Beneficial insects

Many plants in the Asteracea family attract beneficial insects.

Beneficial insects (sometimes called beneficial bugs) are any of a number of species of insects that perform valued services like pollination and pest control. The concept of beneficial is subjective and only arises in light of desired outcomes from a human perspective. In farming and agriculture, where the goal is to raise selected crops, insects that hinder the production process are classified as pests, while insects that assist production are considered beneficial.

Encouraging beneficial insects, by providing suitable living conditions, is a pest control strategy, often used in organic farming, organic gardening or Integrated Pest Management. Companies specializing in biological pest control sell many types of beneficial insects, particularly for use in enclosed areas, like greenhouses.

Types of beneficial insects

A European mantis hunts for prey on a shrub rose.

Bees are beneficial as pollinators, facilitating propagation and fruit production for many plants. While some bees are predatory or parasitic, killing pest insects. This group includes not only honeybees, but also many other kinds that are more efficient at pollinating. Bees can be attracted by many companion plants, especially bee balm and pineapple sage for honeybees, or apiaceae like queen anne's lace and parsley, for predatory bees.

Ladybugs are generally thought of as beneficial because they eat large quantities of aphids, mites and other insects that feed on various plants.

Other insects commonly identified as beneficial include:^[1]

• Minute pirate bug
• Big eyed-bug
• Assassin bug
• Damsel bug
• Mealybug destroyer
• Soldier beetle
• Green lacewing
• Syrphid fly
• Tachinid fly
• Ichneumon wasp
• Trichogramma wasp

Attractive plants

• Plants in the Apiaceae and Asteraceae families are general valuable companions.

See also

• Companion planting
• List of companion plants -- a common companion plant function is the attraction of beneficial insects.
• List of beneficial weeds
• Satoyama

External links

• Association of Natural Biocontrol Producers- trade association of the biological control industry

References

1. ^ "Farmscaping to Enhance Biological Control", ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.