Most people are under the impression that insects are pesky, harmful creatures. After all, some look very peculiar and are thought to harm plants, transmit diseases, and invade every picnic without a single thought toward our squeamishness. While the behavior of some insects can indeed verge on annoying, there are plenty of insects of the Pacific Northwest that actually work to our benefit.
Predatory insects may be helpful in controlling insect pests in gardens and on farms in one of two ways. Pollinators transfer pollen from flowers, fruits and vegetables. Meanwhile, parasitoids lay eggs on a host insect, and later the larvae feeds on it and eventually kills it. Whatever your feelings on insects may be, there is no doubt that these five insects of the Pacific Northwest are actually doing us a favor.
1. Bumblebee
Bumblebees are pollinators of flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Bumblebees transport pollen on their fuzzy legs. These round, black and yellow banded insects are social insects that live in colonies.
2. Ladybug
Lady beetles, or lady bugs, are predators that feed on pests such as mealy bugs, aphids, spider mites and scales that attack gardens, orchards and farm crops. They have red, orange, or yellow wing covers with black dots.
3. Green Lacewing
Green lacewings are delicate, green insects with translucent, iridescent wings. The larvae feeds on immature plant bugs, thrips, spider mites, aphids, and leafhoppers. Even though they are predators, they also enjoy pollen, honeydew, and nectar.
4. Braconid Wasp
Braconid wasps, which are parasitic insects, help control the enemy insect population by laying eggs on hosts such as Tortrix moths, immature aphids, omnivorous leaftiers, loopers, cutworms, caterpillars, and oriental fruit moths. They are black with red markings.
5. Tachinid Fly
Tachinid flies resemble gray houseflies but are chubbier with more bristles. Considered both parasitic and pollenators, tachinid flies feed on nectar and pollen as well as on tussock and codling moths, plant bugs, Colorado potato beetles, imported cabbage worms, corn earworms, hornworms, caterpillars, grasshoppers and cutworms.
In order to attract helpful insects of the Pacific Northwest, studies have shown that creating a welcoming habitat for these creatures will invite them to the area. Pollinators are most attracted to fragrant, blooming plants with plenty of nectar; predators need ground coverings such as dense foliage, dead leaves, rocks, and shrubs to hide and will reproduce and stay where water is abundant.
Featured Image from Kristine Tanne/Unsplash
