METAPHYSICS·
ANCIENT HISTORY· SOCIOPOLITICAL ISSUES· AGRICULTURE· DIRECTORIES
Beneficial Insects
|
Beneficial Insects |
|
|
Beneficial Insects for Gardeners
Insect predators and other beneficial insectsThere are dozens of insects which are beneficial to man... mainly insect predators, plant pollinators, weed-eating invertebrates and those which are helpful in conditioning the soil such as earthworms. Most of these are insect predators however, beneficial insects which are harmless to crops but attack insect pests which ARE harmful. And while all these predators play an important role, most have limited applications or a single 'niche'. However four (4) predators are used for a wide variety of applications... the Green lacewing, ladybugs, Praying mantis and Trichogramma wasps. The rest of this group of beneficial insects are the pollinators (honeybees and others which play a lesser role), weed-eating invertebrates (certain moths, weevils, beetles and flies), and those which help condition the soil (earthworms primarily). Organic farmers and gardeners have more at their disposal than just beneficial insects however. The short list is: (1) genetically engineered plants which have disease or insect resistant qualities available (also known as genetically modified organisms (GMOs), (2) cultural controls one can adopt which help prevent pest buildups and plant diseases, (3) beneficial bacteria (bacillus thuringiensis) which is effective on some plant pests and (4) a fungi-produced antibiotic for plants (streptomycin). See biological pest controls and terminology For broad spectrum control, one could consider Neem Oil which has shown great results as a botanical insecticide, miticide and fungicide. The oil is extracted from the seeds of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica), native to Asia. One pint of concentrate will go a long way. This section was prepared by A.O. Kime, former Arizona and California agricultural Pest Control Advisor (1970-1992) and family farmer (1973-1998)
Looking for an agricultural consultant? See
Kime & Associates
Serving the Southwest since 1970 This website and contents are explained in our Introduction >TOP >HOME |
A.O. Kime articles —AGRICULTURE
|
|
|
