Pocket Guide to the Beneficial Insects of New Mexico
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Pocket Guide to the Beneficial Insects of New Mexico Tessa R. Grasswitz, New Mexico State University Agricultural Science Center, Los Lunas, NM David R. Dreesen, Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Materials Center, Los Lunas, NM 1 Contents Introduction ...........................................................3 Attracting and retaining beneficial insects .................4 Suggested insectary plants for New Mexico ...............5 Other ways to conserve beneficial insects .................7 Common beneficial insects of New Mexico 1. Beetles (Order: Coleoptera) .............................9 (i) Ladybeetles/Ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae) .......9 (ii) Ground beetles (Carabidae)......................11 (iii) Rove beetles (Staphylinidae) .....................12 (iv) Soft-winged flower beetles (Melyridae) .......13 2. True bugs (Order: Hemiptera) ........................14 (i) Big-eyed bugs (Georcoris species) ..............14 (ii) Minute pirate bugs (Anthocoridae) .............15 (iii) Damsel or nabid bugs (Nabidae) ..............16 (iv) Spined soldier bug (Podisus maculiventris) ...... 17 (v) Assassin bugs (Reduviidae) ........................18 3. Lacewings (Order: Neuroptera) .....................19 4. Beneficial flies (Order: Diptera) ......................20 (i) Hoverflies (Syrphidae) ................................20 (ii) Tachinid flies (Tachinidae) ......................21 5. Wasps (Order: Hymenoptera) ........................22 (i) Parasitic wasps (various families) ................22 (ii) Predatory wasps (various families) ..............24 Further reading ....................................................27 2 Spined soldier bug nymph (left) attacking squash bug nymph. Introduction There is a wide variety of naturally occurring beneficial insects that can help keep pest insects under control if they are given a chance. Sadly, however, these insects are often misidentified and in some cases are mistaken for pests, leading to unnecessary and counter-productive insecticide applications. This publication, funded by the Western IPM Center, is intended to prevent such mistakes by highlighting some of the beneficial insects commonly found in New Mexico farms and gardens. Tips and suggestions on how to attract and retain such insects are also included. 3 Attracting and retaining beneficial insects Like all insects, beneficial species have three basic needs – food, water, and shelter. As far as food is concerned, although these species are predatory or parasitic for at least part of their life cycle, many of them need floral resources (nectar and/or pollen) at various times. Such resources can sustain these insects when prey is scarce, help them live longer, or lay more eggs. One way of attracting these insects to your garden or farm is therefore to plant a mixture of so-called ‘insectary plants,’ which can provide nectar and pollen all season long if properly cared for. Since beneficial insects differ in the size and structure of their mouthparts, not all flowers are equally accessible to all insects. Hence, to benefit the maximum number of beneficial insects, the flower mixture should contain a diversity of species with different bloom periods, flower sizes, structures, and colors. A basic core mixture of insectary plants for New Mexico has been developed at New Mexico State University’s Los Lunas Agricultural Science Center and the suggested species are illustrated on p. 5. 4 Buckwheat California bluebell Dill (Fagopyrum esculentum) (Phacelia campanularia) (Anethum graveolens) Plains coreposis Garden cosmos Alyssum (Coreopsis tinctoria) (Cosmos bipinnatus) (Lobularia maritima) Suggested insectary entire summer— plants for New Mexico particularly if dead flowers are removed The species above form a from time to time suggested ‘core mix’ of quick- before they set seed. maturing annual plants that Additional species are readily available and can be added, but easy to grow from seed. With try to avoid double- the exception of the early- flowered varieties, flowering California bluebell, which can be hard they should bloom for the for insects to access. 5 Row of insectary plants in full bloom. 6 Other ways wasps and other to conserve useful insects. To avoid encouraging beneficial insects mosquitoes, empty the container every In addition to providing few days and allow it floral resources, a number of to dry out for several other measures can improve hours before refilling. conditions for beneficial insects. Remember that even organically-approved insecticides can be toxic to such species, so minimize their impact by practicing integrated pest management (IPM). Some systemic insecticides (e.g., imidacloprid) can move within the plant and reach damaging Water dish with pebbles. concentrations in nectar, so try to avoid such products. Provide a source of clean water, for example by filling a shallow plant saucer with pebbles and adding water until they are partly submerged. The exposed parts of the pebbles provide landing sites for predatory 7 Clump-forming red clover (Trifolium pratense) can provide overwintering habitat for beneficial insects. Many beneficial insects curtipendula), could overwinter in the adult stage be used to form such in the top layers of soil, in a refuge. Beneficial plant litter, or under the rough invertebrates found bark of trees. The value of overwintering in this providing a permanent (or type of habitat include semi-permanent) area of such spiders, adult ladybird overwintering habitat has not beetles, ground been extensively researched, beetles, rove beetles, but is something to consider. A brown lacewings, strip of clump-forming perennial parasitic wasps, nabid clover (e.g., Trifolium pratense), bugs, and big-eyed perhaps in combination with bugs. a native bunch grass such as sideoats grama (Bouteloua 8 Adult ladybird beetles (left to right): Hippodamia convergens, Hippodamia parenthesis, and Olla v-nigrum. Common beneficial insects of New Mexico 1. Beetles is the most voracious (Order: Coleoptera) stage of the life cycle. Keep in mind, too, (i) Ladybeetles/Ladybird beetles that there are many (Family: Coccinellidae) different species of these beetles in New Most people are familiar with Mexico, with various the adults of these beetles, colors and patterns. particularly the common red Most species will eat and black convergent ladybeetle aphids and other (above). However, the egg, small, soft-bodied larval, and pupal stages are less pests, and some well known, and the larval stages species are specialist in particular are often mistaken predators of spider for pests. In fact, it is the larva that mites. 9 Ladybeetles (continued) Ladybird egg mass (left) and larval stage (right). Flower head of dill with ladybird larvae and pupae. 10 Adult ground beetle. Note large mandibles. 1. Beetles first glance they may (Order: Coleoptera) be mistaken for the large, black ‘darkling’ (ii) Ground beetles beetles (Family: (Family: Carabidae) Tenebrionidae) that are active during the These beetles are fast-moving, day (particularly in relatively large predators that desert areas), but differ attack a wide range of insect in having a much prey; a few species eat seeds flatter abdomen. The and play a role in reducing the larval stages develop weed seed bank in the soil. They in the soil (for up to are typically black in color, often 2 years, depending with a metallic sheen. Since on species) and prey they are nocturnal, they often on other soil-dwelling pass undetected in the farm and organisms, including garden, even though they may some pests. be present in high numbers. At 11 Typical rove beetles. Note short wing cases and exposed abdominal segments. (Photos by Mick E. Talbot) 1. Beetles cannot sting, (Order: Coleoptera) however, and instead capture (iii) Rove beetles their prey with their (Family: Staphylinidae) mandibles. They vary in size from These insects are unique a few millimeters among the beetles in having to 1-2 cm and very short wing cases consume a range (elytra) that leave most of of prey, including the abdominal segments insect eggs, aphids, exposed. This allows them to and small moth flex the abdomen upwards larvae. The larval and towards the head in stages live in the soil a defensive posture that and feed on other resembles a scorpion. They invertebrates. 12 Two species of soft-winged flower beetle. 1. Beetles with a metallic (Order: Coleoptera) sheen. As shown above, some species (iv) Soft-winged flower have enlarged basal beetles (Family: Melyridae) antennal segments. Both adults and As their name suggests, these larvae are predatory, beetles are often found on with the latter usually flowers, although they are being found in the common and widespread soil, in leaf litter, or in other habitats, including under bark. alfalfa fields. They are often brightly colored, sometimes 13 Adult big-eyed bug. 2. True bugs shape to adults but (Order: Hemiptera) are smaller and lack fully functional wings. (i) Big-eyed bugs Adults are usually (Geocoris species) brown or reddish in color and the nymphs Small, inconspicuous insects a paler brown/grey. (approximately 5 mm long) As true bugs, all that are very common in both stages have piercing garden and agricultural settings. mouthparts and feed Both adults and immatures by sucking the liquid (‘nymphs’) are readily identified contents from their by their broad head with large prey (insect eggs, eyes projecting from the sides aphids, small moth (above); nymphs are similar in larvae, etc.). 14 2. True bugs (Order: Hemiptera) (ii) Minute pirate