Beneficial insect

Beneficial insects (sometimes called beneficial bugs) are any of a number of species of insects that perform valued services like pollination and pest control. The concept of beneficial is subjective and only arises in light of desired outcomes from a human perspective. In agriculture, where the goal is to raise selected crops, insects that hinder the production process are classified as pests, while insects that assist production are considered beneficial. In horticulture and gardening, beneficial insects are often considered those that contribute to pest control and native habitat integration.

Encouraging beneficial insects, by providing suitable living conditions, is a pest control strategy, often used in organic farming, organic gardening or integrated pest management. Companies specializing in biological pest control sell many types of beneficial insects, particularly for use in enclosed areas, like greenhouses.

Types

Some species of bee are beneficial as pollinators, although generally only efficient at pollinating plants from the same area of origin, facilitating propagation and fruit production for many plants. This group includes not only honeybees, but also many other kinds of bees that are more efficient at pollinating plants native to their region. Bees can be attracted by many companion plants, especially bee balm and pineapple sage for honeybees. Wasps, especially fig wasps are also beneficial as pollinators.^[1]

Ladybugs are generally thought of as beneficial because they eat large quantities of aphids, mites and other arthropods that feed on various plants.

Other insects commonly identified as beneficial include:^[2]^[3]^[4]

Attractive plants

Plants in the families Apiaceae and Asteraceae are generally valuable companions. Here are other plants that attract beneficial insects:

References

^ "Wasp Pollination". U. S. Forest Service. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
^ "Farmscaping to Enhance Biological Control" Archived 2010-04-26 at the Wayback Machine, ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.
^ Xerces Society (2014). Burns, Deborah (ed.). Farming with Native Beneficial Insects: Ecological Pest Control Solutions. North Adams, Massachusetts: Storey Publishing. pp. 183–207. ISBN 9781612122830.
^ Miller, Carley (2021-07-22). "16 Beneficial Garden Insects to Consider". The Green Pinky. Retrieved 2021-12-07.

Additional sources

"Phillip Alampi Beneficial Insect Rearing Laboratory". State of New Jersey Department of Agriculture. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
"Beneficial insect habitat in an apple orchard: Effects on pests". Research Brief #71. Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison. September 2004. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
"Orchardists Install Beneficial Insect and Pollinator Habit". USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Archived from the original on February 21, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2012.

External links

Association of Natural Biocontrol Producers – trade association of the biological control industry
Beneficial Insects for Hydroponics

Human interactions with insects

Aspects
of insects
in culture

In the arts	Insects in art Beetlewing Musca depicta Arthropods in film Insects in literature Insects in music List of insect-inspired songs Insects on stamps
In fishing	Fishing bait Fly fishing Artificial fly Fly tying
In medicine	Apitherapy Apitoxin Melittin Spanish fly Cantharidin
In mythology	Bees in mythology Cicadas in mythology Scarab (artifact)
Other aspects	Biomimicry Cockroach racing Cricket fighting Entomological warfare Entomophagy Insect farming Flea circus Insects in ethics Insects in religion Jingzhe
Economic entomology	Beneficial insect Biological pest control Beekeeping Bee pollen List of crop plants pollinated by bees Beeswax Honey Propolis Royal jelly Carmine/Cochineal Polish Chitin Kermes Sericulture Silk Shellac Model organism Drosophila melanogaster
Harmful insects	Insect bites and stings Insect sting allergy Bed bug Woodworm Home-stored product entomology Clothes moth