Forget the bats, spiders, and black cats. If you want to learn about some truly spooky creatures this Halloween, keep reading!
Many people are familiar with insect predators, like lady beetles/ladybugs, that eat other insects. But not many know about another type of good bug or “natural enemy”—parasitoids. These creepy insects can help reduce pest populations by parasitizing them.
What is a parasitoid?
Parasites such as fleas and ticks live and feed on their host without killing it. Parasitoids are like parasites but DO eventually kill their host....
- Author: Lauren Fordyce
There are many types of “good bugs” commonly found in the garden or landscape. In integrated pest management (IPM) we refer to “good bugs” as “natural enemies” or “beneficial organisms”. Natural enemies can include insects, but also mites, pathogens, and vertebrates like birds and lizards. They can kill or reduce pest populations by feeding directly on the pest, parasitizing the pest, or infecting the pest with a pathogen, reducing the need for pesticides.
Keep an eye out for the common natural enemies listed below and learn to recognize their egg and immature stages too!
