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Natural Biological
Control
- These bugs can be a big help to
gardeners -
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Summary: Gardeners should do all
they can to encourage natural biological control
of garden pests. These organisms can do much of
your pest control for free. Both predatory
insects and mites as well as parasitic insects are a
gardener's best friend.
Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist (ret.)
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Insect and mite pests
have many natural predators and parasites
that normally keep pest numbers in check. Predators
and parasites are sometimes called natural
enemies or beneficials. Predators kill
live prey while parasites do not immediately kill
their hosts. When predators or parasites suppress a
pest population it is called biological control.
Parasites tend to
weaken individuals and populations, and may make
them more susceptible to other factors like disease.
Predators, on the other hand, kill individual pests.
When pest numbers increase a predator or parasite
often responds to bring the numbers down. Predator
numbers respond to an increase, or decrease, in the
availability of prey and these interactions are the
basis for the field of insect ecology.
common names and
misnomers: ladybird beetles, lady bird beetles.
ladybugs, hover flies
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Pea aphid
mummy. This aphid was parasitized by a
tiny wasp whose larva developed inside the
aphid. The wasp emerged through the hole cut
in the aphid's back.
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Natural enemies in your
garden
There are thousands of
predatory and parasitic insects and mites. For
gardeners the most important ones are lady beetles,
syrphid flies, lacewings, predator
mites and certain wasps. The best
sources of natural enemies for your garden are native
plants in the area. Predators and parasites that
migrate off native, natural areas into the garden are
adapted to local conditions and will do the best job
of pest control.
If possible, leave small
areas of your landscape unmowed and not treated with
pesticides, and allow a natural succession of plants
to develop which may include some weedy species. These
areas will serve as a natural enemy nursery
for the rest of your landscape.
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Also, avoid harsh
insecticides that wipe out beneficial species along
with pests. What frequently happens is that pests
return faster than natural enemies and the pest
populations explode. Natural Insecticides are easier
on beneficial species and should be your first
choice whenever possible.
Natural
Enemies Guide (pdf)
- A brief introduction to predators and parasites.
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Mission: To
provide accurate, up-to-date and unbiased information
for solving common insect and mite problems around
your home, business and landscape using least-toxic
methods.
Jack DeAngelis,
Ph.D.
Please see the Disclaimer statements as
well.
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