m) Pirate Bug - (N) l/20th of an inch long, these insects eat even smaller prey like Aphids, Spider mites, Thrips and Whiteflies.
n) Praying Mantis - (C) 2 to 4 inches in length, these creatures will eat ANYTHING that moves; pests, beneficials or even other Mantids. They hunt by day and by night, often being found near street or building lights. Favorite prey include Aphids, beetles, bugs of all kinds, butterflies, flies and wasps.
o) Robber Fly - (N) Gray 1/4 to 1 1/8 inch long flies. The adults and larvae both work hard at reducing your' pest population. The larvae hung underground, feeding on grubs and grasshopper eggs. The adults specialize in flying insects, using a "perch and pounce" technique. They eat bees, beetles, other flies, grasshoppers, leafhoppers and wasps.
P) Rove Beetle - (N) From 1/16 to 3/4 inch in length. The adults act as predators while the larvae can be parasitic also. Common prey includes Aphids, beetle larvae. Cabbage maggots, mites and small worms.
q) Soldier Beetle - These 1/2 inch beetles look like lightless fire-flies. The larvae feed on prey found under bark or in the soil. The adults eat pollen and nectar as well as small insects. Effective on Aphids, Spider mites, grasshopper and other eggs, small caterpillars and beetles.
r) Spiders - (N) Range from tiny "specks" to extra-large tarantulas. Some spiders spin webs, some talk their prey and some use the "perch and pounce" method. The prey is eaten outright or wrapped up and saved for later consumption. All insects and some small reptiles, birds and mammals are at risk to spiders.
s) Syrphid Fly -(N) This 1/2 inch insect mimics many Hymenoptera, including bees, wasps and yellow jackets. The larvae is the helpful stage, eating up to 400 pests before it pupates. Primary prey include Aphids, Mealybugs, Leafhoppers and Scales.
t) Tachinid Fly -(N) These 1/8 to 1/2 inch housefly look-alikes lay their eggs on the outside of their prey. The tiny yellow larvae hatch and burrow into the pest and kill it as they mature. Affected insects include many caterpillars, Corn Borers, grasshoppers, Gypsy Moths, Japanese Beetles, Mexican Been Beetles, and Sawflies.
u) Tiger Beetle - (N) 3/8 to 7/8 inch in length. The adults run after and capture their prey, the larvae hide in a burrow and reach out and grab their dinner as it passes. They eat ants, aphids, caterpillars, flies, spiders and wireworms.
v) Trichogramma Wasp - (C) These tiny (l/45th of an inch!) creatures are very effective parasites of many butterflies and moths. The adult lays eggs inside their prey, the larvae hatch, mature, pupate and then kill the host as they emerge. Hosts include Armyworms, Cabbage Loopers, Cabbage worms. codling Moths, Cotton Bollworms, Corn Borers, Cutworms, Fruitworms, Leafworms, etc. Approximately 200 Species of Lepodoptera are affected.
4. Another weapon in your arsenal in the war against pests is the use of "biological wafare" in the form of insect pathogens. Just like humans and other animals, insects are prone to contracting diseases that either kill them outright or disable them enough that they are no longer a problem. A few of these pathogens are now commercially available for home use. They do not provide instant cures however, often taking days, weeks, or even years before they approach total control. Their chief selling point is their safety; they are extremely species specific so that you do not have to worry about their effect on beneficials or your pets and family.
a) B.T. (Bacillus thuringiensis) - (Dipel, Thuricide, etc.) This bacteria has to be ingested (through eating or grooming operations) in order to affect the pest. It disrupts inner cellular functions and paralyzes the gut. Feeding stops within an hour and the pest dies within one to two days. B.t. acts very quickly and has little to no residual effect. It breaks down quickly when exposed to sunlight and will last longer if sprayed on the underside of foliage also. Crops can be harvested and eaten immediately after treatment. It is available as a spray, a dust or as a wet-able powder and is often mixed with a bid to soap or other solution to help it adhere to the plant longer. This insecticide is very species-specific and different strains are available. B.t. Berliner - kurstaki targets caterpillars, Colorado Potato Beetles are affected by B.t. san diego and kills Mosquito larvae. It does not affect non-target creatures at all (including humans).
b) Milky Spore Disease (Bacillus popilliae) - (Doom. Japidemic, etc.) This bacteria affects grubs that come into contact with it in the soil. They develop milky-looking body fluids ("milky blood")and die. As each infected larvae dies the bacteria multiply and spread further. The preparation comes as a dust or as pellets and is spread on your lawn or other affected area. The bacteria multiply in the soil and may take up to three or four years to reach total control, but then they are self-perpetuating and effective control will usually last for 15 to 20 years. Non-toxic to anything except grubs.
c) Nosema locustae -This protozoan parasite of grasshoppers is mixed with a bait and put out in the area in which you want to control. Of the insects that eat it, approximately 50% will die, and the rest of the infected pests will pass the parasite on to their young. It may take 2-3 years before reasonable control is achieved and then you still have to deal with non-infected pests flying in from outside your treated area.
To be continued . . .