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This beneficial beetle is native to California and the western coastal regions of the United States and is often sold commercially for control of aboveground species of mealybugs on citrus, grapes, ornamental plants and indoor plants such as those that might be found in homes and greenhouses. Adults are oval in shape, about 1/3" , with black wing covers and the head and tip of the abdomen coral colored. Adult females lay their oval, yellow eggs among the eggs of the mealybugs, hatching in 8-10 days. The newly hatched larvae are cream colored and covered with long waxy hair-like filaments and immediately begin to feed on the eggs of the mealybugs and any young mealybugs for about 3 weeks, they then pupate on the plant. Adults, then emerge in about 2-3 weeks. Outdoors, this beetle will over winter in mild coastal regions, but indoors generations will continue year round. Both the adults and the larvae feed on the mealybug. This beetle has been used for years for control in citrus groves.
This beneficial insect is a voracious predator of small insects, mites, thrips and various insect eggs and can often be found in the garden on flowers, under loose bark or in leaf litter. Adults are very small, 1/8"-1/4" long and easily recognizable, most species are black with white markings. Adult females lay eggs on the leaves or stems of plants, in 3-5 days eggs hatch and the young nymphs begin to feed on insects on the plant for about 2-3 weeks. Nymphs are wingless and change from yellow to orange to mahogany brown as they mature. There are 2-4 generations per year with adults over wintering in crevices of stem bark, weeds and plants residues. To attract these (true) bugs to the garden, plant nectar and pollen rich flowers such as daisies, yarrow and especially goldenrod. They are also attracted to alfalfa and stinging nettle. Although they are often sold by mail, they can be collected from goldenrod, stinging nettle and other plants by shaking them into a jar or bag and then releasing them in to your own garden.
Of the many species of nematodes in the garden, most are destructive to plants and animals, but there are a few parasitic species that are often sold for biological control of various destructive insects that affect our lawns and gardens. Among the beneficial nematodes are Steinernema carpocapsae which can successfully control carpenterworms, currant borers, earwigs, navel orangeworms, onion maggots, pillbugs and sowbugs, sod webworms and strawberry root weevils, Heterorhabditis heliothidis for control of billbugs, black vine weevils, corn rootworm larvae, Japanese beetle grubs, masked chafers, mole crickets and wireworms. Both of these species will also control armyworms, cabbage root maggots, codling moth larvae, Colorado potato beetle larvae, cutworms and rose chafers. (See also general insects, in the bug book)
The praying mantis is not really a beneficial insect, nor are they considered an enemy of the garden, in fact it is somewhat hard to classify this insect one way or the other, for they not only are predaceous on the destructive insects but on the beneficial insects as well. What ever they catch, they eat and many times it's their own kind. (See harmful insects, in the bug book)
There are several beneficial species of mites that are found throughout North America and many of them are sold for control of thrips and other types of destructive spider mites often found on plants in the garden. Among the predatory mites that can be purchased for control are Phytoseiulus persimilis, used to control spider mites, especially the two-spotted and Pacific spider mites, Amblyseius cucumeris for control of western flower thrips, onion thrips, cyclamen mites and various spider mites, Metaseiulus occidentalis for control of several spider mite species, especially the European red mite and citrus red mites and a soil mite, Hypoaspis species used for control of fungus gnats, springtails and thrip pupae. To maintain these beneficial mites in the garden avoid pesticide use as much as possible and sprinkle the pollen from ice plants, cattails or dandelions on plants. (See harmful insects, in the bug book) |
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Mealybug Destroyer/ Australian
Lady Beetle (Cryptolaemus montrouzieri)
Minute Pirate Bug / Flower Bugs
(Orius tristicolor, family Anthocoridae)