Beneficial Bugs

There are all kinds of pests that will eat your crops, there are aphids, mites, scales, and more! However, have you ever heard of beneficial bugs? Fortunately, if something lives then there is probably something else that eats it and that is exactly what beneficial bugs are, they're omnivores/carnivores that consume other bugs and sometimes pollen for their food source. As an alternative to chemical sprays growers can purchase beneficial bugs by the hundreds or even thousands to release onto their farm to boost the beneficial bug population and control the pests that may be causing damage to their crops. Beneficial bugs are still (as of 2022) relatively expensive for large scale operations but as processes become more efficient we may see the release of beneficial bugs as a mainstream crop protection option that farmers can use. The business that provides these products in Australia is Bugs for Bugs and they are devoted to a specialized crop protection system called the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) which is about incorporating different strategies to control pests without the heavy reliance on chemicals.

The spotted ladybirds
‌‌The first and my favorite is the spotted ladybird, I have released hundreds of these wonderful creatures in the Carnarvon horticulture district that I am surprised they aren't inundated with them! The ladybird will predate on psyllids and aphids in the adult and larvae form, however, the larvae will do most of the insect feeding as the adult can also feed on pollen and nectar. There are other types of ladybirds such as Chilocorus, and Cryptolaemus that feed on scale insects and mealy bugs.

Green Lacewing‌‌
This insect only feeds on pests in its larvae state but makes up with its ferocious appetite for aphids, mealybugs, scale insects and caterpillars! Green lacewings adults will feed on pollen and nectar for a few weeks and will lay hundreds of eggs, with each egg on the end of a hair like stalk. Once the larvae hatch they will feed on pests using their two hollow jaws which clamp onto the pest, once the larvae is finished feeding on its food, the larvae will stick the remains onto its back.

Predatory Mites‌‌
There are mites that'll eat your tomato plants and then there are mites who will eat those mites. Species such as Californicus, Cucumeris, Hypoaspis, Montdorensis, and Persimilis are all mites that will feed on pests such as mites, whitefly, thrips, and fungus gnats. These mites are very small! so if you buy them and are unsure if they're alive, grab a magnifying glass, you're sure to see them everywhere!

Integrated Pest Management
Beneficial bugs are a tool growers can use to manage their pest numbers out in the paddock or in their veggie gardens instead of resorting to chemical sprays. Currently the agriculture industry heavily relies on chemical sprays to protect their crops from pests, diseases and weeds. Don't get me wrong, the chemicals we can use in agriculture today make life so much easier and comfortable because they can fix a problem by simply adding it to a spray tank and driving through a paddock. The chemical sprays improve yield and the quality of crops and secure food for the Australian population. But, there are problems the agriculture sector can not ignore and that is resistance against these sprays and that there won't be more mode of actions coming out anytime soon.

By using IPM strategies you decrease the reliance on chemicals and the chances of getting resistant populations, also on the plus side it is probably healthier too. IPM can be hard at first because it requires forward thinking and predicting when you'll need to release beneficial bugs to boost the population and take advantage of culture methods which are practices that assist in controlling pests such as heavily grazing a pasture in spring to reduce red legged earth mites or making your plantings upwind from older crops to reduce pests easily moving from the old crop and into the new one.

The use of beneficial bugs will become an economical option for all farmers eventually but for now it is still an industry that is growing and becoming more efficient. If you're in horticulture or a backyard gardener I highly recommend taking advantage of these products and services, especially if you're an organic grower or are looking to reduce your use of insecticides. If you're interested then check out bugsforbugs.com.au

Happy Growing!