Recognize and support these natural allies in your garden. Avoid broad-spectrum pesticides that harm beneficial insects. Encourage biodiversity and healthy soil!
| Beneficial | Role / What They Eat |
|---|---|
| Ladybugs | Aphids, scale, whiteflies |
| Lacewings | Aphids, caterpillars, thrips |
| Hoverflies | Larvae eat aphids, mealybugs |
| Parasitic Wasps | Lay eggs in aphids, caterpillars |
| Ground Beetles | Slugs, cutworms, root maggots |
| Spiders | Flying insects, beetles, moths |
| Praying Mantids | Eat most insects (even beneficials) |
| Toads & Frogs | Beetles, slugs, flies, cutworms |
| Bats | Mosquitoes, moths, night-flying insects |
| Birds (wrens, chickadees) | Caterpillars, beetles, larvae |
| Bees & Native Pollinators | Pollinate fruits, vegetables, flowers |
| Beneficial Nematodes | Root maggots, cutworms, soil-dwelling grubs |