Plants that Attract Beneficials (A1)

Beneficial

Pests

How to attract/conserve

Aphid midge (Aphiodoletes aphidimyza)

(Larvae are aphid predators)

Aphid

Dill, mustard, thyme, sweet clover;
Shelter garden from strong winds;
Provide water in a pan filled with gravel (A2).

Aphid parasites (Aphidius matricariae and others)

Aphid

Nectar-rich plants with small flowers (anise, caraway, dill, parsley, mustard family, white clover, Queen Anne's lace, yarrow). Don't use yellow sticky traps (A2).

Assassin bug (Reduviidae family)

Many insects, including flies, tomato hornworm, large caterpillars

Permanent plantings for shelter (e.g., hedgerows)

Bigeyed Bugs
(Geocoris spp. of Lygaeid Family)

(lines represent actual size)

After Ore. Agric. Exp. Stn. Bull. 749

Many insects, including other bugs, flea beetles, spider mites, insect eggs and small caterpillars. Will also eat seeds (A12).

Can build up in cool-season cover crops such as berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrium) and subterranean clovers (Trifolium subterraneum). Can be found on common knotweed (Polygonum aviculare) as well (A11).

Braconid wasp (Braconidae family)

After USDA Bull. 233

Armyworm, cabbageworm, codling moth, gypsy moth, European corn borer, beetle larvae, flies, aphid, caterpillars, other insects

Nectar plants with small flowers (caraway, dill, parsley, Queen Anne's lace, fennel, mustard, white clover, tansy, yarrow), sunflower, hairy vetch, buckwheat, cowpea, common knotweed, crocuses, spearmint (A2, A3, A4, A6).

Damsel bug
(Nabidae family)

Aphid, thrips, leafhopper, treehopper, small caterpillars

Anything in the sunflower family as well as goldenrod, yarrow, alfalfa.

Ground beetle
(Carabidae family)

After Packard, 1889

Slug, snail, cutworm, cabbage-root maggot; some prey on Colorado potato beetle, gypsy moth and tent caterpillar

Permanent plantings, amaranth; white clover in orchards, mulching.

Lacewing, Neuroptera Family
(Chrysoperla and Chrysopa spp.)

Top: adult; Middle: larva; Bottom: eggs

(lines represent actual size)

After Extension Service 4-H Handbook

Soft-bodied insects including aphid, thrips, mealybug, scale, caterpillars, mite

Carrot family (caraway, Queen Anne's lace, tansy, dill, angelica), sunflower family (coreopsis, cosmos, sunflowers, dandelion, goldenrod), buckwheat, corn, holly leaf cherry (Prunus ilicifolia), flowering bottle tree (Brachychiton populneum), soapbark tree (Quillaja saponaria). Provide water during dry spells (A2, A3, A4, A6, A7).

Ladybird beetle or ladybug
(Hippodamia spp. and others)

(lines represent actual size)

After USDA Bull. 2148

Aphid, mealybug, spider mite, soft scales

Once aphids leave a crop, lady beetles will also. To retain active lady beetles , maintain cover crops or other hosts of aphids or alternate prey (A11). Carrot family (fennel, angelica, dill, tansy, bishop's weed (Ammi), Queen Anne's lace), sunflower family (goldenrod, coreopsis, cosmos, golden marguerite (Anthemis), dandelion, sunflower, yarrow), crimson clover, hairy vetch, grains and native grasses, butterfly weed (Asclepias), black locust, buckwheat, euonymus, rye, hemp sesbania (Sesbania exaltata), soapbark tree, buckthorn (Rhamnus), saltbush (Atriplex spp.), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) (A2, A3, A4, A6, A7, A8).

Mealybug destroyer (Cryptolaemus montrouzieri)

Mealybug

Carrot family (fennel, dill, angelica, tansy), sunflower family (goldenrod, coreopsis, sunflower, yarrow) (A2).

Minute Pirate Bug
(Anthocorid Family, Orius spp.)

(line represents actual size)

After Oregon Exp. Station Bull. 749

Thrips, spider mite, leafhopper, corn earworm, small caterpillars, many other insects

Effective predators of corn earworm eggs. Carrot family (Queen Anne's lace, tansy, coriander, bishop's weed, chervil), sunflower family (cosmos, tidy tips (Layia), goldenrod, daisies, yarrow), baby-blue-eyes (Nemophila), hairy vetch, alfalfa, corn, crimson clover, buckwheat, blue elderberry (Sambucus caerulea) willows, shrubs. Maintain permanent plantings or hedgerows (A2, A4, A6, A7, A9).

 Parasitic nematodes

Nematodes

Marigolds, chrysanthemum, gaillardia, helenium, Eriophyllus lanatum, horseweed (Conyza canadensis), hairy indigo, castor bean, Crotalaria spp., Desmodium spp., sesbania, mexicantea (Chenopodium ambrosioides), shattercane (Sorghum bicolor), lupines, Phaseolus atropurpurens (A10).

Praying mantis
(Mantis spp.)

Any insect (including beneficials)

Cosmos, brambles. Protect native species by avoiding pesticides (A3).

Predatory mite (Typhlodromus spp.)

After Oregon Extension Service

Spider mite

There are many species of predatory mites with ecological requirements-especially with respect to humidity and temperature-particular to the species. Avoid use of insecticides. Provide beneficial refugia for non-crop habitat of non-crop mite prey.

Predatory thrips (Thripidae family)

Spider mite, aphid, other thrips, Oriental fruit moth, codling moth, bud moth, peach twig borer, alfalfa weevil, whitefly, leafminer, scale

There are several species of predatory thrips. Predatory thrips populations may be conserved/maintained by having non-crop populations of plant-feeding mites (e.g., European red mite, two-spotted spider mite), scales, aphids, moth eggs, leafhoppers, and other thrips.

Rove beetle (Staphylinidae family)

Aphid, springtail, nematode, flies; some are parasitic on cabbage-root maggot

Permanent plantings; interplant strips of rye, grains, and cover crops; mulch beds; make stone or plant walkways in garden to provide refuges.

Spider

Many insects

Caraway, dill, fennel, cosmos, marigold, spearmint (A2, A6).

Spider mite destroyer (Stethorus spp.)

Spider mite

Carrot family (dill, fennel, etc.), mustard family (sweet alyssum, candytuft, etc.).

Spined soldier bug (Podisus maculiventris)

Fall armyworm, sawfly, Colorado potato beetle, Mexican bean beetle

Sunflower family (goldenrod, yarrow), bishop's weed; Maintain permanent plantings (A7).

Syrphid fly
(Hover flies)
(Syrphidae family)

(lines represent actual size)

After USDA Bull. 1930

Aphid

Carrot family (Queen Anne's lace, dill, fennel, caraway, tansy, parsley, coriander, bishop's weed), the sunflower family (coreopsis, Gloriosa daisy, yarrow, cosmos, sunflower, marigolds), candytuft, sweet alyssum, ceanothus, holly-leaved cherry (Prunus ilicifolia), buckwheat, scabiosa, spearmint, coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis), knotweed (Polygonum aviculare), California lilacs (Ceanothus spp.), soapbark tree, meadow foam (Linnanthes douglasii), baby-blue-eyes (Nemophila); (A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7).

Tachinid fly
(Tachinidae family)

After U.S.D.A

Cutworm, armyworm, tent caterpillar, cabbage looper, gypsy moth; some attack sawfly, Japanese beetle, May beetle, squash bug, green stink bug, sowbug

Carrot family (caraway, bishop's weed, coriander, dill, parsley, Queen Anne's lace, fennel), goldenrod, sweet clover, Phacelia spp., sweet alyssum, buckwheat, amaranth, buckthorn, Heteromeles arbutifolia (A2, A3, A4, A6, A7).

Tiger beetle
(Cicindelidae family)

After MA State Board of Agriculture, 1862

Many insects

Maintain permanent plantings and some exposed dirt or sand areas.

Chalcid wasps
(many families, including Trichogrammatidae)

(line represents actual size) After USDA Bull. 1642

Spruce budworm, cotton bollworm, tomato hornworm, corn earworm, corn borer, codling moth, other moths

Maintain a diversity of plants, including dill, anise, caraway, hairy vetch, spearmint, Queen Anne's lace, buckwheat, common knotweed, yarrow, white clover, tansy, cowpea, fennel, cosmos, chervil. For orchards, provide a mix of clover and flowering weeds (A2, A3, A6).

Whitefly parasitic wasp (Encarsia formosa)

Greenhouse whitefly, sweet potato whitefly

Carrot family (Queen Anne's lace, dill, fennel, tansy), sunflower family (yarrow, sunflower, cosmos, coreopsis) (A2).