Beneficial insects (sometimes called beneficial bugs) are any of a number of species of insects that perform valued services like pollination and pest control. The concept of beneficial is subjective and only arises in light of desired outcomes from a human perspective. In agriculture, where the goal is to raise selected crops, insects that hinder the production process are classified as pests, while insects that assist production are considered beneficial. In horticulture and gardening, beneficial insects are often considered those that contribute to pest control and native habitat integration.
Ladybirds (also known as lady bugs in North America) are a beneficial insect commonly sold for biological control of aphids.
A European mantis (Mantis religiosa) hunts for prey, using a rose flower as a vantage point.
Encarsia formosa, an endoparasitic wasp, was one of the first biological control agents developed.
Some species of bee are beneficial as pollinators, although generally only efficient at pollinating plants from the same area of origin, facilitating propagation and fruit production for many plants. Also, some bees are predators or parasites of pests. This group includes not only honeybees, but also many other kinds of bees that are more efficient at pollinating plants native to their region. Bees can be attracted by many companion plants, especially bee balm and pineapple sage for honeybees, or Apiaceae like Queen Anne's lace and parsley, for predatory bees. Wasps, especially fig wasps are also beneficial as pollinators.[1]
Ladybugs are generally thought of as beneficial because they eat large quantities of aphids, mites and other arthropods that feed on various plants.
Other insects commonly identified as beneficial include:[2][3][4]
^"Wasp Pollination". U. S. Forest Service. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
^"Farmscaping to Enhance Biological Control" 2010-04-26 at the Wayback Machine, ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.
^ abXerces Society (2014). Burns, Deborah (ed.). Farming with Native Beneficial Insects: Ecological Pest Control Solutions. North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey Publishing. pp. 183–207. ISBN9781612122830.
^Miller, Carley (2021-07-22). "16 Beneficial Garden Insects to Consider". The Green Pinky. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
Additional sources
"Phillip Alampi Beneficial Insect Rearing Laboratory". State of New Jersey Department of Agriculture. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
"Beneficial insect habitat in an apple orchard: Effects on pests". Research Brief #71. Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison. September 2004. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Archived from the original on February 21, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
External links
Association of Natural Biocontrol Producers – trade association of the biological control industry
Beneficial Insects for Hydroponics
May 05, 2023
beneficial, insect, sometimes, called, beneficial, bugs, number, species, insects, that, perform, valued, services, like, pollination, pest, control, concept, beneficial, subjective, only, arises, light, desired, outcomes, from, human, perspective, agriculture. Beneficial insects sometimes called beneficial bugs are any of a number of species of insects that perform valued services like pollination and pest control The concept of beneficial is subjective and only arises in light of desired outcomes from a human perspective In agriculture where the goal is to raise selected crops insects that hinder the production process are classified as pests while insects that assist production are considered beneficial In horticulture and gardening beneficial insects are often considered those that contribute to pest control and native habitat integration Ladybirds also known as lady bugs in North America are a beneficial insect commonly sold for biological control of aphids Encouraging beneficial insects by providing suitable living conditions is a pest control strategy often used in organic farming organic gardening or integrated pest management Companies specializing in biological pest control sell many types of beneficial insects particularly for use in enclosed areas like greenhouses Contents 1 Types 1 1 Arachnids 2 Attractive plants 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Additional sources 5 External linksTypes Edit Bee boxes at an organic farm A European mantis Mantis religiosa hunts for prey using a rose flower as a vantage point Encarsia formosa an endoparasitic wasp was one of the first biological control agents developed Some species of bee are beneficial as pollinators although generally only efficient at pollinating plants from the same area of origin facilitating propagation and fruit production for many plants Also some bees are predators or parasites of pests This group includes not only honeybees but also many other kinds of bees that are more efficient at pollinating plants native to their region Bees can be attracted by many companion plants especially bee balm and pineapple sage for honeybees or Apiaceae like Queen Anne s lace and parsley for predatory bees Wasps especially fig wasps are also beneficial as pollinators 1 Ladybugs are generally thought of as beneficial because they eat large quantities of aphids mites and other arthropods that feed on various plants Other insects commonly identified as beneficial include 2 3 4 Aphid Midges Assassin bugs Damsel bugs Earwigs Green lacewings Ichneumon wasps Minute pirate bugs Fireflies Praying Mantis Soldier beetles Syrphid flies Tachinid flies Trichogramma waspsArachnids Edit Although not technically insects several types of arachnids are often included in lists of beneficial insects including 3 Jumping spiders Wolf spiders Orb weaver spiders Sheet weaver spiders Harvestmen Predatory mitesAttractive plants Edit Many plants in the family Asteraceae attract beneficial insects Plants in the families Apiaceae and Asteraceae are generally valuable companions Here are other plants that attract beneficial insects Alfalfa Alyssum Borage Calendula Cilantro Cosmos Dandelion Dill Echinacea Fennel Hyssop Lupin Marigold Milkweed Nasturtium Parsley Phacelia Queen Anne s lace Rose Rudbeckia Sunflower Wildflowers Yarrow ZinniaSee also Edit Agriculture and Agronomy portal Gardening portalBeneficial organism Beneficial weeds International Organization for Biological Control List of companion plants a common companion plant s function is the attraction of beneficial insects List of beneficial weeds Organic gardening Satoyama Sustainable gardening Wildlife gardenReferences Edit Wasp Pollination U S Forest Service United States Department of Agriculture Retrieved 5 January 2021 Farmscaping to Enhance Biological Control Archived 2010 04 26 at the Wayback Machine ATTRA National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service a b Xerces Society 2014 Burns Deborah ed Farming with Native Beneficial Insects Ecological Pest Control Solutions North Adams Massachusetts Storey Publishing pp 183 207 ISBN 9781612122830 Miller Carley 2021 07 22 16 Beneficial Garden Insects to Consider The Green Pinky Retrieved 2021 12 07 Additional sources Edit Phillip Alampi Beneficial Insect Rearing Laboratory State of New Jersey Department of Agriculture Retrieved August 2 2012 Beneficial insect habitat in an apple orchard Effects on pests Research Brief 71 Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems College of Agricultural and Life Sciences University of Wisconsin Madison September 2004 Retrieved August 2 2012 Orchardists Install Beneficial Insect and Pollinator Habit USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Archived from the original on February 21 2013 Retrieved August 2 2012 External links EditAssociation of Natural Biocontrol Producers trade association of the biological control industry Beneficial Insects for Hydroponics Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Beneficial insect amp oldid 1121544565, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
