Beneficial Insects - Know and Protect the Good Insects
There are many beneficial insects that contribute greatly to pest control of many crops. Its important to recognize these
beneficials and take them into account when making pest control decisions. You can encourage and preserve the beneficial
insects in your farming operation.
- Avoid excessive and unnecessary pesticide applications
- Use selective pesticides when possible that leave beneficial insect populations intake like: Admire, Fullfill, Bt's, and
others.
- Use less harmful insecticides at lower rates to leave some of your beneficial insects alive like: some pirethroids at low
rates and Di-syston at low rates. For example.
- Leave a refuge or plant one in or at the edge of you field for beneficials to live. Plants that flower generally attract
beneficials.
- Beneficial insects can be purchased from many places. In some cropping cases the cost of beneficial insects is equal or
lower than commercial pesticides and beneficial insects stay and keep working. The difficulty usually is distributing the
beneficials throughout the field evenly when pest pressure just starts. Beneficials will stay in your field if there's a food
supply for them.
Below are some common beneficial insects:
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| Big Eyed Bug |
Collops |
Damsel Bug |
Lady Beetle |
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| Ladybug Adult |
Ladybug Nymph |
Lacewing Adult |
Lacewing Nymph |
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| Ground Beetle |
Tachinid Fly |
Syrphid Fly Larva |
Parasitic Wasp |
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| Minute Pirate Bug |
Stink Bug |
Spiders |
Predatory Mite attacking a
spider mite |
Note: This information should only be used as a guide. Adjustments for local conditions must always be made.
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