Biological Controls and Beneficial Insects

By Bob Fitzsimmons
How did flowers, fruits and vegetables ever survive without man’s help? Why didn’t insects and disease wipe out vegetation hundreds of years ago? Maybe Nature has a plan to control the ants, beetles, fungus, blights, and all the other so-called problems in the landscape and garden.
  
   Natural controls, or biological controls exist in many different forms in the environment and many of us don’t even know it. We receive help from beneficial insects, nematodes, fungi, bacteria, and hundreds of other soil life forms. All of these hidden helpers maintain a balance of good and bad bugs, or good and bad bacteria or fungi. All this life maintained a complicated web of coexistence, until man stepped in an attempt to “control” things.

   For example, the ladybug is one of the most obvious beneficial insects that work for us in the garden. This very cute, “good” beetle devours aphids by the hundreds.

   Here is a list of the most common examples of beneficial insects that we should try to encourage in our landscapes: Lacewings, Trichogramma Wasps, Predatory Mites, Fly Parasites, and Praying Mantis. Most of these “good-guy insects” can be purchased for home release.

   Man and science have helped fight insects on the ground level by isolating a naturally occurring bacteria, Bacillus thuringiensis to fight worms. BT for short, will control any worm pest. Some of the most popular brand names that contain BT are: Bio-worm, Thuricide, Dipel Dust. Use Bacillus thuringienses ‘Israelensis’ in water for controlling mosquitoes. BTI is found in a product called Mosquito Dunks.

   Nolo Bait is an EPA-registered biological control for grasshoppers. This bait contains a naturally occurring spore of the protozoan, Nosema locustae. When grasshoppers or crickets consume this product, it’s all over. A one-pound canister covers one acre for about $14.00.

   The gardener’s smallest ally might be the microscopic Beneficial Nematode. This non- segmented worm occurs naturally in the soil. Beneficial nematodes attack fleas, ticks, ants, and grubs. They also feed on at least 250 other troublesome pests. This is not the same nematode that attacks the roots of plants and vegetables. “Todes” are sold in small sponges, with about one million little fellows that will cover a 2,000-square foot yard for around $10.00.

    Keep all the soil life in your landscape happy by applying compost, spraying with Medina Soil Activator, and Molasses. Stay on an organic program, and those biological controls – seen and unseen – will help your yard, garden and landscape grow and bloom…NATURALLY!!