Beneficial insects, sometimes called helpful bugs, are insects that do useful things like helping plants grow by pollinating them or controlling pests. Whether an insect is considered beneficial depends on what people want to achieve. In farming, where the goal is to grow certain crops, insects that harm the growth of crops are called pests, while those that help crops grow are called beneficial. In gardening and horticulture, beneficial insects are often those that help control pests and support natural habitats.
Creating good living conditions for beneficial insects is a way to control pests. This method is often used in organic farming, organic gardening, and integrated pest management. Some businesses that focus on using living organisms to manage pests sell different kinds of beneficial insects, especially for use in enclosed spaces like greenhouses.
Types
Some types of bees help plants grow and produce fruit by pollinating them. These bees are usually most effective at pollinating plants that are native to the same area where the bees live. This group includes honeybees and many other bees that are better at pollinating plants from their own region. Bees can be attracted to certain plants, such as bee balm and pineapple sage, which are especially helpful for honeybees. Wasps, including fig wasps, also help plants by pollinating them.
Ladybugs are often considered helpful because they eat many aphids, mites, and other small insects that harm plants.
Other insects that are helpful include:
- Aphid midges
- Assassin bugs
- Damsel bugs
- Earwigs
- Green lacewings
- Ichneumon wasps
- Minute pirate bugs
- Fireflies
- Praying Mantis
- Soldier beetles
- Syrphid flies
- Tachinid flies
- Trichogramma wasps
Attractive plants
Plants from the Apiaceae and Asteraceae families are often helpful in gardens. Here are some other plants that attract helpful insects: