Predatory Bugs: Insects as a Natural Bug Killer?
February 2nd, 2010 Posted in Beetles & Ladybugs, Organic & Chemical Pesticides
Every season, gardeners all over battle with plant lice that eat away at their flowers and vegetables. But before you blame every insect you see for your dying flowers, know that there are actually some insects that are on your side.
Now while you want to keep a natural bug killer for indoors, some of the best protection for outside can be found living in your yard. There are some predatory insects that will not harm your garden, just your garden pests.
Read on to find out about three natural bug killers:
Lady Beetles
No, we don’t mean Paul McCartney groupies. Lady beetles are predatory bugs that feed on plant lice, mites, insect eggs and other small insects.
Plant lice, also called aphids, are found on vegetables, legumes, strawberries and some trees. If lady beetles are present, they will eat these plant lice and keep the lice from feeding on your plants.
Even when the aphids are scarce, lady beetles will eat eggs of moths and other beetles.
These natural bug killers will also target mites and other small insects that might be crawling among your flowers. If lady beetles find enough food to satisfy them in the garden, they will stick around and even lay eggs. These eggs will hatch into larvae that munch down pests by the hundreds.
Lacewings
Lacewingsare natural bug killers found all over the country. Like lady beetles, lacewings will feed on a variety of pests found in the garden. Lacewings will eat thrips, mealybugs, moth eggs, small caterpillars and other small insects. Lacewings normally live for three months, just long enough to protect your summer garden. Lacewings are divided into two types: green and brown.
Green lacewings
Even as a tiny larva, a green lacewing is a natural bug killer. Once adults, they are either mainly predatory or pollen feeding. But even the pollen feeding types are known to feast on plant lice.
You can find these buzzing about mostly in the early evening looking to eat. Eggs are laid near groups of aphids and female lacewings produce around 400 to 500 eggs each. When hatched, these larvae go to work killing the bugs that are bad for your garden.
To kill the aphids, larvae:
- Hurtle themselves directly at the aphids
- Stun aphids on contact
- Inject enzymes into the aphid
- Finish aphids off by digesting their insides
Basically, these baby bugs are not to be messed with…if you’re an aphid.
Brown lacewings
These are smaller than the green lacewings, but the adults are still predatory. Adults are found in low-growing vegetation and apple trees.
They are especially useful early in the warmer seasons. Brown lacewings are also active earlier in the evening than green lacewings.
Females, as early as three days old, lay 100 to 460 eggs, which hatch to eat more than 20 aphids or 40 mites per day.
No matter the color of the lacewing, they are beneficial for controlling plant lice that infest your garden.
Nematodes
Despite how the name sounds, nematodes are not a type of amphibian. Nematodes are tiny worms that live in the soil and feed on other insects. Nematodes will attack those insects, such as root weevils, wireworms and white grubs, that try to destroy your plants at their roots.
These predatory worms are so effective at killing bugs naturally, that you can even purchase them and add them to your soil yourself. This will ensure that your plants are not only protected on the surface, but below the ground as well.
Now that you know some natural bug killers are on your side, you can rest assured that your plants are safe.
However, some of these predators are so small, it’s hard to know if they’re working for you. For extra protection, use an organic insecticide spray to safely keep your garden green and thriving.
