Insects

These incredible insects use their super strength to move balls of dung from one place to the other, cleaning up the world around them. They use the dung for nutrition. Without dung beetles, our world would be a dirtier, smellier place.

• Benefit —Dung removal, decomposition
• *Harmful — None
• Reinforcement — Rotational grazing
• Avoid — Use caution when treating pastures with insecticides
• Sources
  • Dung beetle, University of Wisconsin
  • Promoting dung beetles on the range, South Dakota State University

Worms are everywhere, especially on a rainy day. But they are also one of your best friends in the garden. Worms are incredible efficient decomposers, meaning they eat dead or decaying matter. They are very good at putting that energy back into the soil again for your plants to use. They also help improve soil texture.

• Benefit — Removal of dead and decay, soil nutrients, soil texture
• *Harmful — Ground worms pose no threat to humans, this does not refer to parasitic worms
• Identification — How to identify earthworms
• Reinforcement — How to attract earthworms to your garden
• Avoid — Too dry soil, too wet soil
• Source — Earthworms

Tachinid flies are a large group of parasitic flies with many different host insects. Adult females will either lay eggs straight into a host insect, such as a caterpillar, or they may give birth to live young near a host. Larvae will feed on their host slowly killing them.

• Benefit — Death of pest species, good pollinators
• *Harmful — May parasitize some beneficial insects (but not many)
• Target species — Beetle larvae, true bugs, butterfly larvae, moth larvae, grass hopper and others
• Identification — Look like a brown or black housefly but with very bristly hair on abdomen
• Reinforcement — Adults will feed on nectar and aphids, so having flowers around is helpful
• Avoid — Broad spectrum insecticides (will kill many of your pollinators also)
• Source — Tachinid flies

Bald faced hornets are voracious predators. They can quickly reduce unwanted populations of pest insects. They are also fantastic pollinators as the adults will forage for nectar.

• Benefits
  • Pollination
  • Predation of pest species such as yellowjackets
• *Harmful
  • Will sometimes graze on plants like raspberries
  • May want to avoid if sensitive or allergic to stings — they will defend their nests
• Target species — Yellowjackets and others
• Identification
  • Named for the unique white markings on it's face
  • Will make a traditional "hornets nest"
• Reinforcement — Let the nest be for calmer insects
• Avoid — Any wasp/hornet sprays will kill them, as well as broad spectrum insecticides
• Source — Bald faced hornet: dangerous bug or beneficial insect? 

Bees are certainly incredible insects. We have 400-500 species of bees in Idaho. Bees are one of our top pollinators for flowers and home gardens, but also commercial crops. Bees also make honey, which many of us enjoy.

• Benefit — Pollination, honey
• *Harmful — If allergic to stings
• Identification — A beginner's field guide to identifying bees (pdf), Colorado State University
• Reinforcement — Plant flowers, especially blues and purples
• Avoid — Don't use broad-spectrum insecticides
• Source — Honey bees plus pollinators, Washington State University 

Butterflies add beautiful color and finesse to the landscape. They also help to pollinate your plants while visiting. It's important to know some butterflies and moths can also be harmful to your plants.

• Benefit — Pollination as they seek nectar
• *Harmful — Many butterfly larvae are damaging to their preferred host plant
• Target species — Some butterfly larvae target undesirable plants (weeds) and can be used to control them
• Identification — Butterflies
• Reinforcement — Planting a variety of flowers will attract adult butterflies to your yard. Choosing specific host plants for larvae will attract adults to lay their eggs in your yard.
• Avoid — Broad spectrum insecticides, some caterpillars affected by BT products
• Source — Attracting butterflies to the garden, Colorado State University 

Damsel bugs are unique-looking true bugs that prey on many pestiferous insects. They especially feed on aphids and mites, which cause problems for most home gardeners. These are excellent insects to have in your yard.

• Benefit — Controls pest populations
• *Harmful — None, may sometimes feed on other beneficial insects
• Target species — Aphids, beetles, caterpillars and other larvae, mites, thrips and many others
• Identification — Damsel bug, North Carolina State University
• Reinforcement — Plant plants that will give the damsel bug plenty of places to hide, like grasses or feathery plants like fennel
• Avoid — Broad spectrum insecticides
• Source — Damsel bugs, University of California IPM

Ground beetles can be found everywhere, and most people don't like finding them. However, these creepy crawlies are awesome predators and are helping you out in the garden.

• Benefit — Control of pest populations
• *Harmful — None
• Target species — Will eat many species
• Identification — Predaceous ground beetles, University of California IPM
• Reinforcement — Planting tall grass where they like to hide, using mulch
• Avoid — Reduce or avoid tillage
• Source — Ground beetles: predators that provide benefits in agricultural landscapes, South Dakota State University

There are both brown and green lacewings; called lacewing because of their lacey, see-through wings. These insects are voracious predators as larvae. Larvae have big, strong jaws for capturing and eating prey.

• Benefit — Reduce pest populations, adults pollinate while foraging for nectar
• *Harmful — None
• Target species — Aphids
• Identification — Green lacewings: beneficial predators for both small and large-scale landscapes, South Dakota State University
• Reinforcement — Plenty of flowering plants season long
• Leave some plant debris in fall for them to overwinter in
• Avoid — Broad spectrum insecticides
• Source — Lacewing, University of Minnesota

Ladybugs, ladybird beetles or lady beetles are very abundant in Idaho and often a favorite to look at. Lady bug larvae are excellent predators. Adults may feed on plants but are usually not harmful.

• Benefit — Reduce pest populations
• *Harmful — None
• Target species — Aphids, mites, scales, whiteflies, etc.
• Identification — Lady beetles, University of California IPM
• Reinforcement — Plant flowers, they are attracted to anything rich in pollen, like yellows and whites
• Avoid — Broad spectrum insecticides, competitive invasive species

Praying mantes are among the most voracious predators in the insect world. Even newly hatched young will catch and kill other insects. These can be some of your best friends in the garden.

• Benefit — Reduce pest populations
• *Harmful — Will eat anything, including beneficial insects
• Target species — Will eat anything that moves, including lizards, frogs and other small animals
• Identification
  • Praying mantises have a very unique look with their swiveling heads, large eyes and saw-like arms
  • Mantids or praying mantises, University of California IPM
• Reinforcement
  • Look for oothecas (egg sacks) in the fall and make sure they are well protected to last the winter
  • Oothecas can also be purchased
• Avoid — Avoid broad spectrum insecticides
• Source — Praying mantis, Iowa State University

We are lucky to live in Idaho where there are very few spiders that cause harm to humans. Most spiders are extremely helpful, trapping and eating other insects.  

• Benefit — Reduce pest insect populations
• *Harmful — Black widows can cause sickness through their bite
• Target species — Any insect
• Identification
  • Spiders in the home, Colorado State University
  • Spider identification and management, Montana State University (pdf)
• Reinforcement — Don't disturb webs outdoors
• Avoid — Avoid broad spectrum insecticides
• Sources
  • Common garden spiders, University of California IPM
  • Top 20 arachnids, Utah State University

Syrphid flies or hoverflies, are small predacious flies that love to hang around your flowers. They feast on insects eating your plants, such as aphids. They will also eat some pollen. They are often yellow or orange and black striped, making some believe they are tiny wasps or bees. They are just flies and cannot sting you.

• Benefit — Control of pest populations
• *Harmful — None
• Target species — Aphids, other soft-bodied insects
• Identification — Small fly, iridescent or clear wings, very large, often red, eyes, black and yellow or orange stripes on abdomen
• Reinforcement
  • Plant lots of flowers, season long blooms, provide windbreaks or plant flowers in protected areas
  • Syrphid flies, University of Minnesota (see Promoting syrphid flies in gardens and farms section)
• Avoid — Avoid broad spectrum insecticides, avoid using insecticides on aphids
• Sources
  • Syrphids (flower flies or hover flies), University of California IPM
  • Syrphid fly (Sphaerophoria philanthus) U.S. Forest Service
  • Syrphid flies (hover flies, flower flies), Washington State University

Ground beetles can be found everywhere, and most people don't like finding them. However, these creepy crawlies are awesome predators and are helping you out in the garden.

• Benefit — Control of pest populations
• *Harmful — None
• Target species — Will eat many species
• Identification — Predaceous ground beetles, University of California IPM
• Reinforcement — Planting tall grass where they like to hide, using mulch
• Avoid — Reduce or avoid tillage
• Source — Ground beetles: predators that provide benefits in agricultural landscapes, South Dakota State University

There are both brown and green lacewings; called lacewing because of their lacey, see-through wings. These insects are voracious predators as larvae. Larvae have big, strong jaws for capturing and eating prey.

• Benefit — Reduce pest populations, adults pollinate while foraging for nectar
• *Harmful — None
• Target species — Aphids
• Identification — Green lacewings: beneficial predators for both small and large-scale landscapes, South Dakota State University
• Reinforcement — Plenty of flowering plants season long
• Leave some plant debris in fall for them to overwinter in
• Avoid — Broad spectrum insecticides
• Source — Lacewing, University of Minnesota

Ladybugs, ladybird beetles or lady beetles are very abundant in Idaho and often a favorite to look at. Lady bug larvae are excellent predators. Adults may feed on plants but are usually not harmful.

• Benefit — Reduce pest populations
• *Harmful — None
• Target species — Aphids, mites, scales, whiteflies, etc.
• Identification — Lady beetles, University of California IPM
• Reinforcement — Plant flowers, they are attracted to anything rich in pollen, like yellows and whites
• Avoid — Broad spectrum insecticides, competitive invasive species

Praying mantes are among the most voracious predators in the insect world. Even newly hatched young will catch and kill other insects. These can be some of your best friends in the garden.

• Benefit — Reduce pest populations
• *Harmful — Will eat anything, including beneficial insects
• Target species — Will eat anything that moves, including lizards, frogs and other small animals
• Identification
  • Praying mantises have a very unique look with their swiveling heads, large eyes and saw-like arms
  • Mantids or praying mantises, University of California IPM
• Reinforcement
  • Look for oothecas (egg sacks) in the fall and make sure they are well protected to last the winter
  • Oothecas can also be purchased
• Avoid — Avoid broad spectrum insecticides
• Source — Praying mantis, Iowa State University

We are lucky to live in Idaho where there are very few spiders that cause harm to humans. Most spiders are extremely helpful, trapping and eating other insects.  

• Benefit — Reduce pest insect populations
• *Harmful — Black widows can cause sickness through their bite
• Target species — Any insect
• Identification
  • Spiders in the home, Colorado State University
  • Spider identification and management, Montana State University (pdf)
• Reinforcement — Don't disturb webs outdoors
• Avoid — Avoid broad spectrum insecticides
• Sources
  • Common garden spiders, University of California IPM
  • Top 20 arachnids, Utah State University

Syrphid flies or hoverflies, are small predacious flies that love to hang around your flowers. They feast on insects eating your plants, such as aphids. They will also eat some pollen. They are often yellow or orange and black striped, making some believe they are tiny wasps or bees. They are just flies and cannot sting you.

• Benefit — Control of pest populations
• *Harmful — None
• Target species — Aphids, other soft-bodied insects
• Identification — Small fly, iridescent or clear wings, very large, often red, eyes, black and yellow or orange stripes on abdomen
• Reinforcement
  • Plant lots of flowers, season long blooms, provide windbreaks or plant flowers in protected areas
  • Syrphid flies, University of Minnesota (see Promoting syrphid flies in gardens and farms section)
• Avoid — Avoid broad spectrum insecticides, avoid using insecticides on aphids
• Sources
  • Syrphids (flower flies or hover flies), University of California IPM
  • Syrphid fly (Sphaerophoria philanthus) U.S. Forest Service
  • Syrphid flies (hover flies, flower flies), Washington State University