Beneficial Insects
$1.49 – $186.99
As an avid plant lover and grower, I understand that with plants come pests. They can sneak into your home through windows, open doors, or even on new plants. These tiny invaders might be hard to spot but can cause significant damage, sometimes even killing your plants. That’s where beneficial insects come in.
These natural predators don’t just eliminate pests like aphids and spider mites—they often stick around, helping to prevent future infestations. I’ve personally found that beneficial insects are the best, most sustainable solution for pest control. Sure, pesticides and systemics exist, but these are my personal favorites, trusted for their effectiveness and eco-friendly approach.
Shipping and Pickup:
Please note, this product is available for local pickup only. They are a special order item and refunds are not available.
Orders need to be placed no later than 9am on the last TUESDAY of each month and the shipment arrives the following Thursday. Pickup is available starting Friday at Crescent Moon Curio Shoppe located at 100 McLeod Ave #319, Spruce Grove, Alberta. Orders not picked up within 1 week will be used in a community garden. You pay no additional shipping fees!
**Next order deadline: June 24th at 9am for pickup June 27th
Please see below for more information on pests targeted by beneficial insects.
Description
How It Works:
Beneficial insects naturally prey on or compete with common plant pests, breaking pest life cycles and reducing infestations. Some, like predatory mites and rove beetles, target soil-dwelling pests, while others, like parasitic wasps and ladybugs, focus on above-ground threats.
Key Benefits of beneficial insects:
- Eco-Friendly Pest Management: Reduce or eliminate the need for chemical pesticides.
- Safe for Plants and People: Harmless to plants, pets, and humans.
- Long-Term Solutions: Many beneficial insects establish themselves in your growing area, providing ongoing pest control.
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Perfect for use in IPM strategies, enhancing overall garden health.
Why Choose Our Beneficial Insects?
I source high-quality, live beneficial insects from The Bug Lady, who I’ve been trusting for years with my own houseplants. They arrive healthy and ready to work. With detailed care and application instructions, our products make it simple to incorporate natural pest control into your gardening routine.
What to Choose?
Not sure? No sweat! The chart below may help you get a start. Info sheets are underway and will be linked to when they’re done. In the meantime, please feel free to reach out and I’ll help make some suggestions!
Controlling predators: aphidoletes, Anystis, Ladybugs, micromus, chrysopa
Apply Stratiolaelaps (hypoaspis) in the soil to consume eggs and larvae.
Micromus variegatus
Micromus variegatus
Cryptolaemus
Anystis
Anystis
Apply Stratiolaelaps (hypoaspis) in the soil to consume eggs and larvae.
Steinernema Kraussei (SK Cold Shots)
Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (HB, Weevilution)
Micromus variegatus
Controlling predators: Anystis, micromus variegatus, persimilis, fallacis, stethorus
Apply Stratiolaelaps (hypoaspis) in the soil.
Each life cycle of thrips needs a different approach. Suggested strategy is:
Adults: yellow sticky traps, or shallow dishes with soap and water and attractant (vanilla or peppermint)
Cucumeris for young larvae.
Hypoaspis for pupae.
Entonem as a foliar spray for adults or soil soak for pupae.
Controlling predators include: cucumeris, limonicus, hypoaspis, entonem, anystis
Anystis
Encarsia formosa
Delphastus
Diet & Pest Control
Ladybugs and their larvae are effective predators. Both life stages devour aphids—with individuals consuming up to 50 aphids a day—and also eat thrips, mites, whiteflies, mealybugs, and leafhoppers.
They’re generalists: while they prefer aphids, they’ll tackle various soft-bodied insects, making them versatile allies in pest management.
Usage & Release Tips
Release is best done at dusk: mist plants beforehand to encourage retention. Adults can be refrigerated for up to 3–4 weeks before release.
Providing sugar water or fruit can help them stay longer, aiding reproduction. If larvae are spotted on plants, it’s a positive sign of a developing local population.
Limitations & Interactions
Ladybugs are not a reliable solution for spider mites—they tend to abandon infestations if aphids are available elsewhere.
They generally avoid eating other beneficial organisms unless pest resources dwindle; in that case, they might consume mites or pupae of other beneficials.
Aphids, thrips, spider mites, psyllids, red mites, whitefly
Aphids
Fungus Gnats
Do best in wet environments. Introduce alongside hypoaspis for best results.
Thrips (on foliage for young larvae)
Aphids (adults and larvae)
Fungus gnats (larvae), thrips (adults when used as a foliar spray and pupae when used as a soil soak).
Use every 2 weeks up to 3 times
Fungus gnats (eggs and larvae), thrips (in the soil for pupae), Weevils (immature)
Use once
Fungus gnats (adults)
Thrips
Aphids, scale, spider mites, leaf-hoppers, mealybugs
Spider mites
Do best with humidity at least 60%. Heavy infestations or sub-optimal conditions may require second application.
Spider mites
Can be introduced with persimilis but will stick around longer
Spider mites
Common Pests Targeted by Chinese Mantises:
Caterpillars (e.g., cabbage loopers, armyworms)
Grasshoppers
Crickets
Flies
Moths
Beetles
Aphids (occasionally, though smaller prey like aphids are often ignored in favor of larger insects)
Leafhoppers
Stink bugs
Spider mites (less common, and only when other prey is scarce)
⚠️ Important Notes:
Non-selective predators: They will also eat beneficial insects like bees, butterflies, and even other mantids (including their own species).
Cannibalistic tendencies: Especially among nymphs and during mating.
Occasional vertebrate prey: Large adult females have been recorded catching hummingbirds, frogs, or small lizards, though this is rare and mostly in captive or unique settings.
So while they are natural pest controllers, Chinese mantises are more of a wild card in biological control—they reduce pest populations but won’t discriminate between pests and pollinators.
Additional information
| Type | ANYSTIS CRAZEE MITE – SMALL TRAY (50), ANYSTIS CRAZEE MITE – TRAY (250), APHIDOLETES SMALL TRAY (250), APHIDOLETES MAX HANGERS (250), APHIDOLETES REGULAR TRAY (1000), CHRYSOPA (GREEN LACEWING) EGGS (1000), CRYPTOLAEMUS ADULT TRAY (50), CRYPTOLAEMUS ADULT TRAY (100), CUCUMERIS – 1L BAG (50,000), CUCUMERIS SLOW RELEASE SACHETS (each), DELPHASTUS – SMALL (100), ENCARSIA MAX CARDS (1000), FALLACIS ON VERMICULITE – SMALL (500), FALLACIS ON VERMICULITE – TALL (1000), FALLACIS – 5L BAG (5,000), LADYBUGS 250, LADYBUGS 1000, LADYBUGS 3000, MICROMUS (BROWN LW ADULTS) 50, MICROMUS (BROWN LW ADULTS) 100, PERSIMILIS – SMALL (1000), PERSIMILIS HOT SPOT 2000 – VIAL “HOT SPOT”, ROVE BEETLE (ATHETA/DALOTIA) SMALL (100), ROVE BEETLE – 1L TUBE (1000), STETHORUS – SMALL (50), STETHORUS (100), STRATIOLAELAPS/HYPOASPIS – 1L BAG (25,000), TENODERA ARIDIFOLIA SINENSIS (PRAYING MANTIS) EGG SAC |
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