Beneficial Insects D-L

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Beneficial Insects D-L

• Other names include Daddy Longlegs, Daddylonglegs, Granddaddy Longlegs and Harvestman


• You will not see them with spider webs because they do not produce the silk.


• There are over 200 species in North America and over 3,500 worldwide.


• Spiderlike arachnid with a small rounded body and very long thin legs, not spiders.

• to attract these helpful beneficial bugs plant any of the aster family


• over 400 species found


• feast on aphids, thrips, leafhoppers, tree hoppers and caterpillars


• during hard times, will eat each other

• 25 to 51 mm in length and are similar to dragonflies


• Feeds on small insects like flies, mosquitos, gnats and aphids


• Usually work from May to November and overwinters as immatures

• 18 to 127 mm in length and are similar to damsel flies


• Feeds on small insects like flies, mosquitos, gnats and aphids


• Usually works from May to October and overwinters as immatures


• Their color is brown to blue


• Found in and around water where they wait for their main food mosquitos


• Both nymph and adult are vicious on many insects

Decollate Snail

• Feeds mainly on slugs and brown garden snails


• Will also eat old leaf mulch but not live plants


• This beneficial bugs snail works at night and attacking the eggs of snails and slugs


• Once established should not have to worry about these pests again

Photo shows pair of adults with dung ball. The larger female is pushing and the smaller male is riding on the ball.

• beneficial bugs that feed mainly on manure or feces


• aka scarab beetle


• also known as rollers because they roll dung into round balls that are used as a food source or incubation chambers.


• Dung beetles are one of the smallest and most efficient recyclers in the world.


• are considered heroes in Australia.

• Known by names of Common earwig or European earwig


• A common household pest in North America.


• These beneficial bugs seek out food ranging from plant matter to small insects like aphids, spiders, insect eggs, dead plants and insects, among other things.


• Can be considered both beneficial and a pest.

• Other names include Lightning Bug and Glow Worm


• Larvae eat other insect larvae, snails, and slugs.


• There are over 130 species in North America.


• Light production in fireflies is due to a type of chemical reaction called bioluminescence.


• All fireflies glow in the larvae stage.


• Adult beetles make controlled flashes of light to appeal to mates.

Fly Parasite Predators

• They are gnat size burrowing insects


• These predators serve as a major check of fly populations by destroying flies in the immature maggot and pupa stages


• Have no affect on humans and horses-only manure breeding pest flies

Ground Beetles

• Possibly 2500 species in North America


• Feed mainly on root maggots and cutworms and other soil inhabiting pests


• A few types will eat snails and slugs


• They are usually black and shiny, may also have a metallic sheen on wing covers


• Hard to find because they hunt at night and then hide under yard debris

• Other names include Big Red Ant, Harvester Ant, Red Ant, Florida harvester ant and Maricopa harvester ant.


• Eat seeds, especially small ones.


• Often mistaken for fire ants.


• To move a mound cover it with mulch. The ants will move to a spot where the opening to the mound is in full sun.


• The red ants are rather beneficial because they compete for space with fire ants and spread seeds of various species.


• They can be assertive and bite with a painful sting.

Hover Fly (Flower Fly/Syrphid Fly)

• The larvae feed on aphids, mealybugs and other small insects


• They are about 1/2 inch long


• They hover(like a helicopter) and dart about making a loud buzzing sound


• Bodies are like bees yellow or white and black


• Adults are excellent pollinators because they must feed on nectar before they can reproduce

Ichneumon Fly

• These wasps are from 1/10 to 1 1/2 inches in length


• Bodies have long abdomens and are usually brownish black or red and black


• These beneficial bugs are good pollinators but feed mainly on caterpillars, beetle larvae and othe soft bodied insects


• A large group with over 3100 species just in North America


• Lay their eggs in host insects

Lacewing (Green Lacewing)

• May be found inside the house during the fall and winter-won't hurt anything


• Lacewings are brown or green


• The larvae are also known as aphid lions, attacking the eggs and young stages of pests like spider mites, aphids, thrips, sweet potato whiteflies, mealybugs, leafhoppers and eggs of most pest moths


• Grow to about 3/8 inch


• Use with Trichogramma wasps for a very effective treatment of these insects

Ladybug (Lady Beetle)

• Some facts on ladybugs


• Shaped like a volkswagen with bright red or yellow body with black, red, white or yellow spots.


• It may be confused with the Japanese Beetle


• Feeds on aphids, spider mites, mealybugs and scale insects


• Don't be surprised to find in the house over fall and winter


• During their life span one ladybug may consume as many as 2400 aphids


• In the female's short life she may lay up to 500 eggs


• Probably the most used beneficial insect

Longlegged Flies

• Are long legged compared to small bodies and hence their names


• Over 1200 species in North America


• They are colorful insects with metallic green, copper or blue in color


• They are predators of mainly aphids and spider mites

• Another name is March Fly.


• The male and female connect themselves at the rear of the abdomen and stay from then on, hence the name love bug.


• lovebugs are beneficial in that the larvae live in grassy areas and feed on dead vegetation.
• The adult eats on the nectar of blooming plants.


• They are food for quails and robins, spiders and some predatory insects.


• They can live in large numbers around highways, they die all together on automobile windshields, hoods and radiator grills.

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