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Beneficial insects for your garden
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Photo/Illustration: Jaret Daniels
Small bugs, big bugs, long bugs, short bugs: but which bugs are good for your garden? Like the plants they feed on and protect; insect species vary by region. The following are more commonly found here in the valley of northern California.
Before you reach for the Combat or Ortho Max, consider this; some of those creepy-crawlies are the protectors-of-your-plants and the peacekeepers of your garden.
The Assassin bug:
A viscous-looking bug that measures from ¼ inch to 1-inch long, with a cone-shaped head and curving beak. Their bite can be painful to humans and some species squeak when captured. Females lay single eggs in cracks, under rocks or in other sheltered spots in the summer and the new adults emerge the following June. Assassin bugs prey on many garden pets including flies, mosquitoes, beetles and large caterpillars. Adult and nymph Assassin bugs stab their prey with a long, pointed “beak” that is held, folded under their bodies when not feeding.
The Damsel bug:
Among the more predacious insects, Heteroptera feeds on insect eggs, Aphids, and small caterpillars. Damsel bugs are divided into two types. One measures about 8mm long and is colored a yellow-brown displaying well-developed wings while the other is larger, and shiny black. This one has much shorter wings. Also included in this beetle category in the well known “Dragon-fly”, which prays primarily on Aphids.
Green Lacewing:
Many of us have seen this little one; with its light green body, golden/copper-colored eyes and large transparent wings that sport delicate “veins” similar to leaves. Adult Lacewings measure about ½ to ¾ inch long. The larvae are small, grayish-brown and narrow and they have pincher-like mandibles. Eggs are found on plant stems and foliage; they are laid singularly or in small groups. These delicate looking bugs prey on a variety of other insects like Aphids and other small insects, insect eggs, Spider mites, Leafhopper nymphs, Whiteflies and small caterpillars. You can even support good Lacewing egg health in your garden. Check out the links I’ve provided for more information.
Ground Beetle:
Sometimes mistaken for the larger Damsel bug, this beetle preys primarily on soil-dwelling insects like Grubs, Cutworms and Maggots, all of which attack your lawn and can be a chore to get rid of. These beetles vary in shape and size, but most of them are shiny and darkly colored and range from 1/8 to 1-inch long. They are not known to bite humans despite their ferocious-looking features. They feed mostly at night and hide during the day, and some species even snack on slugs and snails.
Lady Beetle:
I don’t know a single person who is unfamiliar with the Ladybug. And though most of us prize these gentle insects with protecting our roses from Aphids, it is their larvae, which are most valuable—a soft-bodied, alligator-shaped bug with black and orange markings. Both the larvae and the adult Lady beetle feed on other soft-bodied insects like Aphids, Mealy bugs, scale insects, Spider mites and insect eggs. A note about purchasing and releasing these beetles into your garden; they don’t often hang around for long without the right plants. Check out the link I pasted at the bottom of this article for tips on attracting them.
Minute Pirate bug (Flower bug):
Even adults Pirates measure only 1/12 to 1/5 an inch long. They are oval, black to purple coloring with white markings and bear a triangular head. These little guys make good on their name, attacking insect eggs, Psyllids, Thrips, Mites, Aphids, Whiteflies, and small caterpillars. They are commercially used in greenhouses to control Thrips. Their bite is surprisingly painful for their size, as they insert a short blunt beak into the skin though they do not feed on blood nor do they release venom.
Parasitic Wasp
You are not likely to ever see one. These mini-wasps don’t sting and measure only about 1/50 of an inch long, rarely reaching 1-inch. These wasps lay their eggs within the eggs of other insects, making them very effective “crowd control”. A hole can often be seen where the emerging adult has chewed its way out of its host’s egg. There are some species, which attack Aphids, Whiteflies, and butterflies or moths such as Cabbage-loopers and Hornworms.
Parasitic Nematodes (Microscopic worms):
With these ones on the loose, I’m glad to be human. Among the more effective of any natural insect control, these worms a highly toxic—infecting their host and its eggs—and their compatibility with many man-made lawn and garden care products, makes them a true solider in the war against pests. Labs around the county have studied the properties of these worms and continue to release them into fields and crops. Various caterpillars and large beetle larvae are particularly susceptible to this predator. Developments are on-going to improve their effectiveness against insects such as Maggots, Crickets, Grasshoppers and Termites. Currently, Wax moth larvae (commonly used as fish bait) are being used to breed these Nematodes.
Solider Beetle (Leather wings):
Even most children know this character. Distinctive with its red body and black wings, this beetle is easy to ignore in the garden as it is not known for biting humans or pets, and it can really keep the peace. It is typically about ½ inch in length and feeds on Aphids, caterpillars, Grasshopper eggs, and the larvae of other beetles. It has also been known to eat other various insects in the garden when they are available.
Syrphid fly (Hover fly):
Some of us have called these “scare bees”. They look like bees, emulating their black and yellow stripes, but they don’t sting. They range in size form ¼ to nearly a ½ inch long. They prey on Aphids, Mealy bugs, and small insects. Adults must feed on nectar before they can reproduce, making them great pollinators.
Tachinid fly:
Similar to a common housefly in almost every way including size and color, ranging from 1/3 to ½ an inch and may be brown, gray or black and some are hairy. Many species are parasite of pest caterpillars like Cutworms, Codling moths, Tent caterpillars, Cabbage-loopers and Gypsy moths larvae.
Don’t forget about the benefits of having plenty of earthworms. They cultivate almost continually—breaking down organic matter into useable nutrition for our plants. They are great for composting and cleaning up around the base of trees.
The world is your garden; grow with it.
For more info:
Take a look at these bugs…have any in your garden?
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