|
Big-eyed
Bug
Benefits:
The big-eyed bug and its nymphs eat spider mites, aphids, leafhoppers,
plant bugs, boll worms, tobacco budworms, whiteflies, soybean loopers,
and small caterpillars. An individual bug can consume dozens of these
insects each day.
Size:
3 - 6 mm
Description:
The big-eyed bug shows the recognizable criss-cross pattern of true bugs
and lacks the hardened wing covers of beetles. It is oval-shaped with
a broad head, but it is its large eyes that distinguish it. Young big-eyed
bugs look similar to adults but are wingless.
Attracting:
Allow a corner of your garden to go a bit "weedy". The big-eyed
bug is particularly fond of goldenrod, soybeans, and pigweed. It is also
a seed feeder (although its feeding does not damage plants), so you can
provide a refuge by planting sunflowers. It is very susceptible to broad-spectrum
pesticides, so avoid the use of these products. A water source is also
helpful.
|
Did
you know? A single big-eyed bug nymph can eat as many as 1,600
spider mites before it becomes an adult. An adult can eat up to
80 a day.
|
top
Braconid
Wasp
Benefits:
The braconid wasp parasitizes and kills aphids, flies, coddling moths,
elm bark beetles, cabbageworms, hornworms, corn borers, armyworms, and
other pest insects.
Size:
2.5 - 12 mm
Description:
These tiny wasps are not brightly coloured like some other wasps, but
generally come in black or brown and have thin waists and long antennae.
Their larvae are pale-coloured grubs.
Attracting:
The adult braconid drinks nectar and water, so be sure to supply both.
It is particularly attracted to plants with small flowers, such as dill,
fennel, parsley, Queen Anne's lace, clover, and yarrow. If you see caterpillars
with attached cocoons, leave them so that the wasps can continue to develop.
|
Did
you know? The female braconid wasp injects her eggs into the
body of a caterpillar. The larvae hatch, feed inside the caterpillar's
body until they mature, and then eat their way out.
|
top
Green
Lacewing
Positve
Attributes: The larvae of the green lacewing are called aphid lions
for the gluttonous way they devour these pests. They will also eat other
soft-bodied insects, larvae, and eggs, such as mealybugs, scale insects,
and spider mites. The adult green lacewing also preys on soft-bodied insects,
although in some species the adults feed only on nectar and aphid honeydew.
Size: 10
- 20 mm
Description:
True to its name, this delicate-looking creature has impressive, clear,
green-veined wings. Its body is pale green and it has bulging, coppery
eyes. The larva is like a small, dappled grey-brown alligator with pincers
on its head.
Attracting:
Provide pollen and nectar sources, particularly goldenrod, coreopsis,
or Queen Anne's lace. Allow a corner of your garden to go a little "wild".
These helpful predators will also appreciate a source of water.
|
Did
you know? The female green lacewing lays her eggs individually
on separate long, silky stalks. This keeps the voracious larvae
from devouring their siblings.
|
top
Darner
Benefits:
The darner speeds through the air over ponds and lakes in search of mosquitoes,
midges, flies, and other flying insects. It catches its prey on the wing
by grasping it with its long legs. Darner nymphs live in the water and
feed heavily on small aquatic insects and sometimes even tadpoles and
small fish. Despite some superstitions, dragonflies do not sting people.
Size:
60 - 120 mm
Description: The darner is Canada's largest dragonfly and comes
in brilliant blue, yellow, brown, or green, like the green darner shown.
Like other dragonflies, the darner has a long slender body, large eyes,
and two pairs of wings that it holds out flat when resting. Nymphs are
short and broad with long legs and bulbous eyes, and are camouflaged in
dull greens and browns to help them hunt effectively. Nymphs moult (shed
their skin) 10 to 14 times as they grow. Once fully mature, they crawl
out of the water and emerge from their final larval skin as adults.
Attracting:
Build a pond, preferably without fish, with a lot of aquatic vegetation.
|
Did
you know? Some darner species can spend six years in the larval
stage.
|
top
Ground
Beetle
Benefits:
Both the adult and larvae of the ground beetle are predators. They emerge
at night to hunt cutworms, slugs, snails, and other pests. Some species,
such as the fiery searcher, climb trees in search of prey. Dubbed the
"caterpillar hunter," both adults and larvae of this species
hunt tent caterpillars and gypsy moths among tree branches.
Size: 18
- 24 mm
Description:
A large, mostly black, brown, or blue, often iridescent beetle. Its abdomen
is generally much wider than the front part of its body. The wing covers
of most ground beetles have faint lengthwise grooves. Their larvae are
elongated, paler in colour, and wormlike, with prominent jaws.
Attracting:
During the day, the ground beetle hides under rocks, logs, and other
ground cover, so be sure to provide sufficient shelter. It also lays its
eggs in the ground, so limit soil disturbance. Provide permanent perennial
beds and mulched pathways.
|
Did
you know? Search out ground beetles under rocks and logs, but
be careful if you handle them. Some of the larger species can pinch
you with their strong jaws if they are mishandled. Others will emit
foul odours as a defence mechanism.
|
top
Lady
Beetle
Positve
Attributes: The lady beetle is an avid predator of aphids, scale insects,
mites, whiteflies, and other insects. A single adult can eat up to 60
aphids a day, larvae even more.
Size: 1.5
- 10 mm
Description:
The lady beetle is round- or oval-shaped, with a flat underside and rounded
back. It ranges in colour from pale yellow to dark red with a wide variety
of markings. Some have spots, while others have no spots at all. Its larvae
look like spiny alligators. There are actually over 400 North American
species of lady beetle, so a field guide is necessary for species identification.
Attracting:
Plant lots of nectar- and pollen-rich plants, such as butterfly weed,
goldenrod, and yarrow. Allow a corner of your yard to go "wild"
with such plants as Queen Anne's lace. Let herbs, such as fennel, dill,
or coriander, flower.
|
Did
you know? The bright markings on the lady beetle's wing covers
serve as a warning to potential predators. If threatened, a lady
beetle will squirt a foul-tasting liquid from its joints. It only
takes one taste to learn that making a meal of these colourful creatures
is not a good idea.
|
top
Spined
Soldier Bug
Benefits:
Both the adult and larvae of the spined soldier bug are fierce
predators that feed on a great variety of prey. Their particular favourites
are caterpillars and beetle larvae. They feed on Colorado potato beetles,
Mexican bean beetles, tent caterpillars, grasshoppers, aphids, cabbageworms,
and cucumber beetles.
Size:
10 - 12 mm
Description:
This speckled, brown bug can be recognized by the sharp points on each
side of its shoulders. Its larvae are similar to adults in appearance
but without wings.
Attracting:
Add pollen sources, particularly goldenrod or milkweed species. Minimize
soil disturbance and provide permanent perennial beds to protect overwintering
larvae and pupating beetles. Allow leaf litter to remain on some of your
planting beds as a winter refuge for adults. Avoid the use of pesticides.
(Research has shown that the spined soldier bug is more susceptible than
its prey to certain pesticides.)
|
Did
you know? The spined soldier bug has a thickened beak kept folded
under its body when not feeding. When hunting, it extends the beak
forward and uses it to impale its victims, inject them with a paralysing
substance, and suck out their juices.
|
top
Rove
Beetle
Benefits:
The rove beetle and its larvae help control populations of aphids, spider
mites, flies, and springtails. It also decomposes organic matter.
Size: 2
- 20 mm
Description:
This long, slender insect, with its very short wing covers, doesn't really
look like a beetle. The rove beetle is generally brown or black and many
species resemble the earwig. You can tell them apart by the lack of "pincers"
at the tail end of the rove beetle. When it runs it will often hold its
tail end curled up like a scorpion does.
Attracting:
Be sure to maintain organic material in your garden soil by adding compost
and leaf mulch regularly. Mulch also provides winter shelter and hiding
places. Permanent stone or mulched pathways are other sources of shelter.
Avoid excess soil tillage to protect any eggs laid in the soil.
|
Did
you know? The rove beetle is attracted to death. It is drawn
to carcasses, not by the meat, but by the smorgasbord of insects
it attracts. The rove beetle feeds on the maggots, flies, and other
beetles that gather around carcasses.
|
top
Minute
Pirate Bug
Benefits:
The adult pirate bug and its nymphs feed on spider mites, thrips, whiteflies,
small caterpillars, corn borers, leafhopper nymphs, and other small insects
and eggs.
Size: 3
mm
Description:
The minute pirate bug is a tiny, oval-shaped bug with black and white
patterning on its back. Its teardrop-shaped nymphs change colour as they
grow - from yellow, through orange, to brown.
Attracting:
Plant lots of pollen and nectar sources, since the minute pirate bug relies
on these for food when prey is scarce. Particular favourites are daisies,
goldenrod, yarrow, alfalfa, and even stinging nettle. Provide perennials
and shrubs with a spectrum of blooming times. You can also allow a corner
of your garden to go a little "wild." Because it sucks juices
from plants (without damaging them) the minute pirate bug is susceptible
to pesticides. Avoid their use. Allow leaf litter to remain on planting
beds to provide overwintering spots for adults.
|
Did
you know? The minute pirate bug is known to bite humans, particularly
in late summer. You may mistake its bite for a mosquito or fly bite,
though the pirate bug is not after your blood.
|
top
Hover
Fly
Benefits:
The
adult hover fly (also called the syrphid fly) pollinates flowers. The
larvae of some species are important predators of aphids, scale insects,
mealybugs, thrips, and leafhoppers.
Size: 5
- 18 mm
Description:
The adult hover fly is yellow or white with black stripes and large eyes.
Many closely resemble wasps. Its larvae, on the other hand, are grey or
greenish, slug-like creatures.
Attracting:
Good nectar sources are vital, so provide a variety of flowering plants.
Choose ones with small, multiple flowers, such as goldenrod or yarrow.
Also try coreopsis, gaillardia, or coneflower. Locate flowers in a sheltered
spot to provide protection from the wind. Avoid the use of pesticides.
|
Did
you know? Many hover flies look so much like wasps that they
can be difficult to tell apart. This is complicated by the fact
that the hover fly is so named for its tendency to "hover"
by flowers. Unlike wasps, however, the hover fly doesn't sting.
If the creature you are looking at has long antennae and a cylindrical
abdomen, be careful because it is a wasp. If it has tiny antennae
and a flattened abdomen, it's a hover fly.
|
top
Tachinid
Fly
Benefits:
The tachinid fly parasitizes a wide variety of problem insects. Some of
the creatures its larvae like to snack on include cutworms, armyworms,
sawflies, squash and stink bugs, tent caterpillars, gypsy moth larvae,
and the larvae of grasshoppers.
Size:
8 - 14 mm
Description:
8 - 14 mm The tachinid fly looks like an oversized, speckled, bristly,
brown or black housefly. Unlike houseflies, however, the tachinid fly
prefers to stay outside to hang around your flowers.
Attracting:
The adult tachinid fly drinks nectar, so it is important to provide a
variety of flowering plants for blooms throughout the gardening season.
Allow a corner of your garden to go a little "wild" with flowering
Queen Anne's lace or other wildflowers. Plant some goldenrod, and if you
have a herb garden, allow your dill or parsley to flower. Any caterpillar
you see with white eggs stuck to its back should be left alone, as the
eggs will hatch into more tachinid flies.
|
Did
you know? Some female tachinid flies place their eggs on leaves
where caterpillars will eat them. The eggs then hatch within the
host caterpillar and devour it from the inside out.
|
top
Tiger
Beetle
Benefits:
The tiger beetle and its larvae are ferocious predators of ants, aphids,
beetles, caterpillars, flies, grasshoppers, and other insects.
Size: 10
- 20 mm
Description:
The tiger beetle can be quite beautiful, with brilliant metallic colours
or bold designs. Look for it during the day in areas of open ground, since
most of these beetles are sun lovers. You'll have to be very quick, though,
because it'll run as soon as it sees you coming and it is very quick on
its long legs. (If you're lucky enough to get close, watch out for its
strong jaws!)
Attracting:
Create permanent perennial beds to provide safe cover. Leave some areas
of open soil where the tiger beetle can easily spot and chase down its
prey. The tiger beetle is often attracted to lights at night, so avoid
the use of any insect light traps or you might catch some of these very
beneficial creatures.
|
Did
you know? The larva of the tiger beetle is a resourceful hunter.
It constructs burrows in the soil where it hides in wait for passing
insects. Any that venture too close will be snagged in its powerful
jaws.
|
top
Ambush
Bug
Benefits:
A ruthless, powerful, fighting machine, the ambush bug is an effective
predator. It relies on its camouflage to keep hidden as it waits among
the flowers to snatch any insects that come along. It feeds on mites,
thrips, flies, moths, bugs, and wasps. The nymphs are also predaceous.
Drawbacks:
The ambush bug doesn't distinguish between the good guys and the bad ones,
often preying on beneficial pollinators like butterflies and bees. They
will even take on such large prey as the bumblebee.
Size: 8
- 12 mm
Description:
This distinctive-looking creature can be identified by its "armour"
and oversized front legs. Its green or brown-yellow colour allows it to
disappear among the flowers. Nymphs are similar to adults but wingless.
Attracting:
The ambush bug favours goldenrod as a hiding place. Avoid the use of pesticides
to prevent harming these bugs as they lay camouflaged among your flowers.
|
Did
you know? The ambush bug injects digestive fluid into its prey,
which softens the prey's insides so they can be sucked out.
|
top
|
