorn, forsythia
Ichneumon wasp, ladybugs, lacewings Anethum graveolens (dill)
Lacewings Angelica gigas
Ladybugs, hoverflies Convolvulus minor
Hoverflies, parasitic wasps, lacewings Cosmos bipinnatus
Dicyphus Digitalis
Lacewings, ladybugs, hoverflies Daucus carota (Queen Anne's lace)
Damsel bugs, ladybugs, lacewings Foeniculum vulgare (fennel)
Pirate bugs, beneficial mites Helianthus annulus
Hoverflies Iberis umbellata
Hoverflies, parasitic wasps Limonium latifolium (Statice)
Aphidius, aphidoletes, hoverflies Lupin
Parasitic wasps, tachinid flies Melissa officinalis (lemon balm)
Parasitic wasps, hoverflies, tachinid flies Petroselinum crispum (parsley)
Pirate bugs, beneficial mites Shasta daisy
Pirate bugs, aphidius Sunflowers
Ladybugs, lacewings Tanacetum vulgare (tansy)
Dicyphus Verbascum thaspus

Tips and Suggestions for Your Garden Insectary

  1. Intersperse vegetable beds with rows or islands of insectary annuals. This will add decorative elements to your vegetable beds while luring beneficial insects toward prey.
  2. Allow some of your salad and cabbage crops to bloom. Brassica flowers (cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bok choy) are also appreciated.
  3. Include plants of different heights in your insectary. Ground beetles require the cover provided by low-growing plants such as thyme, rosemary, or mint. Lacewings lay their eggs in shady, protected areas, so providing such places near crop plants is a good idea.
  4. Tiny flowers produced in large quantity are much more valuable than a single, large bloom. Large, nectar-filled blooms actually can drown tiny parasitoid wasps.
  5. Members of the Umbelliferae family are excellent insectary plants. Fennel, angelica, coriander, dill, and wild carrot all produce the tiny flowers required by parasitoid wasps.
  6. Composite flowers (daisy and chamomile) and mints (spearmint, peppermint, or catnip) will attract predatory wasps, hover flies, and robber flies.

General Gardening Advice for Attracting Bees and Other Pollinators

  1. Don’t use pesticides. Most pesticides are not selective. You are killing off the beneficial bugs along with the pests. If you must use a pesticide, start with the least toxic one and follow the label instructions to the letter.
  2. Use local native plants. Research suggests native plants are four times more attractive to native bees than exotic flowers. They are also usually well adapted to your growing conditions and can thrive with minimum attention. In gardens, heirloom varieties of herbs and perennials can also provide good foraging.
  3. Chose several colors of flowers. Bees have good color vision to help them find flowers and the nectar and pollen they offer. Flower colors that particularly attract bees are blue, purple, violet, white, and yellow.
  4. Plant flowers in clumps. Flowers clustered into clumps of one species will attract more pollinators than individual plants scattered through the habitat patch. Where space allows, make the clumps four feet or more in diameter.
  5. Include flowers of different shapes. There are four thousand different species of bees in North America, and they are all different sizes, have different tongue lengths, and will feed on different shaped flowers. Consequently, providing a range of flower shapes means more bees can benefit.
  6. Have a diversity of plants flowering all season. Most bee species are generalists, feeding on a range of plants through their life cycle. By having several plant species flowering at once, and a sequence of plants flowering through spring, summer, and fall, you can support a range of bee species that fly at different times of the season.
  7. Plant where bees will visit. Bees favor sunny spots over shade and need some shelter from strong winds.

Perennial Flowers and Herbs

Common Name Scientific Name Attracts
Anise Hyssop Agastache foeniculum Bees, butterflies and beneficial insects
Basket of Gold Alyssum montanum, Alyssum saxatile Ladybugs and hoverflies
Bronze Fennel Foeniculum vulgare 'Purpureum lacewings, ladybugs, hoverflies, parasitic mini-wasps and butterflies
Buckwheat Eriogonum pirate bugs.
Catnip Nepeta bees, butterflies and beneficial insect
Chives Allium schoenoprasum bees and butterflies like crazy
Common Fennel Foeniculum vulgare ladybugs, lacewings, paper wasps and soldier bugs.
Coreopsis Coreopsis sp. parasitoid wasps, ladybugs and lacewings.
Crown Pink Lychnis coronaria parasitoid wasps.
Dame's Rocket Hesperis matronalis Bees and butterflies.
Garlic Chives Allium tuberosum bees and beneficial insects
Golden Marguerite Anthemis tinctoria Lacewings, ladybugs, hoverflies, tachinid flies and parasitic mini-wasps.
Lavender 'Lady' Lavandula angustifolia hoverflies and bees
Lemon Balm Melissa officinalis Hoverflies, tachinid flies and parasitic mini-wasps.
Lemon Bee Balm Monarda citriodora Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
Parsley Petroselinum crispum hoverflies, tachinid flies and parasitic wasps
Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea Bees and butterflies.
Red Valerian Centranthus ruber butterflies and beneficial insects
Rocky Mountain Penstemon Penstemon strictus ladybugs, hoverflies, hummingbirds and bees.
Rue Ruta graveolens parasitoid wasps and potter wasps.
Sage Salvia sp. bees and butterflies, and some species attract hummingbirds.
Speedwell Veronica spicata ladybugs and hoverflies.
Tansy Tanacetum vulgare parasitoid wasps, ladybugs, lacewings and pirate bugs.
Thyme Thymus sp. bees, hoverflies, tachinid flies and parasitic mini-wasps.
Violet Viola
Yarrow Achillia sp. ladybugs, hoverflies and parasitic mini-wasps.

Plants That Attract Beneficial Insects

LACEWINGS (Chrysopa spp.)

Beautiful little green or brown insects with large lacy wings. Individual white eggs are found laid on the ends of inch-long stiff threads. It is the larvae (which look like little alligators) that destroy most of the pests. They are sometimes called aphid lions for their habit of dining on aphids. They also feed on mites, other small insects and insect eggs.

The lacewing, which is also attracted to well-lit windows and screens on spring and summer evenings.

Plants that attract lacewings:


Achillea filipendulina Fern-leaf yarrow

Anethum graveolens Dill

Angelica gigas Angelica

Anthemis tinctoria Golden marguerite

Atriplex canescens Four-wing saltbush

Callirhoe involucrata Purple poppy mallow

Carum Carvi Caraway


Coriandrum sativum Coriander

Cosmos bipinnatus Cosmos white sensation

Daucus Carota Queen Anne's lace

Foeniculum vulgare Fennel

Helianthus maximilianii Prairie sunflower

Tanacetum vulgare Tansy

Taraxacum officinale Dandelion




LADYBUGS

Recognized when they are adults by most gardeners. However, the young larvae, black with orange markings, eat more pests than the adults, and they can't fly. Yellowish eggs are laid in clusters usually on the undersides of leaves.


Plants that attract ladybugs:


Achillea filipendulina Fern-leaf yarrow

Achillea millefolium Common yarrow

Ajuga reptans Carpet bugleweed

Alyssum saxatilis Basket of Gold

Anethum graveolens Dill

Anthemis tinctoria Golden marguerite

Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly weed

Atriplex canescens Four-wing saltbush

Coriandrum sativum Coriander

Daucus Carota Queen Anne's lace

Fagopyrum esculentum Buckwheat


Foeniculum vulgare Fennel

Helianthus maximilianii Prairie sunflower

Penstemon strictus Rocky Mt. penstemon

Potentilla recta 'warrenii' Sulfur cinquefoil

Potentilla villosa Alpine cinquefoil

Tagetes tenuifolia Marigold - lemon gem

Tanacetum vulgare Tansy

Taraxacum officinale Dandelion

Veronica spicata Spike speedwell

Vicia villosa Hairy vetch



HOVERFLIES

Also known as syrphid fly, hover fly or flower fly. Adults look like little bees that hover over and dart quickly away. They don't sting! They lay eggs (white, oval, laid singly or in groups on leaves) which hatch into green, yellow, brown, orange, or white half-inch maggots that look like caterpillars. They raise up on their hind legs to catch and feed on aphids, mealybugs and others.


Plants that attract hoverflies:


Achillea filipendulina Fern-leaf yarrow

Achillea millefolium Common yarrow

Ajuga reptans Carpet bugleweed

Allium tanguticum Lavender globe lily

Alyssum saxatilis Basket of Gold

Anethum graveolens Dill

Anthemis tinctoria Golden marguerite

Aster alpinus Dwarf alpine aster

Astrantia major Masterwort

Atriplex canescens Four-wing saltbush

Callirhoe involucrata Purple poppy mallow

Carum Carvi Caraway

Chrysanthemum parthenium Feverfew

Coriandrum sativum Coriander

Cosmos bipinnatus Cosmos white sensation

Daucus Carota Queen Anne's lace

Fagopyrum esculentum Buckwheat

Foeniculum vulgare Fennel

Lavandula angustifolia English lavender

Limnanthes douglasii Poached egg plant

Limonium latifolium Statice


Linaria vulgaris Butter and eggs

Lobelia erinus Edging lobelia

Lobularia maritima Sweet alyssum - white

Melissa officinalis Lemon balm

Mentha pulegium Pennyroyal

Mentha spicata Spearmint

Monarda fistulosa Wild bergamot

Penstemon strictus Rocky Mt. penstemon

Petroselinum crispum Parsley

Potentilla recta 'warrenii' Sulfur cinquefoil

Potentilla villosa Alpine cinquefoil

Rudbeckia fulgida Gloriosa daisy

Sedum kamtschaticum Orange stonecrop

Sedum spurium & album Stonecrops

Solidago virgaurea Peter Pan goldenrod

Stachys officinalis Wood betony

Tagetes tenuifolia Marigold - lemon gem

Thymus serpylum coccineus Crimson thyme

Veronica spicata Spike speedwell

Zinnia elegans Zinnia - liliput



PARASITIC MINI-WASPS

Parasites of a variety of insects. They do not sting! The stingers have been adapted to allow the females to lay their eggs in the bodies of insect pests. The eggs then hatch, and the young feed on the pests from the inside, killing them. After they have killed the pests, they leave hollow "mummies."

Braconid wasps feed on moth, beetle and fly larvae, moth eggs, various insect pupae and adults. If you see lots of white capsules on the backs of a caterpillar, these are the braconid cocoons--leave the dying caterpillar alone!

Ichneumonid wasps control moth, butterfly, beetle and fly larvae and pupae. Trichogramma wasps lay their eggs in the eggs of moths (hungry caterpillars-to-be), killing them and turning them black.


The black dot in the middle of the picture is an emerging encarsia wasp, which is hatching out of an immature stage of a (now dead) whitefly. The wasp lays its eggs onto young whiteflies.

Plants that attract parasitic mini-wasps:


Achillea filipendulina Fern-leaf yarrow

Achillea millefolium Common yarrow

Allium tanguticum Lavender globe lily

Anethum graveolens Dill

Anthemis tinctoria Golden marguerite

Astrantia major Masterwort

Callirhoe involucrata Purple poppy mallow

Carum Carvi Caraway

Coriandrum sativum Coriander

Cosmos bipinnatus Cosmos white sensation

Daucus Carota Queen Anne's lace

Foeniculum vulgare Fennel

Limonium latifolium Statice


Linaria vulgaris Butter and eggs

Lobelia erinus Edging lobelia

Lobularia maritima Sweet alyssum - white

Melissa officinalis Lemon balm

Mentha pulegium Pennyroyal

Petroselinum crispum Parsley

Potentilla recta 'warrenii' Sulfur cinquefoil

Potentilla villosa Alpine cinquefoil

Sedum kamtschaticum Orange stonecrop

Tagetes tenuifolia Marigold - lemon gem

Tanacetum vulgare Tansy

Thymus serpylum coccineus Crimson thyme

Zinnia elegans Zinnia - liliput



TACHINID FLIES

Parasites of caterpillars (corn earworm, imported cabbage worm, cabbage looper, cutworms, armyworms), stink bug, squash bug nymphs, beetle and fly larvae, some true bugs, and beetles. Adults are 1/3 to 1/2 inch long. White eggs are deposited on foliage or on the body of the host (in the picture below, the tachinid fly is approaching the larvae of an elm leaf beetle). Larvae are internal parasites, feeding within the body of the host, sucking its body fluids to the point the pest dies.


Plants that attract tachinid flies:


Anthemis tinctoria Golden marguerite

Fagopyrum esculentum Buckwheat

Melissa officinalis Lemon balm

Mentha pulegium Pennyroyal


Petroselinum crispum Parsley

Phacelia tanacetifolia Phacelia

Tanacetum vulgare Tansy

Thymus serpyllum coccineus Crimson thyme




MINUTE PIRATE BUGS (Orius spp.)

Tiny (1/20 inch long) bugs that feed on almost any small insect or mite, including thrips, aphids, mites, scales, whiteflies and soft-bodied arthropods, but are particularly attracted to thrips in spring.


DAMSEL BUGS (Nabis spp.)

Feed on aphids, leafhoppers, plant bugs, and even small caterpillars as adults and nymphs (teenagers). They are usually dull brown and resemble other plant bugs that are pests. Their heads are usually longer and narrower then most plant feeding species (the better to eat with).



BIG EYED BUGS (Geocoris spp.)

Small (1/4 inch long), grayish-beige, oval shaped) bugs with large eyes that feed on many small insects (e.g., leaf hoppers, spider mites), insect eggs, and mites, as both nymphs and adults. Eggs are football shaped, whitish-gray with red spots.


Plants that attract minute pirate bugs, damsel bugs and big eyed bugs:


Carum Carvi Caraway

Cosmos bipinnatus Cosmos - white sensation

Foeniculum vulgare Fennel

Medicago sativa Alfalfa


Mentha spicata Spearmint

Solidago virgaurea Peter Pan goldenrod

Tagetes tenuifolia Marigold - lemon gem

Beneficial insects are insects that are predators of pest insects, also, pollinators, such as bees, that are an integral part of the growth cycle of many crops. Certain plants will attract these insects by providing food, shelter, or both.

Predator Insect What to Plant (Insectary Plant)
Lacewings, aphidius, ladybugs Achillea filipendulina
Hoverflies Alyssum
Ground beetles Amaranthus
Spring Tiphia wasp Peonies, firethorn, forsythia
Ichneumon wasp, ladybugs, lacewings Anethum graveolens (dill)
Lacewings Angelica gigas
Ladybugs, hoverflies Convolvulus minor
Hoverflies, parasitic wasps, lacewings Cosmos bipinnatus
Dicyphus Digitalis
Lacewings, ladybugs, hoverflies Daucus carota (Queen Anne's lace)
Damsel bugs, ladybugs, lacewings Foeniculum vulgare (fennel)
Pirate bugs, beneficial mites Helianthus annulus
Hoverflies Iberis umbellata
Hoverflies, parasitic wasps Limonium latifolium (Statice)
Aphidius, aphidoletes, hoverflies Lupin
Parasitic wasps, tachinid flies Melissa officinalis (lemon balm)
Parasitic wasps, hoverflies, tachinid flies Petroselinum crispum (parsley)
Pirate bugs, beneficial mites Shasta daisy
Pirate bugs, aphidius Sunflowers
Ladybugs, lacewings Tanacetum vulgare (tansy)
Dicyphus Verbascum thaspus


Plants That Attract Butterflies

Nectar-Rich Herbs for Butterflies

  • Agastache foeniculum, Anise hyssop
  • Echinacea, species Coneflowers
  • Hyssopus officinalis, Hyssop
  • Inula helenium, Elecampane
  • Lavandula species and hybrids, Lavenders
  • Mentha species and hybrids, Mints
  • Monarda species, Bee balms
  • Ocimum basilicum, Basil
  • Origanum vulgare, Oregano, wild marjoram
  • Pycnanthemum, species Mountain mints
  • Rosmarinus officinalis, Rosemary
  • Salvia species, Sages
  • Satureja hortensis, Summer savory
  • Taraxacum officinale, Dandelion
  • Thymus species and hybrids, Thymes
  • Tropaeolum majus, Nasturtium

Herbs That Feed Caterpillars

  • Anethum graveolens, Dill — Black Swallowtail, Anise Swallowtail
  • Artemisia dracunculus, Russian tarragon — Swallowtails
  • Asclepias tuberosa, Butterfly weed — Monarch
  • Dictamnus albus, Burning bush — Giant Swallowtail
  • Foeniculum vulgare, Fennel — Anise Swallowtail
  • Glycyrrhiza species, Licorice — Silver-Spotted Skipper
  • Humulus lupulus, Hops — Gray Hairstreak, Question Mark, Red Admiral
  • Levisticum officinale, Lovage — Black Swallowtail, Anise Swallowtail
  • Petroselinum crispum, Parsley — Black Swallowtail, Anise Swallowtail
  • Pimpinella anisum, Anise — Black Swallowtail, Anise Swallowtail
  • Populus balsamifera, Balsam poplar — White Admiral, Viceroy, Western Tiger Swallowtail
  • Rumex acetosella, Sheep sorrel — Little Copper
  • Ruta graveolens, Rue — Black Swallowtail, Giant Swallowtail
  • Tropaeolum majus, Nasturtium — Cabbage White
  • Urtica dioica, Nettle — Milbert's Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral
  • Viburnum lentago, Nannyberry — Spring Azure
  • Viola odorata, Sweet violet — Fritillaries

Plants That Attract Bees

Native Trees and Shrubs

  • Blueberries (Vaccinium species)
  • California lilac (Ceanothus thyrsiflorus)
  • Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis)
  • Dogwood (Cornus florida)
  • Huckleberry (Gaylussacia buccata)
  • Manzanitas (Arctostaphylos species)
  • Rhododendrons (Rhododendron species)
  • Viburnums (Viburnum dentatum, V. cassinoides, V. lentago)
  • Willows (Salix species)
  • Wolfberries (Lycium species)
  • Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
  • Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
  • Sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia)

Native Wildflowers

  • Columbines (Aquilegia species)
  • Lupines (Lupinus species)
  • Milkweeds (Asclepias species)
  • Penstemons (Penstemon species)
  • Phacelias (Phacelia species)
  • Shooting stars (Dodecatheon species)
  • Violets (Viola species)
  • Virginia bluebells (Mertensia pulmonarioides)
  • Yellow bells (Tecoma stans)
  • Blazing stars (Liatris species)
  • Buckwheats (Eriogonum species)
  • Gaura (Gaura lindheimeri)
  • Great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)
  • Indigo bush (Dalea species)
  • Joe pye weed (Eupatorium maculatum)
  • Mints, blue- and white-flowered (Salvia azurea, S. clevelandii, S. farinacea)
  • Monkshood (Aconitum species)
  • Sunflowers (Helianthus species)
  • Turtlehead (Chelone glabra)
  • Asters (Aster species)
  • Goldenrods (Solidago species)

Herbs

  • Borage (Borago officianalis)
  • Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
  • Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
  • Oregano (Origanum x majoricum)
  • Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalus)
  • Thymes (Thymus species)
  • Lavenders (Lavandula species)
Retrieved from "http://editthis.info/antivist/Beneficial_Insects"
Personal tools