Encourage these natural enemies by avoiding pesticides that kill them; choosing plants that provide them pollen, nectar, and shelter; and keeping ants out of pest-infested plants. Common predators that eat garden pests are described below.
Convergent lady beetle (lady bugs) adults are most reddish lady beetle species prefer aphids. The larva are active with long legs and resemble tiny alligators. They grow up to 1/4 inch (6 mm) long and are blackish with orange blotches that become more prominent on older instars. Eggs are oblong, yellow, and about 1/25 inch (1 mm) long. They are laid on end in clusters of about 10 to 30 on leaves and green stems near aphids or other prey. Lady bugs eat aphids.
Green lacewing Adults are soft-bodied insects with golden eyes and 4 membranous wings held rooflike over the body at rest. The wings and body are commonly green. Eggs are oblong and 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) or less in length. Each is laid on the end of a silken stalk attached to plants. Eggs are pale yellowish-green or white when laid, then change to bluish-green and finally gray before hatching. Larvae are elongate and flattened with distinct legs and resemble tiny alligators. The body is about 1/2 inch long or less and commonly cream, tan, or yellowish with lengthwise lines or rows of spots that are blackish, dark, or light brown, or reddish. Green lacewings eat mites and aphids.
Assassin bug adults and nymphs (immatures) have an elongate head and body and long legs. The narrow head has rounded, beady eyes and long, hinged, needlelike mouthparts. Adults and nymphs can walk rapidly when disturbed or capturing prey. Adults tend not to fly. Coloration varies greatly by species. Adults can be blackish, black, and orange, a mix of colors (e.g., black, brown, green, and reddish), or brownish, grayish, or pale overall. Eggs of the leafhopper assassin bug are oblong and dark brown. They have a white cap and occur in groups glued to plant surfaces. Assassin bugs are general predators eating mostly small to medium-sized insects and other small invertebrates, sometimes this includes other beneficial insects.
There are many more beneficial predators. To see more go to ipm.ucanr.edu â–
