Beneficial Insects

These insects are nature's pest control!

Ladybird Beetle (Ladybugs)

These are small, oval, convex, and often brightly colored insects. Most of this family are predaceous, both as larvae and adults, and feed chiefly on aphids. They are found frequently on plants where aphids are numerous. They hibernate as adults, commonly under debris in large colonies.

Lacewings

They have gauzy green (sometimes brown) lacewings and jewel-like gold eyes. Lacewings produce aphid devouring larvae. The larvae is grayish brown in color with sharp curved jaws that extend beyond its head. It crawls along the leaf surface in search of aphids, scales, mealybugs, thrips mites, and insect eggs. They can consume 100 or more insects each day.

Praying Mantids

These are highly predaceous insects that feed on a variety of other insects. They wait to ambush their prey with the front legs in an upraised position that gives them their name. The egg cases may be found on tree twigs and in fields. Egg cases may be gathered by cutting the twig you find them on and then tying the case to a branch in the landscape. They are cannibalistic and will feed upon each other.

Dragonflies

They catch and eat their insect prey while flying. Mosquitoes and other flies make up their diet.

Syrphid Flies

These may be brightly colored and resemble wasps and bees hovering over flowers. They do not sting. The larvae of most species are predaceous feeding on aphids or the young of termites, ants or bees.

Ligthning Bugs

The adult insects fly about in the evenings and are conspicuous by their blinking yellow light. Most of the larvae are luminescent and are given the name "glowworms". The larvae feed on various smaller insects and on snails.

Some predatory insects such as ladybird beetles and praying mantids are available for sale.

Information gathered from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Monroe County. RN 02/02