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Home , Chalcid wasp, Geocoridae, Halictidae, Snakefly, Soldier beetle

OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION SERVICE Using natural enemies Lady Adalia for biological control Coccinellidae bipunctata: Common Natural Enemies Two-spotted lady of Nursery Crops and Garden Pests Find out which natural enemies already Target pests: , in the Pacific Northwest exist, and monitor their numbers to , scales, and determine the ratio of natural enemies to pests. other small, soft-bodied These tactics can enhance biological control as a part of . All life stages are an integrated pest management plan: predatory. Identification:Adults and • Provide supplementary habitat and food sources larvae are usually red and for natural enemies, especially for the growth stages black patterned. Adults are in which the organisms do not feed on pest insects. round and smooth, while • Manipulate the behaviors of natural enemies with larvae are elongate and spiny attractants, or by structuring and arranging plants. in appearance. Eggs are • Boost numbers by releasing commercially available oblong and yellow or orange, or lab-reared natural enemies, when available. usually laid in clusters but The life cycle of Hippodamia also individually. Introduce natural enemies that are absent in the convergens, clockwise from top left: • adult, pupae, eggs and larvae system, but present in the natural areas nearby. Monitoring: All stages can POCKET • Use complementary pest management be found on plants where GUIDE techniques to protect natural enemies from pests can be observed or disturbance. These could include applying pesticides searching for prey. to fight predators and discouraging , among Similar to: Chrysomelid other management practices. beetles (pests) Cucumber beetle, a Chrysomelid EC 1613 similar in appearance to lady beetle Revised March 2021 3 5

By Melissa Scherr, Robin R. Rosetta General observation tips Ground beetles and Lloyd L. Nackley Carabidae When doing visual counts: Using this guide Target pests: soil , • Inspect the underside of leaves. Scaphinotus marginatus larvae Predators stay in areas where food is some seeds This guide is designed to help you quickly learn and available and lay their eggs near pest food identify the most common natural enemies found in Identification: Adults are dark resources. nursery systems. and metallic with textured • Approach fast-moving insects slowly. Predators wing covers (elytra). Larvae Each card provides the name of a natural enemy or have to be fast and usually have good eyesight, and are grub-like, mobile and often a group of natural enemies, as well as identification can be frightened off by large movements nearby. have large jaws. There are many information, target pests and monitoring suggestions. • Use nets, beat sheets and trays or traps to get a Pacific Northwest ; size Use this field guide to supplement other publications varies from a few millimeters to that can provide more complete information. closer look. It’s a good idea to keep a few vials or containers with you in the field to capture and hold 5 cm or more. Pterostichus melanarius Images are from the Ken Gray collection unless insects of interest for close examination. Monitoring: Adults are active otherwise noted. Used by permission. • Avoid using traps that capture and kill. If natural at night. Look under flat objects enemies are present, killing traps may damage their such as rocks and wood. Use FOR HOME PRINTERS: Print on regular paper or cardstock. Fold on the dry pitfall traps to capture center horizontal line and then cut on the dotted lines to create three populations in the nursery. double-sided cards per sheet. Laminate if desired. night-active beetles. Larvae • Make observations about behavior. The best are found in soil samples. way to identify natural enemies is to observe them Adults and larvae are typically feeding on prey. Observe the insects interacting Carabus nemoralis. Melissa Scherr, research associate; Robin R. Rosetta, former Extension found in areas where organic in the nursery. Or, collect and place pests and Photo: Udo Schmidt horticulturist, nursery crop pest management; both of the Department of debris accumulates. Can be Horticulture, Oregon State University. Lloyd L. Nackley, assistant professor, suspected predators together in an enclosed encouraged with improved North Willamette Research and Extension Center, Oregon State University. environment to see if the pest is attacked. habitat, such as beetle banks.

2 4 6 Green/brown lacewings Assassin bugs Chrysopidae, Hemerobiidae

Target pests: aphids, mites, Target pests: generalist Adult Chrysoperla insect eggs, , , predator on many insects whiteflies and small caterpillars; Identification:Adults have larval stage is predatory. pruniosus, Cantharidae larvae and Lampyridae beetle. (Photo at right narrow heads, thin legs and by Gary Griswold) Identification:Adults wider abdomens. The edges Soldier beetles Cantharidae with long body delicate in of the abdomens are raised, appearance with large light with a checkerboard pattern. Target pests: generalist predator on small insects green (Chrysoperlidae) or Most are nondescript brown-colored (Hemerobiidae) Larval Chrysoperla brown, although many of A variety of Assassin bugs at various Identification:Adults are long and slender, and black wings appearing veiny. Long the juveniles are brightly life stages or dark brown with orange/red markings. The antennae antennae and mouth-parts colored. Both juveniles and are long, and when the wings are open,the orange/red apparent. Larvae white, adults have piercing/sucking abdomen can be seen. Wings are soft, and this insect is elongate and spiny, with large beaks used to feed on the often referred to as a “leatherwing”. Adults are 1-2 inches obvious mouth-parts. Eggs on fluids of prey. in total length. They can be found where pests aggregate, long stalks, usually in clusters. especially colonies. Monitoring: Adults and Monitoring: Eggs found on juveniles can be found Larvae are dark, long-bodied and flat, often found feeding Chrysoperla eggs the underside of leaves and wherever prey insects are — on in the leaf litter layers on the eggs and larvae of other branches; larvae also found Brown lacewing, foliage of plants, grasses and Western seed bug, insects. Micromus variegatus a common Leaf-footed bug on plants near pest insects. shrubs. They are active ambush similar to Assassin bugs Similar to: Lampyridae beetles, or “”: The head of Adults often seen flying near predators and move quickly. a can be clearly seen from above, while the plants during the day, but are Similar to: damsel bugs (page head is tucked under the thoracic shield (above right). attracted to lights at night. 7 9 12) and leaf-footed plant bugs 11

Rove beetles Damsel bugs Staphylinidae

Target pests: small soil Target pests: generalist organisms Adult female snakefly. Larval Agulla snakefly predator on many insects Identification:Adults are long Photo: Robin Rosetta Identification:Similar in Nabis sp. feeding on Lygus bug Devil’s horse coach beetle, appearance to assassin bugs and slender. Wings appear Ocypus olens as small scales on the top of SnakeflyRaphidioptera: (page 11). Body long and thin the insect. Adults may raise but with slightly enlarged jaws and tail in a defensive Target pests: small insects, including eggs and larvae forelegs for prey capture. posture when disturbed. Some Identification: Adults are elongate with four pairs of large Abdomen is no wider than species are as small as 4mm, net-veined wings and a kite-shaped head. They have a long wings when folded on the but others can range up to prothorax, giving them the appearance of a “neck.” They are back of the bug. 3 cm. Larvae are similar in often dark in color, though lighter stripes may be visible on Monitoring: An active Assassin bug, similar to a damsel bug appearance and behavior, but the abdomen. Females are easy to recognize by the very long predator, these bugs and do not have wings or elytra. ovipositor often mistaken for a “stinger.” the nymphs can often be Monitoring: Adults are mostly Larvae are also elongate, though the abdomen will appear found on the foliage of active at night; look for fast- lighter in color than the head. They appear similar to beetle dense vegetation where running adults and larvae Paederus sp. Common earwig, grubs. Larvae are also predatory. prey are likely. under objects on the soil Forficula Monitoring: Larvae develop in the upper loose layers of Similar to: many other surface or in soil samples. Dry Stilt bug, similar to a damsel bug soil and leaf litter; adults can be found in forested and “true” bugs. pitfall traps can also be used. shrub habitats. Similar to: earwigs (Dermaptera).

8 10 12 Predatory ,

Target pests: generalist predator on many insects

Identifi cation:Adults Vespula sp. Orius sp. adult feedubg, left, and nymph feeding, right. medium–large in size, hairless, with alternating patterns of Minute pirate bugs black with white, yellow or red, Adults are often longer than 2 in. Mantid “ootheca,” or egg sac Target pests: generalist predator on small organisms with a narrow waist. Wings are clear to smoky with veins Identifi cation:Small; adults between 2 and 4 mm. From apparent. Praying mantis Mantidae above, black-and-white crossed pattern, oval in shape. Sceliphron caementarium Larvae are tear-drop shaped and yellow-orange to red. Monitoring: Can be lured with Target pests: generalist ambush predator protein baits and pheromone Identifi cation:Large green or light brown insect with Monitoring: Common, found on foliage and fl owers traps, or observed during the elongate pro-thoracic segment and enlarged forelegs, especially where prey populations have been robust — day in/around plants. thrips, aphids, mites and small caterpillars, and eggs. armed with spines for prey capture. Nymphs appear as Similar to: (several Easily monitored with sweep nets and beat sheets, but will smaller, wingless versions of adults. species), hoverfl ies (family bite. Bite is not venomous, but temporarily irritating. Monitoring: Active during the daytime, mantids will seek Syrphidae) Dolichovespula, bald-faced hornet shade when hot, and shelter from rain. They wait on plant tips for prey insects to pass, but are territorial (only one per plant). Mantids will remain as long as food is available. In the fall, search for eggs sacs — “ootheca” — attached to grass straw or sturdy structures found in and around Insects similar to minute pirate bugs include big-eyed nymphs, left, chinch bugs, Sweat () Anthophora bee Hoverfl y hunting territory. center, and some plant bug nymphs, right. 13 15 17

Geocoris adult, left, and larvae, right, feeding Eupeodes fumipennis. Photo: J. Maughn, Scaeva pyrastri larvae. Photo: Sarah Trichogrammatid parasitizing an egg Ichneumon wasp CC BY-NC 2.0 “Asher” Morris, CC BY-NC 2.0 Big-eyed bugs Geocoridae Parasitic wasps Predatory hoverfl ies Syrphidae Target pests: Lygus, aphids, , spider mites Target pests: many insects, some generalist species and Target pests: Larvae are aphid and scale feeders; some Identifi cation:Adults and nymphs appear similar to minute some host-specifi c species not predatory. pirate bugs, but lack black-and-white pattern and are slightly Identifi cation:Variable. They resemble many other Identifi cation:Adults mimic bees and wasps, but have larger. Fast moving on vegetation. Large, kidney-shaped eyes wasps, and may be very small (2mm in length), like the characteristic “hover” fl ight pattern and rapid forward protrude on the sides of the head. Trichogrammatid wasps, or quite large (2 cm), like the fl ight. Larvae are whitish-yellow or whitish-pink and Nymphs appear as adults, but are smaller and wingless. larger Ichneumon wasps. Some of the larger wasps are oblong with obvious segmentation. Large eyes and aristate Monitoring: Can be captured with sweep nets and beat brightly colored, but many of the smaller wasps are dark antennae are an easy way to distinguish them from bees, sheets, but are quick to fl y away once disturbed. and nondescript. In general, look for a long abdomen and a wasps and fl ies. thin waist, with long antennae. Monitoring: White, oblong eggs can be found among Monitoring: It is possible to observe adults searching for aphids in colonies, sometimes accompanied by tar-like host insects during the day; however, some feces. Adults can be seen hovering above or resting on (like the Ichneumon wasp) are active at night. Ichneumon fl owers (not predatory). is attracted to light and can be monitored with no-kill light Similar to: bee fl ies, bees and wasps traps. For many wasps, the best way to monitor is to search Insects similar to big-eyed bugs include minute pirate bugs, left, chinch bugs, center, and some plant bug nymphs, right. for parasitized prey (see page 22). 14 16 18 Tachinid Predatory mites Tachinidae Target pests: thrips, aphids, pest mites Target pests: many beetles, caterpillars and other pests Identification: Adults are very small, less than 0.5mm, Identification:Adults appear Gonia longipulvilli often requiring a hand lens Caterpillar killed by Bt (dark) Noninfected (top) vs. infected and normal caterpillar (light) (bottom) fungal host insect. similar to house flies, but slightly to view. They are teardrop- or larger with heavy bristles on the pear-shaped with abdomen. Pupae are reddish- no antennae or segmentation Neoseiulus fallacis Identifying diseased pests brown, opaque and oblong. visible on the body. In general, Identification: Insects are susceptible to viruses and bacteria, Larvae can be found inside the and some of these weapons have been harnessed for use in Pupal case and cocoon predatory mites are more host though not visible from the active than plant-feeding production systems. Individuals with infections are outside; however, white eggs are species and will move rapidly often dark in comparison to healthy individuals. visible and deposited directly over foliage and across the soil Insects can also be attacked by fungus present in soils naturally, onto host insects. surface. Phytoseiulus persimilis as well as certain types of fungus that are commercially Monitoring: Adults rest on Monitoring: Predatory feeding on a spider mite pest available to control pest populations. Insects infected with flowers and foliage; pupal cases mites are best identified by fungal pathogens often appear fuzzy as the reproductive stages may be found near dense host Egg on caterpillar larvae observing behavior. Eggs are of the fungus emerge from the insect skin. populations. easier to observe – they are ovate and clear, and are larger than pest mite eggs; they can be found laid as individuals on the underside of leaves where prey populations are found. Phytophagous 2-spotted spider Insects similar to tachinid flies (from left): house flies, blow flies and flesh flies Similar to: pest mites 19 mite adult, juvenile and eggs 21 23

Predatory Identifying parasitized pests This publication may be photocopied or reprinted midge larvae Parasitized insects can be difficult to identify. The best in its entirety for noncommercial use. method is to collect insects that look or behave unusually and keep them in a container until the emerges. Target pests: pest mites and aphids Feltiella, a predator of mite pests Identification: Larvae are orange/red/brown and can be as long as 2mm. They forage for prey on the leaves of plants, and will feed for parasitoid exit hole in Eulophid wasps parasitizing This revision was supported by Advancement of Pesticide Spray host pupal case larvae Applications in Specialty Crop Production with Intelligent-decision several days before pupating Technologies” (USDA NIFA SCRI Grant No. 2015-51181-24253) on the undersides of leaves This publication will be made available in an accessible alternative or in the soil. The pupae are Feltiella, a Adult Feltiella format upon request. Please contact [email protected] or predator of mite soft and whitish. It takes pests 1-800-561-6719. very little time (sometimes © 2021 Oregon State University. Extension work is a cooperative less than a week) for the program of Oregon State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, adult to emerge. Adults Bracnoid wasp parasitizing aphid hosts Aphidius (aphid wasp) host aphids, and Oregon counties. Oregon State University Extension Service offers “mummies,” with exit holes educational programs, activities, and materials without discrimination appear as small mosquitoes, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity and can be similar in (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital appearance to fungus gnats. status, familial/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, genetic information, veteran’s status, reprisal or Monitoring: Check leaf Insects appearing similar: adult retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to surfaces for presence mosquito, left, adult fungus gnat all programs.) Oregon State University Extension Service is an AA/EOE/ of larvae where pest Veterans/Disabled. Tachinid Platyprepia larvae Published March 2021 populations occur. emerging from lepidptera pest 20 22 24