By Julie McConnell, UF/IFAS Extension Bay County
Before I found myself working on a master’s degree in Entomology a few years ago I was like most people and saw little benefit in insects beyond pollination services. As I progressed through my studies, I learned about many other benefits insects provide in home landscapes such as decomposition, pest management, and as a food source for wildlife.
I have to say that as a gardener, I am most fascinated by the role of insects and spiders as predators. If you have ever tried to grow a specimen plant you likely have been frustrated by chewing or sap feeding damage on plants, but have you noticed how many other insects show up to feed on those plant feeders? Here are a few common ones and their pest management methods you should keep an eye out for in your garden.
Mantids – preying mantids are ambush predators that will eat any type of insect they can catch. They can camouflage themselves in vegetation, remain very still then quickly extend their raptorial forelegs to grasp prey.
Wheel bugs – this prehistoric looking large assassin bug has a very distinctive semi-circular crest on its thorax that resembles a cog wheel. Wheel bugs target soft bodied insects because they feed using a beak like mouth part rather than chewing jaws.
Lady beetles – many people consider lady beetles good luck and if you have an infestation of aphids, mealybug, or scale then they certainly are! Both the larvae and adults of lady beetles are voracious hunters. There are over 50 related beetles that can help keep pests in check in your garden!
Lacewing – both the larval and adult form of this insect feed on soft bodied insects. The larval form tends to pick up bits of debris that serves as camouflage, which has earned it the nickname “trash bug.” The adult form has a delicate appearance with its lace like wings. Eggs are laid in a circular pattern and suspended on thin strands that help prevent being eaten by predators. It is not unusual to find lacewing eggs on inanimate objects like windows, shade umbrellas, or even patio furniture.
Responsible pest management strategies take into account the presence of natural enemies and their ability to keep pest populations at tolerable levels. Make sure to always get accurate identification of yard pests before taking any control action. Also try to have realistic expectations about the appearance of your landscape plants. Light to moderate insect feeding will rarely impact the overall health of the plant and that feeding behavior in turn supports many other organisms in the food chain!
An Equal Opportunity Institution. UF/IFAS Extension, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Nick T. Place, dean for UF/IFAS Extension. Single copies of UF/IFAS Extension publications (excluding 4-H and youth publications) are available free to Florida residents from county UF/IFAS Extension offices.
