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My daughter, who’s not exactly a fan of creepy crawly critters, sent me a picture the other day of a menacing looking bug on her basil, asking me what the heck it was. “It's an Assassin Bug,” I told her, “a beneficial insect that preys on plant pests. But don’t touch it because a ‘bite’ from its ‘beak’ can be immediately and incredibly painful.” Predictably, she cringed.
Thankfully, the vast majority of beneficial insects are harmless, and chances are many of them are already in your garden (see list below). But a popular practice is to release select beneficials -- lacewings and ladybugs in particular. The question is, Does it work?
Truth is, very little research has been done to determine the effectiveness of releasing beneficial insects in the garden, and what we do know is based more on anecdotal evidence rather than actual scientific experiment. However, in agricultural settings and in greenhouses, research has shown that releasing beneficials can be quite effective. So why not give it a go in the garden?
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| Green lacewings can hear the calls of bats. And when they do, they drop out of the air and land on the ground. |
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Before releasing beneficial insects, you should do these three things:
1. Water your garden well so ample moisture is available
2. Make sure pests are present (otherwise the beneficials will leave your garden in search of food elsewhere)
3. Stop spraying pesticides of any kind. Now you’re ready to release.
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| A species of assassin bug known as the kissing bug spreads Chagas disease, which can be fatal. It’s found in 29 states in the U.S., Mexico, as well as Central and South America. |
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These predators control a wide variety of plant pests, including aphids, caterpillars, insect eggs, thrips, whiteflies, and mites, especially red spider mites. Larvae emerge from the eggs, looking like miniature alligators with sickle-shaped jaws. They then feed aggressively for two to three weeks, spin a cocoon, and emerge as adults within 10 to 14 days, starting their life cycle all over again.
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The most iconic of the beneficial insects, lady beetles love aphids, but they also prey on spider mites as well as the eggs of Colorado potato beetles and the European corn borer. The larvae -- which are black and orange, also resemble spiny alligators and are often mistaken as pests -- actually eat more aphids than the adults, up to 50 a day in their brief larval stage.
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| Ladybugs aren’t true bugs, they’re beetles. That may not be a big deal to you, but you’ll get an F in entomology if you don’t know the difference. |
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Although I think they’re really cool, praying mantids aren’t the best of the beneficial insects because they eat bugs of all kinds, including lacewings and lady beetles, and each other. There’s even a species that was accidentally introduced from China that feasts on Monarch butterflies, bees, small reptiles and amphibians, and hummingbirds! But I must admit that watching the tiny creatures emerge from their egg cases is an awesome sight.
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The idea of releasing five million microscopic worms (three different species of them) in your garden may sound strange, but the results can be extraordinary, because they control up to 100 different pests, including fleas, ticks, thrips, cucumber beetles, various weevils, cutworms, flea beetles, Japanese beetles, June bugs, and so much more.
The nematodes come in a powder, which you apply evenly on moist soil in the morning, evening, or (ideally) on a cloudy day. You should then keep the soil surface moist for two weeks. When their food sources diminish, the nematodes mate and the cycle starts anew. Just make sure you water on hot days.
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Creating Beneficial Habitat
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Creating habitat to attract beneficial insects is as simple as providing food and shelter. The best sources of food are flowering plants and weeds, both of which offer pollen and nectar. An abundance of plants of all kinds, mulch, plus piles of sticks, stones, and leaves offer shelter and nesting sites, as well as safe havens for insects to overwinter.
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As I said earlier, if you release beneficial insects at a time when their favorite foods (aphids, especially) aren’t available, they’ll go somewhere else. But you can mix up a batch of bug chow at home that may keep them around until their natural food sources arrive.
Combine ¼ cup each of white sugar and brewer’s yeast. Add a spoonful or two of water and mix to form a paste (adding more water if necessary). Spread the paste on small twigs or sticks and stab them in the soil around your plants. You can also try raisins that are first soaked in water.
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Beneficials in Your Garden Now
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Chances are there are plenty of beneficial insects in your garden already, especially if you have the habitat they prefer and you don't use pesticides. Among the most common are various ground beetles, assassin bugs (sorry, Hannah), certain bees and flies, stinging and non-stinging wasps, and spiders (which aren’t insects, but are extremely beneficial). Collectively, these critters control dozens of garden pests.
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Tip Of The Week
If you do use pesticides in the garden, stick with organics. They tend to be less toxic to beneficial insects and have less of a residual effect than their synthetic counterparts. |
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