Sustainable Home Gardening:Sustainable Home Gardening: Preserving Native Insects

D I A N E A L S T O ND I A N E A L S T O NE N T O M O L O G I S T

U T A H S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y E X T E N S I O N

U T A H S T A T E M A S T E R G A R D E N E R C O N F E R E N C EU T A H S T A T E M A S T E R G A R D E N E R C O N F E R E N C ES A L T L A K E C I T Y

J U N E 1 3 , 2 0 0 9

The Attractive Garden

Plant DiversityContinuous BloomNectar & PollenShelterVariety of Insect PreyWater & MudWater & Mud

lColorTextureDesignVarietyVarietyFunction

Misconceptions of Biological Controlin the Home Garden

Releasing insectsgLady beetles (or lady bugs)

Praying mantis

Predatory insects will stay in your garden after release

Oth ti / ti iti d ’t ttOther practices/activities don’t matter

Functional Biological Controlg

Rely on native or natural enemiesRely on native or natural enemiesMostly small in body size

Conservation of natural enemiesAvoid toxic chemicals

Maintain a diverse plant environment ( id l )

Parasitic wasp that attackscaterpillars

(avoid monocultures)Continuity in time & space

Cultivate plants that provide qualityCultivate plants that provide quality nectar & pollen

Tolerate some herbivorous insectsBig eyed bug nymph feeding

Get a hand lens to see them!Big-eyed bug nymph feedingon an insect egg

Native Pollinators

Beneficial Insects Need a Diverse Diet & Shelter

Protein and carbohydrate (sugar) food sourcesProtein

Insect prey, pollen, bird droppings

CarbohydrateFl i l

CarbohydrateNectar, plant nectaries, aphid honeydew

Shelter & varied habitat

Flowering plantsHerbsWildflowers

Plants with Quality Nectar and Pollen

www.ars.usda.gov/research/docs.htm?docid=12052

Pollinator of the Month

www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the month/index.shtml

Beneficial Insects & MitesCast of Charactersf

P iti PredaceousParasiticwasps & flies

Predaceoustrue bugs & beetles

LacewinggSyrphidFly

PredaceousCommon AphidPredators

PredaceousMitesLady Beetle

Lady Beetles (Lady Bugs)

Native IntroducedNative Introduced

Synchrony of predator Prey specific

Aphids& prey

Continuous food sourceShelterAlt ti f d

AphidsScales Mealybugs

Habitat specificAlternative food

pArboreal vs. forbs

Lacewings

G l iBrown lacewing

Green lacewingmost common

Brown lacewing

Wide variety of preyWide variety of preysmall insects

aphidsmealybugsthripscaterpillarsleafhoppersinsect eggsinsect eggs

Syrphid or Hover Flies

Adults mimicbees

Eat a variety of small insects & insect eggs

Ground Beetles & Tiger Beetles

Eat mid-sized preycaterpillarscutwormsslugs

Live on the groundN t lNocturnal

Minute Pirate Bug

AdultAdultNymph

Preysmall insects & mites

caterpillars, leafhoppers, psylla, aphids, etc.insect eggs

Big-eyed Bug

AdultAdult

Nymph

Eat small insects, insect eggs, &itmites

Damsel Bug

AdultAdultNymph

Eat small insects & eggsgg

Ambush Bug

U flUse camouflageand ambush toattack prey

Their bite can hurt – ouch!

E t ll t id i d i tEat small to mid-sized insects

Predatory Mites

Native speciesNeed plant-feeding

spider mites for foodspider mites for foodCannibalisticSome also eat pollen

& nectar& nectar

Western predatory mite

Z t lliZetzellia

Parasitic Wasps

Parasitic Flies

Tachinid FlyLay eggs on caterpillarsFly larvae parasitize hostFly larvae parasitize host

Insect Pathogens = Entomopathogens

NematodesFungiFungiProtozoaViruses

Protect, Conserve & Promote Native Insects

Diverse, healthy garden with , y gflowering plants

Continuity in food & shelter in space & time

Quality pollen & nectarWildflowers, herbs, fruit trees

N t i ti idNo toxic pesticidesUse cultural & mechanical pest management practicesg p

Use selective, “soft” pesticides

Tolerate some plant-feeding insects Start from the bottom up –

Natural enemies must have food to survivebottom up healthy soil