Types of Beneficial Insects
Some species of bee are beneficial as pollinators, although generally only efficient at pollinating plants from the same area of origin, facilitating propagation and fruit production for many plants. Also, some bees are predatory or parasitic, killing pest insects. This group includes not only honeybees, but also many other kinds that are more efficient at pollinating. Bees can be attracted by many companion plants, especially bee balm and pineapple sage for honeybees, or apiaceae like queen anne's lace and parsley, for predatory bees.
Ladybugs are generally thought of as beneficial because they eat large quantities of aphids, mites and other arthropods that feed on various plants.
Other insects commonly identified as beneficial include:
- Minute pirate bug
- Big eyed-bug
- Assassin bug
- Damsel bug
- Mealybug destroyer
- Soldier beetle
- Green lacewing
- Syrphid fly
- Tachinid fly
- Ichneumon wasp
- Trichogramma wasp
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