Learn About Beneficial Insects
Learn how these natural allies can help protect your garden from pests. Beneficial insects are nature’s pest control agents, helping to keep your garden thriving by preying on harmful insects.
Meet Your Garden Fairies
- Ladybugs: Known for their appetite for aphids, ladybugs are among the most popular beneficial insects. Release them early in the morning or evening, after sprinkling the area with water to quench their thirst. You don’t need to release all of them at once—store extras in the refrigerator and use them as needed.
- Praying Mantids: These patient hunters prefer to ambush their prey. Mantids hatch from egg cases, which should be hung about two feet from the ground in early spring. Use a bit of cooking oil on the string to deter ants from reaching the egg case.
- Green Lacewings: Lacewing larvae are voracious predators, consuming aphids, thrips, mealybugs, whiteflies, and more. A single larva can devour up to 200 pests in a day! Release larvae immediately upon receipt or when eggs start turning gray, signaling they’re about to hatch. Plant nectar and pollen-rich flowers to encourage adult lacewings to stay and lay eggs in your garden.
Tips for Success
- Release beneficial insects early in the season to prevent pest infestations.
- Choose cool times of the day, like early morning or evening, for releases.
- Ensure your garden has flowering plants to support nectar-feeding adults.
