https://www.earthworksboston.org/urbanorchards/replicate/06_Pests_and_Beneficials.htm <<broken link
applestar wrote:Here's a link to an archived copy of the old web page that Opa had linked to.
This is a REALLY cool site, opabinia.
Also here is a list (from the website) of plants that you can plant to encourage beneficial insects in your garden: (I have listed the ions that each plant accumulates and therefore keeps in your soil when you rake the plant down)
Common Name/Botanical Name Beneficial Insects Attracted
Alfalfa: ( Nitrogen and Iron )
Minute pirate bigs, big-eye bugs, damsel bugs, assassin bugs, lady bugs, parasitic wasps
(Medicago sativa)
Angelica:
Ladybugs; lacewings; potter, mud-dauber, and sand wasps
(Angelica sp.)
Baby blue eyes:
Syrphid flies
(Nemophila inignis)
Buckwheat: (Magnesium)
Syrphid flies
(Fagopyrum esculentum)
California buckwheat:
Potter, mud-dauber, and sand wasps; tachina, chloropid, and syrphid flies; minute pirate bugs
(Eriogonum sp.)
California coffeeberry:
Tachnid and syrphid flies; ladybugs; mad-dauber, sand, inchneumon, and braconid wasps; lacewings
(Rhamnus californica)
Camphorweed:
Stink bugs, assassin bugs, ground beetles, spiders
(Heterotheca subaxillaris)
Candytuft:
Syrphid flies
(Iberis umbellata)
Carrot: (Leaves accumulate Nitrogen and Phosphorous... DON'T THROW AWAY)
Minute pirate bugs, big-eyed bugs, assassin bugs; lacewings; parasitic potter, and predaceous wasps
(Daucus carota)
Coriander:
Tachnid flies
(Coriandrum sativum)
Coyote brush:
Syrphid, chloropod, and tachnia flies; braconid, ichneumon, potter, mud-dauber, sand, and chalcid wasps
(Baccharis pilularis)
Evening primrose: (Magnesium)
Ground beetles
(Oenthera laciniata
and O. biennis)
Evergreen:
euonymus Lacewings; chloropid, tachnid, and syrphid flies; chalcid, braconid, mud-dauber, sand, and ichneumon wasps; ladybugs
(Euonymus japonica)
Fennel: (Warning: Fennel is extremely invasive. Sodium, Nitrogen, Phosphorous)
Pooter, braconid, mud-dauber, and sand wasps; syrphid and tachnid flies
(Foeniculum vulgare)
Goldenrod:
Predaceous beetles, big-eyed bugs, ladybugs, spiders, parasitic wasps, long-legged flies, assassin bigs
(Solidago altissima)
Ivy:
Flower and tachnid flies; braconid, potter, mud-dauber, sand, hornet, and yellow jacket wasps
(Hedera sp.)
Meadow foam:
Syrphid flies
(Limnanthes douglasii)
Mediterranean umble:
Tachnid flies; sand, mud-dauber, and potter wasps
(Bupleurum fruticosum)
Mexican tea:
Stink bugs, ladybugs, assassin bugs, big-eyed bugs
(Chenopodium ambrosioides)
Morning glory:
Syrphid flies, ladybugs
perennial ornamental
(Convolvulus minor)
Oleander:
Minute pirate bugs, big-eyed bugs, assassin bugs, ladybugs, soft-winged flower beetles, lacewings, syrphid flies, parasitic wasps
(Nerium oleander)
Pigweed: (Calcium, Potassium, Phosphorous and Iron)
Ground beetles
(Amaranthus sp.)
Ragweed:
Ladybugs, assassin bugs, spiders
(Ambrosia artemisiifolia)
Rue:
Ichneumon and potter wasps
(Ruta graveolens)
Saltbush:
Potter, sand, and mud-dauber wasps
(Atriplex sp.)
Silver lace vine:
Tachnid and syrphid flies
(Polygolum aubertii)
Snowberry:
Flower and tachnid flies
(Symphoricarpos sp.)
Soapbark tree:
Syrphid and chloropid flies; lacewings; ladybugs; ichneumon, chalcid, and brachonid wasps
(Quillaja saponaria)
White clover: (Note: White Clover is an excellent cover crop that is planted in early spring (March) and can be replanted when the garden is seeded) (Nitrogen and Phosphorous)
Parasitic wasps of aphids, scales, and whiteflies
(Trifolium repens)
White sweet clover:
Tachnid flies; mud-dauber, sand, hornet, and yellow jacket wasps
(Melilotus alba)
White mustard: (Sulphur and Potassium)
Braconid and ichneumon wasps
(Brassica hirta)
Wild lettuce:
Soldier beetles, lacewings, earwigs, syrphid flies
(Lactuca canadensis)
Yarrow: (For those who suffer from Prickly heat; make a tea from Yarrow and then use the tea leaves by chewing them placing them on the Prickly heat) (Nitrogen, Potassium, Phosphorous and Copper)
Ladybugs; parasitic wasps or aphids, scales, and whiteflies
(Achillea sp.)