Natural pest control solutions are becoming more popular but can only be effective in certain situations. Garden pest management i...
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Using beneficial insects to help manage insect pests can be a significant part of a successful pest-management plan in your garden. However, there is more to it than just buying some ladybirds and releasing them in your garden.
Knowing what these insects can and cannot do, along with how to attract them to your landscape, is very important. There are two broad groups of beneficial insects: The predators and the parasitoids.
Predator insects are usually larger than their prey and provide pest control by consuming problem insects such as aphids and whitefly. Examples of predator insects include ladybirds, ground beetles and lacewings.
Parasitoid insects are typically the same size or smaller than their prey, and rather than consuming it, they usually lay eggs into the host pest insect, which develop inside the pest itself, eventually killing it. Examples of parasitoid insects include very small non-stinging wasps.
What the beneficial insect feeds on will determine how desirable it is for a pest management program. Ladybirds have long been used for pest control, as both adult beetles and larva feed heavily on soft-bodied pests, including aphids, scale nymphs, whitefly and similar insect pests.
While there are a variety of insects available to buy to be released for pest control, there are many naturally occurring species in our area. Encouraging them to develop in your garden can help reduce pest problems, especially aphids, scale, and mites.
In addition, providing a stable environment through the use of perennial plantings is also very effective. Many adult beneficial insects, including lacewings and syrphid flies, are attracted to pollen and nectar, and so by providing flowers in bloom for much of the season is very helpful in encouraging them to take up residence in your garden.
Natural pest control through use of beneficial insects may not solve all plant pest problems, but can be significant. Avoiding broad spectrum insecticide sprays will help them flourish.
There are a number of good printed and online references available on these often fascinating insects, which will give you more information to help you battle insect pests in the 2007 gardening season.
Article provided by Lavender Pest Control