This list is just a beginning look at the beneficial bugs you may find
in your yard. The reason this list is here is for those folks who see a
weird or ugly bug and without hesitancy, destroy it. You want these "good"
bugs. The good bugs do our dirty work WITHOUT having to use nasty
chemicals that not only kill bugs, but also kill birds and fish, and can
cause health problems for all the living creatures that inhabit the treated
area (this includes yourself and your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren
- you get the point).
All of the insects you see on this page can be purchased from nursery
or organic gardening sources. I have found many online sources for
purchasing them, how ever have not done so yet.
| Name |
Pic |
What the bug does |
| Decollate snail |
(photo not available yet - the snail's shell appears as if the tip is chopped-off.)
|
During the day Decollates live in the first few inches of moist top
soil, leaf mulch or under rocks. As the sun goes down they come out to
hunt, looking for egg masses of the slugs and snails, and attacking smaller
brown garden snails.
Although they will attack adult garden snails, they rarely kill them
because the snail can retreat into its large shell. Decollates also eat
rotting plant material, but they do not eat live plants.
Originating from North Africa, the Decollate snails live for from 1
to 1 1/2 years and lays about 200 eggs per year. It takes only one snail,
not two, to produce a fertile egg. The eggs usually hatch in six weeks.
|
| Lady Beetle (Lady Bug) |
The Lady bug, ya know her, ya love her!
Lady bug in various stages of life
|
The most common of all beneficial insects, these voracious predators
feed on aphids, adelgids, chinch bugs, asparagus beetle larvae, thrips,
alfalfa weevils, bean thrips, grape root worms, Colorado potato beetle
larvae, whitefly, and mites, as well as many other soft-bodied insects
and eggs. And they are cost-effective, too. Each adult consumes about
5,000 aphids.
Adult female ladybugs lay 10-50 eggs daily on the underside of leaves.
Eggs are usually deposited near prey such as aphids, often in small clusters
in protected sites. Larvae grow from about 1 mm to 5-6 mm in length and
may wander up to 40 ft in search of prey.
In 2-5 days the larvae emerge as dark alligator-like flightless creatures
with orange spots. The larvae eat 50-60 aphids per day. After 21 days the
larva attaches itself by the abdomen to a leaf or other surface to pupate
and adults emerge in 2-8 days depending on the temperature, completing
the cycle.
Under ideal conditions (temperature 61-82 degrees F; ladybugs won't
fly when 55 degrees F or lower) several generations may be produced.
|
| Spined Soldier Bug |
(photo not available yet) |
These predatory stink bugs prey on Imported Cabbage Looper, Imported
Cabbage Worm (otherwise known as "broccoli worms"), webworms, armyworms,
Mexican Bean Beetles, Colorado Potato Beetles, hornworms, and other garden
pests.
The prey is stabbed with the Soldier Bugs, needle-like snout, injected
with a substance that paralyzes it, and is killed as body fluids are sucked
out through the harpoon. |
| Minute Pirate Bug |
(photo not available yet - the adult bug is small and quick moving.
It's colors are black and white) |
These bugs prefer insect eggs, small caterpillars, thrips, and aphids.
The nymphs and adults are both predatory. They will attack almost
any insect pest. They are good at finding their prey deep inside
flowers. |
| Green Lacewing |
 |
The larvae is the real beneficial aspect of this insect. The
Lacewing larvae is known as the Aphid Lion.
They feed on aphids, thrips, mites, scale, mealybugs, whiteflies, moths,
corn earworms, Colorado potatoe beetles, asparagas beetles, leaf miners,
and lots of other small beetles and caterpillars. Eggs appear as tiny white ovals suspended
by a thin hair, usually on the vanes of plant leaves
In the adult stage (pictured) the Lacewing is a valuable food source for birds.
|