Friends with Benefits - Natural Enemies Gallery (work in progress)

All of these years working with biological pest management have made me appreciate the diversity of natural enemies helping us by suppressing pests in the field. Learn to recognize these beneficials and you will feel surrounded by friends.

This is a work in progress. More beneficials will be added as time permits.

Neuroptera - Lacewings, snakeflies, duskywings

Lacewings

The green lacewing adults are frequently found near porch lights at night but their alligator-like larvae are found searching for prey on leaves. Many species lay their eggs on stalks.


green lacewing adult


stalked green lacewing egg

green lacewing larva

It is called a fly but a snakefly actually belongs to the same family as green lacewings, Neuroptera.

Snakefly

snakefly adult

Dustywings - Coniopterygidae

Small, barely noticeable, these tiny relatives of lacewings eat tiny prey such as spider mites and insect eggs.

dustywing adult

dustywing larva

Coleoptera - Beetles

Ground beetle - Carabidae

Small to large beetles, often with grooved hindwings (elytra)

ground beetle

Rove beetles - Staphylinidae

Often recognized by their short hind wings (elytra). Many are predatory as larvae and adults.

rove beetle

Soldier beetles - Cantharidae

Soldier beetle adult

Lady beetles - Coccinellidae

Most people recognize the adult stages of lady beetles but are far less familiar with the egg, larval, and pupal stages of these well-known insects.

lady beetle adult

lady beetle egg cluster

lady beetle larva

lady beetle pupa

Diptera

Predatory midges

Can I actually persuade you to like a maggot? How about if it eats spider mites on your plants? Meet the predatory gall midge - Feltiella sp.

Feltiella predatory midge

Not convinced you like maggots? How about if they eat the aphids on your plants? Meet Aphidoletes, the aphid midge.

Aphidoletes aphid midge

Hover flies - Syrphidae

Many people recognize hover flies as they hover over flowers searching for pollen and nectar but do not recognize the larvae, which are predatory on aphids.

hover fly adult

Another maggot that eats aphids, a hover fly. The larva of Scaeva resembles a caterpillar leading some to kill it.

Scaeva sp. larva

Long Legged Fly - Dolichopodidae

long legged fly adult

Original publication: 6/3/2016
Last update: 6/9/2016

Author: R.L. Rosetta, Extension Nursery Integrated Pest Management, Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University

Page last modified 6/9/16