Predator insects offer a natural alternative to pesticides. The listed plants will help deter pests and attract natural predators. A mix of these plants provides habitat and alternative food sources many predators require. Predator insects and parasites remain on certain host plants so avoid pesticides. When your plantings mature you’ll be able to observe the “Good Guys’ at work.
Pest Insect & Predator
| Pest Insect |
|
|
Predator Insect |
|
| Aphids |
 |
|
Aphidius |
 |
| Aphids |
|
|
Aphidoletes |
 |
| Thrips, spidermites, fungus gnats |
 |
|
Beneficial mites |
 |
| Eggs of many pest insects |
 |
|
Damsel bugs (Nabidae) |
 |
| Whiteflies, aphids, thrip, spider mites |
 |
|
Dicyphus |
 |
| Slugs, small caterpillars and grubs |
 |
|
Ground beetles |
 |
| Grubs |
 |
|
Spring Tiphia wasp |
 |
| Aphids, mealybugs and others |
 |
|
Hoverflies |
 |
| Scale, aphids, mites, soft-bodied insects |
 |
|
Lacewings |
 |
| Aphids, mites |
|
|
Ladybugs |
 |
| Thrips, aphids, mites, scales, whiteflies |
|
|
Pirate bugs |
 |
| Caterpillars; beetle and fly larvae |
 |
|
Tachinid flies |
 |
| Whiteflies; moth, beetle and fly larvae |
 |
|
Parasitic wasps |
 |
Plants that Attract Predator Insects
| Predator Insect |
|
|
What to Plant |
|
| Lacewings, aphidius, ladybugs |
|
|
Achillea filipendulina |
 |
| Hoverflies |
|
|
Alyssum |
 |
| Ground beetles |
|
|
Amaranthus |
 |
| Spring Tiphia wasp |
|
|
Peonies, firethorn, forsythia |
 |
| Ichneumon wasp, ladybugs, lacewings |
|
|
Anethum graveolens (dill) |
 |
| Lacewings |
|
|
Angelica gigas |
 |
| Ladybugs, hoverflies |
|
|
Convolvulus minor |
 |
| Hoverflies, parasitic wasps, lacewings |
|
|
Cosmos bipinnatus |
 |
| Dicyphus |
|
|
Digitalis |
 |
| Lacewings, ladybugs, hoverflies |
|
|
Daucus carota (Queen Anne’s lace) |
 |
| Damsel bugs, ladybugs, lacewings |
|
|
Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) |
 |
| Pirate bugs, beneficial mites |
|
|
Helianthus annulus |
 |
| Hoverflies |
|
|
Iberis umbellata |
 |
| Hoverflies, parasitic wasps |
|
|
Limonium latifolium (Statice) |
 |
| Aphidius, aphidoletes, hoverflies |
|
|
Lupin |
 |
| Parasitic wasps, tachinid flies |
|
|
Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) |
 |
| Parasitic wasps, hoverflies, tachinid flies |
|
|
Petroselinum crispum (parsley) |
 |
| Pirate bugs, beneficial mites |
|
|
Shasta daisy |
 |
| Pirate bugs, aphidius |
|
|
Sunflowers |
 |
| Ladybugs, lacewings |
|
|
Tanacetum vulgare (tansy) |
 |
| Dicyphus |
|
|
Verbascum thaspus |
 |
