| 1. The aphid midge look like a small wasp and are | | | | 6. An adult spined soldier bug is about ½ inch |
| very delicate. There are over sixty different | | | | in length when it reaches adulthood. The shoulders |
| varieties of aphids and larvae will eat these out of | | | | of the thorax come to sharp points and are |
| your garden. If you want to attract them then | | | | grayish brown in color. They prefer to feed on |
| grow plants with a great deal of nectar and pollen. | | | | caterpillars, armyworms, grubs, sawflies, and |
| 2. The big-eyed bug is a quick moving bug with | | | | Mexican bean beetle larvae. The shelter of |
| huge eyes and tiny black spots on its head and | | | | perennial plants near a garden are preferred by |
| thorax. Field crops and orchards are usually where | | | | the spined soldier bug. |
| these bugs are found. Leafhoppers, spider mites, | | | | 7. The tachinid fly look like a big, hairy housefly |
| plant bugs and aphids and small caterpillars are | | | | and grow to about 1/3 to ½ inch long. Eggs |
| what the big-eyed bugs. | | | | that kill caterpillars of many pest species such as |
| 3. Ladybugs come in sizes ranging from 1/16 to 3 | | | | gypsy moths and armyworms are deposited by |
| 8 inch and have circular red, orange or yellow | | | | the females. Flower nectar, sweet clover, parsley |
| trunks with black markings. Where large amounts | | | | and dill are what adults prefer to feed on. If you |
| of pollen and nectar-producing flower are that is | | | | see caterpillars with white eggs hooked to them, |
| where you will find ladybugs. Aphids, mealybugs, | | | | do not kill them because the eggs will turn into |
| small insects and scales are the ladybugs | | | | more tachinid flies. |
| favorites. The ladybug is related to the Mexican | | | | 8. Adult tiger beetles will be about ½ to |
| bean beetle but they are beneficial. | | | | ¾ inches long. They are bright-colored, have |
| 4. The minute pirate bugs are about ¼ | | | | long legs and feed on many types of pests. Tiger |
| inches long as adults and have a black and white | | | | beetles will come if there are perennials in your |
| pattern on their body. Like the big-eyed bug they | | | | garden. |
| are fast moving and like gardens with goldenrod, | | | | 9. The assassin bug look flattened and have |
| yarrow, alfalfa, daisies, and other pollen-producing, | | | | elongated heads. This type of bug ranges from |
| flowering plants are grown. Small caterpillars, | | | | ½ to 1 3/8 inches long. The assassin bug is |
| thrips, spider mites, insect eggs and immature | | | | naturally found in a garden where pests live. They |
| leafhoppers are what the Minute Pirate Bugs eat. | | | | will eat almost any common pest. |
| 5. The Mealybug Destroyer have wing covers | | | | 10. An adult bumblebee will grow to be 1 inch long |
| that are black and as an adult this bug is 1/3 inch | | | | and are round with black and yellow striping. They |
| long with an oval shaped body and a coral-colored | | | | can be recognized they their smoky-colored wings |
| stomach. The mealybuy destroyer is naturally | | | | and hairy bodies. This bug pollinates and like nectar |
| there if mealybugs are present and the | | | | and pollen. |
| destroyers will eat all of the mealybugs in the | | | | Try to attract helpful insects into your garden to |
| garden. | | | | get rid of those annoying and unwanted pests. |