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Beneficial insects in the landscape and garden!
Pollinators:
Butterflies and bees.
Predators:
Ladybird beetles, Green lacewings, Syrphid flies, Predatory bugs(Assassin bugs, Bigeyed bugs, Minute Pirate bugs, Spined Soldier bugs), Ground beetles, Soldier beetles(Leatherwing beetles), Spiders, Dragonflies.
Parasites:
Braconid and ichneumonid wasps.
Notes:
‐ Many plants that draw butterflies also provide pollen or nectar for beneficials.
‐ Undisturbed areas with perennial plants and leaf or mulch cover provide shelter.
‐ Water sources provided for birds will also help attract beneficials.
Plants that draw beneficial insects include--
‐ Perennials and annuals: Daisies, Queen Anne's Lace, Achillea species(Yarrow), Lobularia maritima(Sweet alyssum), Alyssum saxatile, Solidago (Goldenrod);
‐ Herbs: fennel, cilantro, mustard, mint, and
‐ Cover crops such as Eriogonum (buckwheat), alfalfa, soybean, clover, and vetch.
Hints for attracting and keeping beneficial insects in your yard:
‐ Avoid spraying broad-spectrum pesticides. Use contact(soaps) or smothering(oils) insecticides, or pest-specific ones (B.t.).
‐ Don't keep your landscape too clean! Rake leaves, but leave them in undisturbed parts of the yard.
‐ Tolerate pest populations on some plants to provide food for beneficials and keep them in the yard.
‐ Watch your front porch light! When lacewings or leatherwing beetles show up, your aphids may just disappear.
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© 2008 Don Shor, Redwood Barn Nursery, Inc., 1607 Fifth Street, Davis, Ca 95616
www.redwoodbarn.com
Feel free to copy and distribute this article with attribution to this author.
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