Beneficial insects
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2008-07-07T01:39:30Z
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Beneficial Insects are any of a number of species of insects that perform valued services like [[pollination]] and [[pest (animal)|pest]] control. The concept of ''beneficial'' is subjective and only arises in light of desired outcomes from a human perspective. In farming and agriculture, where the goal is to raise selected crops, insects that hinder the production process are classified as pests, while insects that assist production are considered beneficial.
Encouraging beneficial insects, by providing suitable living conditions, is a pest control strategy, often used in [[organic farming]], [[organic gardening]] or [[Integrated Pest Management]]. Companies specializing in [[biocontrol|biological pest control]] sell many types of beneficial insects, particularly for use in enclosed areas, like [[greenhouse]]s.
==Types of beneficial insects==
'''[[Bee]]s''' are beneficial as [[pollinator]]s, facilitating [[plant propagation|propagation]] and [[fruit]] production for many plants. While some bees are predatory or parasitic, killing pest insects. This group includes not only honeybees, but also many other kinds that are more efficient at pollinating. Bees can be attracted by many [[companion plants]], especially [[bee balm]] and pineapple [[sage]] for honeybees, or [[apiaceae]] like [[queen anne's lace]] and [[parsley]], for predatory bees.
[[Ladybird|Ladybugs]] are generally thought of as beneficial because they eat large quantities of [[aphid]]s, [[mite]]s and other insects that feed on various plants.
Other insects commonly identified as beneficial include:
*[[Minute pirate bug]],
*[[Geocoris|Big eyed-bug]],
*[[Reduviidae|Assassin bug]],
*[[Nabidae|Damsel bug]],
*[[Mealybug destroyer]],
*[[Soldier beetle]],
*[[Chrysopidae|Green lacewing]],
*[[Syrphid fly]]
*[[Tachinid]] fly,
*[[Ichneumon wasp]], and
*[[Trichogramma]] wasp
<ref>[http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/farmscaping/fsappendixa.html "Farmscaping to Enhance Biological Control"], ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.</ref>.
==Attractive plants==
* Plants in the [[Apiaceae]] and [[Asteraceae]] families are general valuable companions.
==See also==
* [[List of companion plants]] -- one of the most common companion plant functions is attracting beneficial insects.
* [[List of beneficial weeds]]
==External links==
* [http://www.anbp.org Association of Natural Biocontrol Producers]- trade association of the biological control industry
== References ==
<references />
[[Category:Insects| Beneficial]]
[[Category:Biological pest control]]
[[Category:Insect ecology]]
[[ja:益虫]]
[[zh:益蟲]]