&

A closer look at Beneficial and Harmful Insects

Presented By:
Lauren Murphy
Edward OConnell
Jordan Roach

Not all insects are pests; in fact, a great

many of them are beneficial to man.
Entomologists recognize the good done
by beneficial insects as well as the
injury done by harmful ones.

or

Ladybug or Ladybeetle

or

Aphids

or

Mealybugs

or

Lacewing

or

Japanese Beetle

or

Praying Mantis

or

Bee

or

Spider Mites

Beneficial Insects
Predators, parasites, and pollinators are the most
important beneficial insects.
Good bugs aid the gardener in many ways. They aid in
production of flowers by pollination, destroy various
weeds, improve soil conditions, and pray on harmful
insects in the garden. Some good bugs are
Ladybugs or Ladybeetles, Lacewings, Praying
Mantis, Bees and many Wasps, Assasin Bug and all
of their larvae are beneficial feeding on many bugs.

Pollinating Insects
There are many important pollinating insect species in the orders:
Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, and ants)
Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)
Diptera (flies)
Coleoptera (beetles)
As adults these insects feed on pollen and/or nectar from flowers.
They forage from plant to plant and may initiate pollination by
transferring pollen from an anther to a stigma. Female bees
(Apoidea) and pollen wasps (Masarinae) provision their nests
with pollen and/or nectar that they actively collect onto their
bodies. Their larvae then feed on the collected pollen and nectar.
Yucca moth (Prodoxidae) larvae do not feed on pollen or nectar
but on the seeds of yucca plants. The adults pollinate the yucca
plant by actively collecting pollen onto their palps and then
placing the collected pollen on a receptive stigma to ensure
proper seed set for their offspring.

 Pollinators are usually multi-habitat insects, requiring resources found in

different habitats at different times. For instance most pollinating insects
require:
Nest sites (many bees and wasps)
Larval feeding sites (beetles, butterflies, moths, flies, and some wasps)
Hunting sites (some wasps and flies)
Over-wintering sites
Furthermore, all of these sites must occur in areas with optimal (or at least
tolerable) light, temperature, and humidity levels, and perhaps have relatively
low densities of natural enemies. The dependence of native pollinators on
the appropriate habitats must be recognized . Populations will not persist in a
habitat if all life stage requirements are not met. A bumble bee species might
require abandoned rodent burrows for nest sites and a particular range of
flower types as pollen and nectar sources. Many solitary bees and wasps
require specific nesting substrates (e.g., soil banks, decaying wood), as well
as a variety of materials for nest construction such as mud, resin, leaves,
plant hairs, or pebbles. These resources support the pollinator populations,
and in return, the pollinators aid in the reproduction and maintenance of
genetic diversity of the plant community and interact with other organisms as
prey or host items.

Bees

The Orchard Mason Bee is the common name of a nonsocial

native bee (Osmia lignaria ssp.) that pollinates our spring fruit
trees, flowers and vegetables. This gentle, blue-black metallic bee
does not live in hives. In nature it nests within hollow stems,
woodpecker drillings and insect holes found in trees or wood.
Sometimes there may be dense collections of individual nest
holes, but these bees neither connect or share nests, nor help
provision or protect each others' young. Also, they are active for
only a short period of the year. They are not aggressive and one
may observe them at very close range without fear of being stung,
which makes them excellent for enhancing our yards and
gardens. They add beauty, activity and pollination to our plantings.
However, they do not produce honey.

About Orchard Mason Bees

The female Orchard Mason Bee visits flowers to collect
pollen for its young. She forms a small ball of pollen and
nectar in the back of the nesting tube and lays an egg on
the ball. She then collects mud to form a cell partition and
repeats the pollen ball-egg laying process until she reaches
the mouth of the tube where she caps the end with mud.
Starting the life cycle in the spring, adult males emerge from
tubes first, but must wait for the later appearance of the
females in order to mate. This event often coincides with the
redbud (Cercis) bloom. Females alone, begin founding new
nests in holes to make a row of 5-10 cells in each nest.
Females collect the pollen and nectar and lay eggs. Their
short foraging range is about 100 yards from the nest.
Activity continues 4-6 weeks and then adults die. During the
summer, larvae develop inside the nests, make cocoons,
and become new adults resting in the cells. With the onset
of fall, the adults become dormant as they go into
hibernation. These bees require some cold temperatures
before spring in order to break their dormancy.

Nest Block Construction

The native eastern species of Orchard Mason Bee will nest in holes
drilled in a wooden block. Untreated 4" x 6" lumber works great. Holes
can be drilled in the wood on 3/4 inch centers. They should be 4-8"
deep (depending upon the size lumber used), smooth, and a 5/16"
diameter hole is important. A smaller hole encourages higher
production of male bees which reduces the reproductive potential of
the population. Blocks may be drilled from either face giving shallower
or deeper holes. Shallower holes may produce more male bees. Do
not drill completely through the lumber. Drill the hole to a depth about
1/2 inch from the back of the block. Attach a roof to provide protection
from the midday sun and rain. Outside surfaces may be painted or
stained, but do not use wood preservatives. One hole may be drilled in
the back to provide a means of hanging the block. Face nesting blocks
as close to the southeast direction as possible to catch morning sun
and affix it firmly so that it does not sway in the wind. It should be
located at least three feet above the ground.

These bees need mud to construct cell partitions, so adding a

mud supply may be helpful if needed. This can be a trench or
tub located nearby where muddy soil is maintained during the
nesting period. The mud should not be highly organic or sandy.
Clay soils work well.
Do not move the blocks during the weeks of active nesting.
Once all nesting activity has stopped, the nesting block may be
moved to a shelter such as a shed or unheated garage. Be
gentle when moving occupied blocks at this time of year. This
will give the bees added protection from predators and
parasites, yet will allow them exposure to the cold temperatures
that they need to break hibernation. If desired, bee emergence
can be delayed for a short period by refrigerating the block in
the spring until you are ready for the bees to emerge. Bees will
need three days to warm up following refrigeration.

Butterflies

Numerous butterflies feed on nectar from flowers as adults, but

some may use sap, fruit, aphid honeydew, mud, dung, carrion, or
blood. Most adults are spurious pollinators, because food intake is
not always necessary and are opportunistic, with each individual
visiting perhaps dozens of plant species. The larvae typically feed
on the flowers, fruits, stems, or roots of their host plants and in
some species, the adult will feed on the nectar of the host plant
and may aid in the pollination of that plant.

Choosing the Right Flowers

To help pollinator insects, you should provide a range of
plants that offers a succession of flowers through the whole
growing season. Patches of foraging habitat can be
created in many different locations. Even a small area with
the right flowers will be beneficial.
Tips:
-Use local native plants
-Choose several colors of flowers
-Plant flowers in clumps
-Have a diversity of plants flowering all season

Harmful Insects
Aphids
Japanese Beetles
both larvae and adults
Lacebugs
Mites
Caterpillars & Worms
Adelgids
Mealybugs

Insects that Feed on Juices

Aphids
Spider Mites
Scale Insects
Mealy Bugs, Whiteflies, and Psyllids
True Bugs and Leafhoppers
Insects that Feed on Leaves
Caterpillars
Sawflies
Leafminers
Leaf Beetles
Insects that Bore into Wood
Borers
Barkbeetles
Tip Moths
Other Wood Chewing Insects
Insects that Produce Gals
Galls

Aphids

Wingless

Winged

Nymph

Resources:
WWW.ISU.EDU:
National

Selecting Plants for Pollinators

Pollinating Insect-Biology, Management, Systematics - USDA ARS
Pollinator Conservation Program - The Xerces Society
Status of Pollinators in North America
NBII Pollinators Project
Alternative Pollinators - NSAIS
Montana Native Plants for Pollinator-Friendly Plantings
Protection of Pollinators (Cropland) - High Plains IPM Guide
International

The Pollinator Partnership

North American Pollinator Protection Campaign
University of Basel Botanical Image Database
WWW.EXT.VT.EDU:

Insects of Trees, Shrubs, Annuals, and Perennials

http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/456/456-018/Section_4_Home_Ornamentals-3.pdf

Protecting Honey Bees

http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/456/456-016/Section-1_Protecting_Honeybees.pdf

Garden Insects/Pests
http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/category/garden-insects-pests.html