Beneficial Insects

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They help Us With Balance

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Beneficial insects are any of a number of species of insects that perform valued services like pollination and pest control. 

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​Beneficial Insects for Pest Control
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• Ladybug. Preys: aphids, whitefly, mites, fleas, Colorado potato beetle. 
• Praying Mantis. Preys: wide range including caterpillars, moths, beetles, and crickets. 
• Spiders. 
• Ground Beetles. 
• Aphid Midges. 
• Braconid Wasps.
• Damsel Bugs. 
• Green Lacewings.

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https://www.organiclesson.com/beneficial-insects-garden-pest-control/
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https://lilyflowerstore.com/beneficial-insects-garden/

https://theconversation.com/in-red-and-black-the-genetics-of-ladybug-spots-104811
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LadyBeetle

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This photo is from our watermelon raised bead, you see lady beetles mating, pre-pupa lady beetles, and an assassin bug.

Young lady beetle surrounded by aphid exoskeletons 

Lady beetle eggs

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What they eat

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Aphids, they might actually be able to photosynthesize 
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https://io9.gizmodo.com/aphids-may-be-the-only-insects-that-can-photosynthesize

Whitefly:

https://www.growveg.com/guides/5-organic-controls-for-greenhouse-whitefly/

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Assassin Bug

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We can Look Up Pests and Beneficial Insects By Crop

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Resources: 
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https://www.vegedge.umn.edu/pest-profiles/crop

https://agrilife.org/extensionento/resources/
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https://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/home-garden

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Chilocorus stigma

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They are related to the lady beetle and are quite a bit smaller,
​they mainly eat scale insects 

​https://biocontrol.entomology.cornell.edu/predators/Chilocoruss.php

​Scale Insects: 

https://www.thoughtco.com/scale-insects-and-mealybugs

https://www.epicgardening.com/scale-insects/

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Ladybug Lifecycle

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LaceWing Life cycle 

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AntLion

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Antlions are the larval stage of lacewing like insects in the family Myrmeleontidae.

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Praying Mantis

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Incomplete Metamorphosis: When the nymph resembles the adult and there is no pupa stage  
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