Beneficials

Beneficials are either Parasitic or Predators.

The Parasitic beneficial insects use pest insects to lay their eggs inside and
on the exterior of the pest. The host provides the beneficial larvae with a place
to grow and feed, in most cases killing the pest insect. Predators simply eat the pest insects.
Depending on the pests for survival.

Beneficials can be purchased. The best beneficials to buy are Lady Bugs and Brown and Green Lacewings, all having a healthy apetite for aphids, spider mites, and other small soft bodied insects. Young Lacewings have to eat a lot of pests before they finish growing and develope their wings to fly. Ladybug larvae are the same way. They crawl around and eat!

Before you consider using chemicals to control your pests, you should also consider the chemicals will probably kill the beneficials also. Set up the necessary environment to encourage your beneficals to stick around your garden and they will control your pests for you.

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