Beneficial Insects

Used in this country sense 1880's, predatory and parasitic insects are the best known form of biological insect control. They provide long term pest control, helping to tip the scales in your favor when insect pests arrive. Beneficial insects attack and destroy only insects and are harmless to people, plants and pets.

For maximum effectiveness, release beneficial insects when pest levels are low to medium. If pest populations are high , use a least-toxic pesticide (soap, botanicals, oils and natural dust) to establish control, then release beneficials to maintain control.

Some examples of the most popular beneficial insects are: ladybugs,trichogramma, lacewings, praying mantis, fly parasites, and beneficial nematodes.

Ladybugs or Lady Beetles (Hippodamia convergens) are the best known garden predators available. The adults are shiny round beetles with short legs and antennae. Their heads are hidden beneath the front of their thorax. Development from egg to adult may take only two weeks. Unlike most beneficials, adult Ladybugs are gathered and prepared for shipment ready to go to work for you in your garden. Both the adults and the dark gray and orange marked larvae feed on aphids and a wide variety of other soft bodied pests, mites and eggs. A good rule of thumb is to release approximately 4,500 per 3000 sqft.

Trichogramma (Brassicae-pretiosum-minutum) are tiny wasps and have a wing span of 1/50th of an inch and are a very efficient destroyer of the eggs of more than 200 species of moths and butterflies which are leaf eaters in their catapillar stage. Adult wasp are yellow or black with bright red eyes, short antennae, and compact bodies. They look like gnats. Trichogramma are shipped as pupae in host eggs, glued to one inch by one inch paper squares, almost ready to hatch out as adult wasps. Release when moths are first present and periodically thereafter. Females lay one or more eggs in the egg of a host insect. The larvae pupate inside the host egg, and adult wasps emerge seven to ten days after the egg is laid. Brassicae or pretiosum for field crops, minutum for orchards. Trichogramma wasp effectively control European corn borer, corn ear worm, imported cabbage worm, diamond back moth, cabbage looper, pecan nut case bearer, tomato horn worm, and tobacco horn worm.

Fly Parasites (Muscidifurax zaraptor) are small parasitc wasps that attack and kill flies in their pupal stage. They will control most species of flies present in garbage and animal manure. Fly Parasites are very effective because they kill pest flies before they become adults. Fly parasites deposits it's eggs in the larvae of flies or soon after the fly larva has gone into the pupa stage. The wasp egg soon hatches, and the wasp larvae feed on the developing fly and destroy it. For best results, start releases before flies become a problem and continue releasing parasites throughout the fly season. Release 500 parasites per large animal or 5 parasites per cubic foot for manure. I have used these amazing insects for many year small areas and very large operations with fabulous results.

Natural Solutions is written by Dwayne Somerville owner of Texas Organic Landscaping and manager of 3W Ranch Supply. Questions or comments can be sent to dwayne@greenspaceenvironments. com