Beneficial plants and bugs

A garden 'mini' 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. A garden insectary is a form of "companion planting", based on the positive effects plants can share as a method of deterring pests, acquiring nutrients or attracting natural predators. By becoming more diverse with your plantings, you are providing habitat, shelter and alternative food source, such as pollen and nectar, something many predators need as part of their diet. Aphid predators such as aphidius, need the pests to be present in order to reproduce. The idea of inviting the pests in may seem alarming, until you understand that you can encourage host specific pests. These pests will remain on the desired plant in your mini insectary yet provide an ideal breeding ground for the associated predators and parasites. The plot does not have to be large, just big enough to hold 6-7 varieties of plants which attract insects. Once the garden has matured you can watch your personal insect security force do the work for you.

Mini Insectary

“Mini Insectary” Plants Achillea filipendulina Alyssum Amaranthus Anethum graveolens (Dill) Angelica gigas Convolvulus minor Coreopsis Cosmos bipinnatus Digitalis Daucus Carota (Queen Anne's lace) Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel) Helianthus annulus Iberis umbellata Limonium latifolium (Statice) Lupin Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm) Petroselinum crispum (Parsley) Scabiosa (Pincushion flower) Shasta Daisy Sunflowers Tanacetum vulgare (Tansy) Verbascum thaspus Yarrow

Beneficial Predators Attracted Lacewings, Aphidius, Ladybugs Hoverflies, Lacewings, Tachnid flies Ground beetles Ichneumon wasp, Ladybugs, Lacewings Lacewings Ladybugs, Hoverflies Hoverflies, Lacewings, Parasitic wasps Hoverflies, Parasitic wasps, Lacewings Dicyphus Lacewings, Ladybugs, Hoverflies Damsel bugs, Ladybugs, Lacewings Pirate bugs, Beneficial mites Hoverflies Hoverflies, Parasitic wasps Aphidius, Aphidoletes, Hoverflies Parasitic wasps, tachinid flies Parasitic wasps, hoverflies, tachinid flies Hoverflies, Parasitic wasps Pirate bugs, Beneficial mites Pirate bugs, Aphidius, Parasitic wasps Ladybugs, Lacewings Dicyphus Hoverflies, Parasitic wasps, Ladybugs

Beneficial Predators Aphidius Aphidoletes Beneficial mites Damsel Bugs (Nabidae) Dicyphus Ground Beetles Hoverflies Lacewings Ladybugs Pirate Bugs Tachinid flies Wasps (parasitic)

Prey Aphids Aphids Thrips, spidermite, fungus gnats Eggs of many pest insects Whiteflies, aphids, thrips, spider mites Slugs, small caterpillars and grubs Aphids, mealybugs and others Scale, aphids, mites, softbodied insects Aphids, mites Thrips, aphids, mites, scales, whiteflies Caterpillars, beetle and fly larvae Whiteflies, moth, beetle and fly larvae

Beneficial Insects

Beneficial insects are insects which you can attract to your garden,
or buy from catalogues, which prey on harmful insects or their larvae.
There are many different species for specific problems, and more
information is available at several of the links listed on this page.

Brachonids,Chalcids and Ichneumon Wasps These small beneficial insects destroy leaf-eating caterpillars. You can attract them to your garden by planting carrots, celery, parsley, caraway and Queen Anne’s lace, all members of the Umbelliferae family. These plants are easy to grow, and some should be left to flower. It’s the flower that attracts the insects. Ladybugs These common insects consume aphids, mites, whiteflies and scale. They can be attracted to your garden by planting members of the daisy family (Compositae), tansy or yarrow. Ladybugs are also available from catalogues online. Lacewings Lacewings are avid consumers of aphids, and their larva eat aphids and other varieties of other insect pests. They are attracted to “composite” flowers, such as yarrow, goldenrod, black-eyed susan’s and asters. Lacewings can also be purchased online at the sources listed below, and released directly into your garden. Hover-flies Hover-flies are avid consumers of aphids, and the larva of hover-flies eat aphids and other insect pests. Like the Lacewings, they are attracted to “composite” flowers, such as yarrow, goldenrod, black-eyed susan’s and asters. Seeds for these flowers are available online, or at most garden centers. Praying Mantis These large insects have an appetite for most garden pests. Praying mantis eggs are set out in the garden where they hatch and quickly grow to adult size. The eggs are available through mail-order catalogues, some of which are listed below.

Nematodes Effective against cutworms, a common pest which destroys sprouts before they can grow into seedlings. Nematodes are also effective against beetles and root weevil larvae. Nematode eggs are microscopic and come in a small sponge a million at a time. These are mixed with water and applied to the soil, where they hatch and go to work. If they get on foliage, wash them off to the ground. Nematodes are harmless to humans and pets. They are available in some garden centers and through mail-order catalogues