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This family of beetles is a large group of insect predators with over 3000 species native to North America. They are valuable for control of many kinds of detrimental garden insects including aphids, flies eggs, maggots (especially cabbage), mites, nematodes and springtails. Adults which resemble the earwig are brown or black in color, slender with shortened fore wings and can vary from 1/10" - 1" in length. Adults lay eggs in the soil in the Spring, larvae that hatch resemble the adults, but are wingless. They will molt 3 times as they feed and then pupate in the soil. Over wintering takes place in the soil. Almost any garden with permanent plantings covered with mulch will have rove beetles for they need areas like this for over wintering.
Soldier beetles are another commonly found and beneficial beetle in the garden that resemble lightning beetles, but lack the light producing organs. Although both the beetle and its larvae are predaceous on other insects, it is the larvae that is more so, feeding on aphids, caterpillars, corn rootworms, cucumber beetles, grasshopper eggs and various beetle larvae. Adults are elongated, slender and almost flat, 1/3"-1/2" long with leathery wing covers. Larvae, are usually dark colored and covered with hairs, they over winter in the soil and pupate in the Spring. To attract the soldier beetle to your garden plant catnip, goldenrod, hydrangeas or milkweeds.
A native of North America, this beneficial bug is very similar in appearance to the stink bug, but differs from the stink bug by the prominent sharp points on each shoulder of the thorax. They are black-speckled and approximately 1/2" long. Adults that had over wintered lay eggs on the leaves of plants in the Spring. The young nymphs that hatch are similar to the adults, but lack wings and will drink water or suck plant juices for a short time before becoming predaceous on other insects. In 6-8 weeks time, the nymphs will have become adults and will live for 1-2 months. There can be 1-2 generations per year depending on the climate. Often sold by mail, these bugs can control various caterpillars and grubs including tent caterpillar, Mexican bean beetle larvae, sawfly larvae and Fall armyworms.
Most people wouldn't even think that flies could possibly be beneficial in the garden, but the Tachinidae family is the most beneficial family of all Diptera, (the order that flies belong to), all species are parasitic on other insects. Looking much like the common housefly, but slightly larger and with large and small bristles covering the abdomum, they can be gray, black or brown in color and 1/3"-1/2" long. Commonly found throughout North America, these flies prey upon some very destructive garden insects such as armyworms, cabbage loopers, cutworms, gypsy moth, tent caterpillars, Japanese beetle larvae, May beetle larvae, sawflies, squash bugs, stink bugs and several others. Egg laying by the females can be accomplished in two ways- females will sometime lay eggs on the leaves of plants where larvae will be feeding, the caterpillars will then eat the eggs and the larvae will ultimately hatch within the host. The newly hatched larvae will then begin to feed on the host insect from within or the females will lay their eggs on the caterpillars skin and upon hatching the larvae will burrow into the host insect and begin to feed. In either case, it ultimately means death for the host insect. There can be up 2 generations per year with the larvae pupating inside the dead insect or the soil nearby. If any caterpillars are noticed in the garden that have white eggs stuck on their backs, don't kill these for they are probably the eggs of the Tachinid flies and will develop into more beneficial flies. To attract these to your garden, plant pollen and nectar-rich flowers for the adults to feed on such as dill, parsley, sweet clover, goldenrods and even leave a few weeds like pigweed, wild carrots and others.
This beneficial beetle is native throughout North America and can be found in almost any garden feeding on a variety of insects including ants, aphids, beetles, caterpillars, flies, grasshoppers, spiders and a host of others. Adult tiger beetles are beautifully iridescent in color, many have patterns on their bodies, they have long legs and are 1/2"-3/4" in length. Adult females lay singular eggs in burrows made in the soil where larvae feed on any insects that come into or fall into the burrow. The segmented, S-shaped larvae are rather ugly, each with a pronounced hump covered with strong hooks on the fifth segment. There may only be 1 generation every 2-3 years with the larvae taking several years to reach adulthood. Both the adults and the larvae are beneficial in controlling insects and many forms are semi-aquatic. Since this beetle is highly attracted to light avoid the use of night light insect zappers. |
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