Beneficial Insects and their Services:
• Pollinators: Honeybees, bumble bees, orchard mason bees, wasps, flies, butterflies
• Predator Insects: Spined Soldier Bugs, Lady Bugs, Praying Mantis, Lace-wings, Spiders (not insects) and more
• Parasitizing Insects: Various wasps and flies that lay eggs within the pest insect in order to raise their young
Creating Beneficial Insect Habitat:
In order to attract beneficial insects you need to have a habitat. Many insects in adult form nectar on flowers, these flowers serve as a ‘watering hole’ for the insect community. Insects drink nectar, mate, lay eggs and then the larvae eat other insects.
A habitat includes:
Nectar rich flowers that bloom from spring until fall (April-late October) this can be accomplished by planting many species that flower in succession throughout the growing season.
Larger flowers are more noticeable to many species
Many plants in the mint and aster family are good for attracting beneficial insects
Create an overwintering habitat in the flower bed for beneficial