Whether we’re growing plants outdoors in a garden or farm, or maintaining an indoor controlled environment like a greenhouse or dedicated growing space, we all eventually encounter pesky garden pests in our plants and facilities. I’ll be writing a series of articles covering how to tackle common garden invaders like aphids, spider mites, russet mites, caterpillars, and more.
While these harmful bugs can wreak havoc on our plants, nature thankfully provides us with a host of defenses. From cover crops to organic materials like diatomaceous earth, we have various natural options to protect our gardens and ensure healthy growth and a safe environment. One of the most effective methods is to use nature against itself by employing beneficial insects to fight off the bad ones. In this series, we'll focus on four key beneficial bugs that can significantly reduce pest problems: Ladybugs, Beneficial Nematodes, Predatory Mites, and the mighty Praying Mantis! While there are many types of beneficial insects, these four can aid us in fighting a wide range of garden pests and keeping our plants and environment safe and thriving!
Ladybugs, a Great Enemy of Aphids!
Ladybugs are known for feeding on slow-moving insects, with their primary prey being aphids-a major problem in our region (Oklahoma) and many others. In addition to aphids, ladybugs also target moth eggs, mites, mealybugs, thrips, leafhoppers, and other pests. They become effective predators in both their larval and adult stages. With a life span of up to 100 days, a single female ladybug can lay around 1,500 eggs during her lifetime!
Ladybug larvae can consume up to 400 aphids, while an adult ladybug may devour over 4,500 aphids in its lifetime!
If you need to store ladybugs, they can be kept at temperatures between 40-60°F for 1-3 weeks. When releasing them, it's best to do so in the early morning or evening when temperatures are cooler, as they tend to scatter in direct sunlight.
Ladybugs can begin reproducing immediately when they have sufficient food and moisture leading to multiple generations of ladybugs within a single grow cycle!
Predatory Mites, the Best Offensive Use on Spider Mites!
Predatory mites come in a wide variety of species, each targeting different pests. For example, the Phytoseiulus persimilis, also known as the 'two-spotted killer,' specializes in controlling two-spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae), while Amblyseius swirskii is effective against spider mites, broad mites, russet mites, and more. These beneficial insects are a great resource for tackling spider mite infestations.
One of my go-to solutions for our garden is a special blend of predatory mites, which you can easily order from Amazon, eBay, Tiptopbio, Arbico, or other beneficial bug suppliers. This blend is ideal for controlling all mite problems in gardens, greenhouses, or indoor grow facilities. Whether you're dealing with spider mites, russet mites, or broad mites, this mix contains different species of predatory mites specifically chosen to handle these issues. It's an excellent choice for beginners and those unsure of which beneficial bugs to use. When you release them, you'll notice a mix of orange and red mites with long legs—ready to get to work!
If you know exactly what pest you're dealing with, it's better to focus on a specific type of predatory mite. For example, Amblyseius swirskii is ideal if you're dealing with just russet or broad mites, while Neoseiulus andersoni is better suited for high-temperature environments.
You can order individual species of predatory mites or opt for a special blend that includes three varieties to handle all your mite troubles!
Praying Mantis FTW
The next beneficial bug to highlight is the praying mantis! Aside from their undeniable 'cool factor,' these insects are formidable predators, especially when it comes to dealing with larger pests that can invade our gardens and grow spaces. Praying mantises are known to prey on crickets, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and, surprisingly, even small birds like hummingbirds if they venture too close.
Mantises are highly territorial and are silent stalkers, known to track and hunt their prey for days before making their move. They have specialized receptors in their heads that send nerve impulses to adjust their strike with incredible accuracy—a true nightmare for any garden pests they target.
Praying mantises are typically purchased as eggs from retailers, and each egg case can hatch between 50 and 200 mantises. When hatching, the young emerge through small flaps in the egg case and hang from silken threads for about an hour until the threads dry up. One downside, however, is that it can take up to six weeks for the eggs to hatch!
Beneficial Nematodes, fighting problems from your media!
One of our personal favorites, especially for dealing with pests that lay eggs in the soil (like aphids), is the beneficial nematode. So, what exactly are they?
Beneficial nematodes are microscopic worms that naturally occur in soil. They are completely safe for people, pets, and won’t harm other beneficial insects.
These tiny hunters actively seek out insect larvae and enter through natural openings in the host. Once inside, they release a bacteria that kills the larvae—pretty gruesome, right? The nematodes then feed and reproduce within the dying insect before exiting to search for more pests. It’s like something out of a
sci-fi movie!
However, like all organisms that depend on food, nematode populations decrease as the pest population dwindles. That’s why it’s recommended to release them semi-annually to keep pests under control.
In Conclusion...
Beneficial bugs are an excellent way to combat those pesky garden pests that can wreak havoc on our gardens and grow spaces. By incorporating beneficial insects into your pest management strategy, you can reduce or even eliminate the need for sprays. This means no spray residue affecting the flavor or quality of your herbs, vegetables, or medicinal plants! There are many beneficial bugs to explore, like pirate bugs, trichogramma, assassin bugs, and more—it’s always a good idea to research which ones best suit your needs.
We created this educational overview of beneficial insects because, when used together, they can virtually eliminate all pest problems in your garden or grow facility. Ladybugs handle aphids and thrips, predatory mites take care of a wide range of spider mites, praying mantises tackle larger pests like caterpillars, and nematodes target soil-dwelling pests like eggs from spider mites, aphids, mosquitoes, and fungus gnats.
With these four beneficial insects, you’re covered from all angles—no need to worry about spraying your plants again!
Thank you for visiting our page! Be sure to check out our YouTube video, where we dive deeper into these beneficial bugs and more!
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