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A Pocket Guide to Common Natural Enemies of Crop and Garden Pests

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A Pocket Guide to Common Natural Enemies of Crop and Garden Pests A Pocket Guide Biological Control Lady Beetles eggs Common Natural Enemies Determine the relative populations of pests and (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) natural enemies with preliminary monitoring. Then Identification larva of Crop and Garden Pests use the following tactics to enhance biological Adults orange to red control as part of an IPM program. with black spots, or in the Pacific Northwest mostly black; larvae . Protect natural enemies from disturbances longer; eggs in pupa such as pesticides, other management clusters. Adalia bipunctata 1 1 practices, their own natural enemies ⁄8 – ⁄3" (e.g., ants), or adverse environmental conditions. Provide supplementary nectar or pollen sources, alternate hosts, or shelter. Coccinella Olla abdominalis Hippodamia . Manipulate the behaviors of natural enemies novemnotata convergens with attractants or with plant structure and arrangement. Observation tips Similar beetles All stages found on plants. Augment natural enemy populations with mass releases of lab-reared individuals. Predacious activity EC 1613-E Adults and larvae prey on December 2007 . Introduce natural enemies that are aphids, scale insects, mites, Chrysomelid beetles absent from the area. 3 and other small insects. 5 < fold here > < fold here > < fold here > General Observation Tips Green and Brown Lacewings Using this Guide . When doing visual counts, also inspect the (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae and Hemerobiidae) The cards in this guide are designed to help undersides of leaves. you quickly learn the main groups of natural Identification eggs enemies of crop and garden pests, their . Approach fast-moving insects slowly, or Light green or larva predacious activity, and tips for observing them. use nets, beating trays, and traps to get a brown, large Photographs are of the most common species in wings, long closer look. antennae; larvae the Pacific Northwest. flat with long Use this guide as a field supplement to other mouthparts; Distinguishing Natural Enemies eggs on stalks. publications that provide more detail on how to scout for and manage specific pests and natural from Plant Pests in General enemies. Observe the specimen to see whether it Green lacewings, e.g., Chrysopa californica Print each sheet on regular paper or cardstock. feeds on animals or plants. Observation Then fold on the central horizontal line and cut . To see whether a particular natural enemy tips on the dotted orange lines to create three 2-sided Adults often seen cards. (Laminate if needed.) attacks a target pest species, place flying or on plants; individuals of both species together in an eggs and larvae on plants. Brown lacewings, e.g., Hemerobius spp. Most of the photographs in this pocket guide are enclosed environment that allows them from the Ken Gray collection. Predacious activity punch room to move. hole All other photographs are from the author. Larvae and adults mostly prey on aphids, 1 3 2 4 mealybugs, and other small insects. ⁄2 – ⁄4" 6 1 1 Predacious 1 3 larva egg Ground or “Carabid” Beetles Damsel or ⁄3 – ⁄2" nymph Hoverflies ⁄2 – ⁄4" (Coleoptera: Carabidae) “Nabid” Bugs (Diptera: Syrphidae) puparium aphids (Hemiptera: Nabidae) Identification Scaphinotus marginatus Identification Adults mimic wasps and Identification Nabis spp. feeding on Lygus bugs bees, but fly more quickly or larva Adults and nymphs long hover, often have yellow egg Adults are dark or metallic and thin with front legs markings; larvae Eupeodes fumipennis with ridged wing covers; slighty enlarged for maggotlike; eggs small, larvae grublike with large grabbing prey. whitish, and oblong. mandibles. 1 Observation tips ⁄3 –2" Observation tips Observation tips Most commonly found Predacious activity Adults mostly active at night; Eggs, larvae, and tarlike Sphaerophoria running on low, dense Adults and nymphs prey on other Scaeva pyrastri look for fast-running adults Pterostichus scitulus excrement are found at sulphuripes vegetation. insects in same habitat. aphid colonies; adults Predacious activity under objects on soil surface Predacious activity or in soil samples, larvae in Other bugs confused with nabid bugs mostly on or hovering at Larvae prey mostly on aphids and scale Prey mostly on soil organisms, soil samples. flowers. insects; adults feed on flower feeders; some feed on seeds. some species not predacious. Other beetles confused with carabids Other insects confused with hoverflies Assassin bugs Tenebrionid Some of the thinner beetles mirid bugs Stilt bugs Bee flies Bees Wasps 7 9 11 < fold here > < fold here > < fold here > Parasitoid Tachinid Flies Rove Beetles Predacious 1 2 Eggs on host ⁄3 – ⁄3" Stink Bugs (Diptera: Tachinidae) (Coleoptera: Identification Staphylinidae) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Adults similar to Perillus houseflies, but with very Platyprepia bioculatus Philonthus sordidus 1 2 long bristles on tail end; guttata ⁄3 – ⁄3" puparia red to brown and Identification oblong; larvae inside host; Adults and nymphs have a broad pentagon or shield shape, usually eggs white and oblong on Leptacinus batychrus Insects confused host. brown or grey rather than green. Puparia next to hosts with rove beetles 1⁄ –1⁄ " Parasitic activity 8 3 Brochymena sp. Observation tips Important endoparasitoids of Found on vegetation; may have many worm, beetle, sawfly, and Identification Predacious activity to observe activity to determine bug pests; populations can Observation tips Adults small with short wing Adults and nymphs prey on whether the species is increase rapidly. 1 other insects in same habitat. Adults seen on flowers; look for covers not covering abdomen. Earwigs (adults > ⁄3”) predacious or herbivorous. eggs on host, puparia near host Similar-looking herbivorous stink bugs Flies commonly confused with tachinids Predacious activity Prey mostly on small soil organisms. Observation tips Carrion beetles Adults mostly active at night; look for fast-running House flies Blow flies Flesh flies 8 adults under objects on soil surface or in soil samples. 10 12 Minute Pirate Orius tristicolor Assassin Tiger Beetles Bug 1 Bugs ⁄3 –1" (Coleoptera: (Hemiptera: (Hemiptera: Cicindellidae) Anthocoridae) 1 2 Reduviidae) Identification ⁄3 – ⁄3" 1 < ⁄8" Identification Adults shiny with large eyes Identification and mandibles; very fast Cicindela oregona Adults with a black and white Adults and nymphs runners and flyers. cross pattern; nymphs orange resemble damsel bugs, to dark red. but larger, with a wider Observation tips nymph abdomen, thinner neck, Adults usually seen flying and often with spines. Predacious activity Observation tips nymph over and running on light and sandy soils. Adults and nymphs prey on Found on vegetation and flowers; Predacious other small insects in same more easily monitored with nets or activity habitat. nymph Predacious activity beating trays due to small size. Adults and nymphs prey Adults and larvae prey on on many types of insects Cicindela longilabris columbiana Other similar-looking small bugs Observation tips nymph many types of insects in the in same habitat. Found on vegetation and flowers. same habitat. Other bugs confused with assassin bugs Similar beetles Big-eyed bug Chinch bugs Some plant nymphs bug nymphs Damsel bugs Ambush bugs Stilt bugs Soft-winged flower beetles Ground beetles 13 15 17 < fold here > < fold here > < fold here > Big-eyed Bugs nymph Ambush Bugs Soldier Beetles (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) (Hemiptera: Phymatidae) (Coleoptera: 1 ⁄2 –1" 3 Cantharidae) < ⁄16" 1 2 Identification Identification ⁄3 – ⁄3" Cantharis sp. Adults and nymphs with big Geocoris Identification Adults and nymphs are often Poda eyes; fast-moving and slightly Adults are long and thin with brus sp. pallens camouflaged like leaves and Phymata larger than minute pirate bugs. flowers to ambush prey. long antennae, often with red metcalfi or orange markings. Observation tips Observation tips Observation tips Found on vegetation or nymph Podabrus cavicollis Found on flowers and Found on leaves and the ground; more easily vegetation. monitored with nets or nymph flowers. beating trays due to Predacious activity Predacious speedy flight and small Predacious activity activity size. Adults and nymphs prey on other Adults and nymphs prey on other Adults prey on other small insects in same habitat. insects in same habitat. insects in same habitat. Podabrus pruinosus Other similar-looking small bugs Similar-looking bugs Similar types of beetles Some plant bug Minute pirate bugs Assassin bugs Leaf-footed bugs Alydid bugs Chinch bugs nymphs Soft-winged flower beetles 14 16 “Fireflies” 18 Thread-waisted Wasps Larger Parasitoid Wasps Parasitized and Diseased (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) (Hymenoptera: e.g., Ichneumonidae, Insect Pests Braconidae) Aphid “mummies” Identification Identification and Stout-bodied to slender, often Identification observation tips with a very narrow waist and Braconids are < ½", Parasitoid larvae and pupae are wide head. Ichneumonids are difficult to identify. One of the Ischnus inquisitorius usually larger with a best identification methods is to Observation tips Trypoxylon sp. longer abdomen. Ichneumonid collect hosts that look unusual Active near open sandy 1⁄ –2" wasps and hold in a container until the areas and flowers. 4 Parasitic activity parasitoid develops into an Kill hosts by parasitism or adult. Predacious activity pupae Many species specialize on by piercing and feeding; various insect prey species. hosts include insect larvae, pupae, and aphids. Females capture prey and paras Apanteles itoid bring back to larvae in nests. larvae
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