Cultivation
These Predatory Insects Will Save Your Garden From Pests
Predatory Insects
These little predators will eradicate invasive pests in no time
There are lots of pests who will ruin your harvest, but did you know that there are bugs that can protect your precious plants?
Predatory insects are fast-movers with big appetites.
Fortunately, aphids, mites, thrips, and other destructive pests are relatively slow and make excellent food for predator species.
Many growers looking for organic pest control options turn to beneficial bugs to help clean up greenhouses or grow rooms.
Here are some facts about some of the most popular varieties of beneficial insects.
Ladybugs
It is said that a ladybug landing on you is a sign of good luck––the same goes for your garden. Ladybugs are one of the most well-known beneficial bugs and are proven to make your pot plants more cute.
- Ladybugs are fast-moving and have a voracious appetite
- Particularly good against aphids, but they will consume any soft-bodied insect
- A single adult ladybug can eat about 50 aphids a day
- Also eats spider mites, thrips, and whiteflies
Green Lacewings
Not only will these little guys clean up your garden, they are also really cool looking.
- Particularly effective against aphids
- Adolescent lacewings will eat aphids, thrips, and whiteflies (some argue lacewings eat mites as well, but it is contested)
- Mature lacewings don’t really eat insects, but they will eat the “honeydew” created by aphids, which helps prevent mold in your plants
- Larvae could bite you when you are handling your plants. The bites are harmless but could leave an itchy welt like a mosquito bite.
Praying Mantis
When you hear the phrase “predatory insect,” who doesn’t imagine a praying mantis? These insects are known for their aggressive nature and large appetite; they will hunt down anything in your garden.
- Praying mantis will eat anything they can overcome
- They are really fun to watch
- Praying mantis are highly mobile and may leave your garden when the food supply runs low
Predatory Nematodes
Lurking beneath the surface of your soil, these little hunters will help eliminate the most pesky of pests.
- Great for hard-to-fight fungus gnats and whiteflies
- Predatory nematodes live in the soil and will thrive through the life of your plant
