Assassin Bugs are attracted
by carrots and Mexican Tea which is also a member of the Carrot
Family. They prey on ants, spiders, flies, Japanese beetles,
leaf hoppers and mosquitoes.
Blister Beetle Larvae
eat grasshopper eggs. Characteristics:
Blister beetles emit a hot toxic substance (Cantharidin) which
causes blisters.
Carrion Beetles require habitat, i.e. ivy and good ground cover.
They eat decaying plant material, snails and caterpillars. Characteristics:
black with orange/red markings. They have strong spiny legs for
digging. Unbelievably, two beetles can move a carcass as big
as a rat.
Damsel Bugs prey on aphids, caterpillars and leaf hoppers.
They are found in all sorts of vegetation - especially in plants
of the carrot family.
Dance Flies eat black fly larvae and mites, mosquitoes, leaf
miners, flies and scale. Characteristics: They are small and
hairy and “dance” in the air during mating season.
They are usually found on plants in moist areas.
Eulophid Wasps parasitize nearly all insects - especially leaf
miners and gall formers and they may attack eggs of other wasps.
Characteristics: Stout body. May be yellowish or brownish in
color, often metallic.
Fairy Flies lays their eggs in plant hoppers. When females
insert eggs into eggs of host, further development is arrested.
Characteristics: Tiny wasp, with yellow and dark brown colours.
May use wings as paddles in water to reach eggs of giant water
beetle.
Ichneumon Wasps are attracted by herbs in the carrot family (anise,
caraway, coriander, angelica, dill parsley, lovage, fennel and
others), the Tree of Heaven and white mustard. They lays eggs
in sawflies, gypsy moth - up to 3000 eggs in one host. Characteristics:
These wasps do not sting and like damp areas.
Plant Bugs require habitat and cover and they are attracted
by evening primrose. They eats aphids, mealy bugs and scale.
One species preys on red spider mite (on fruit trees)
Platygastrid Wasps lay eggs in the eggs of host. Larvae do not eat
vital organs of host, so that host develops. Platygastrid Wasps
control mealy bugs, midges and galls created by midges.
Spider Hunting Wasp
The venom of this wasp paralyses spiders.
After paralyzing the spider, it lays an egg on it, and buries
it in the ground.
Tiger Beetles are the fastest insect runners! They are fierce
predators and feed on various insects including ants. Characteristics:
Beautifully coloured black or metallic green with different shaped
patterns.
Nematodes Beneficial nematodes (Steinemema carpocapsea) are
especially effective against caterpillars. Nematodes can also
be used to control fleas, iris borers, grubs, cabbage root maggots
and strawberry root weevils.
Design your garden with nature in mind!
To order our book "A Notebook for Gentle Gardeners"
Contact us at 416-606-9124 or at [email protected] to book a slide show presentation on alternative gardening
Write to us at: JPL, 236 Millard Ave. Newmarket Ontario, Canada L3Y 1Z2
