Worried that
miniature monsters like aphids, hornworms or corn borers will chomp a swath
through your carefully planted garden this year? These insect pests can be the
organic gardener’s worst enemy. But not all insects are harmful. In fact,
so-called beneficial insects can help you fight the nasty ones. So nurture a
balanced, biologically diverse environment in your garden and let nature help
you with pest control.
The
use of insects to suppress other insects dates back at least to the fourth
century A.D. when ants were manipulated to control citrus pests in China.
Aphids, worms and caterpillars, spider mites, thrips, greenhouse whiteflies,
flies, mealybugs, sweet potato whiteflies, mosquitoes, fire ants, grasshoppers
and broadmites can all be controlled in this manner.
There are basically two categories of insects
used to control other insects – predators and parasites. Insect predators like
the praying mantis and ladybug feed directly on their prey, killing them
immediately. They are generally larger than their prey and must eats lots of
prey to grow. Other, smaller and weaker, insects like wasps and flies parasitize
their hosts by depositing eggs on or in them, eventually killing them by using
the host for food.
There are two ways to get beneficial insects
into your garden. You can lure them there naturally or you can introduce
purchased ones. If you are unable to attract beneficial insects into your yard,
or you are dealing with a specific pest or you are gardening in an enclosed area
such as a greenhouse, purchasing and releasing some beneficial insects may be
the best plan. Suppliers ship by mail and can recommend specific solutions that
are beyond the broad scope of this article.
Otherwise, make sure your garden is friendly to
beneficial insects. Insects need ...
