Beneficial Insects

Assassin Bugs

Assassin bugs prey on aphids, caterpillars,

These predatory insects are recognizable by their elongated bodies and curved, piercing mouthparts used to capture and consume aphids, caterpillars, a...

Beneficial Insects

Beneficial insects play a crucial role in maintaining healthy lawns and gardens by naturally controlling pest populations. Species like lady beetles, ...

Big-eyed Bugs

These small insects with big eyes attack

These small predators are easily recognized by their prominent, large eyes and slender bodies, making them effective natural enemies of many common la...

Damsel Bugs

Damsel bugs resemble assassin bugs.

Slender and agile, damsel bugs are beneficial predators that resemble assassin bugs and help control lawn and garden pests by feeding on aphids, cater...

Green Lacewings

Green or brown, the lacewing, or aphid lion,

Green lacewings, recognized by their delicate green or brown wings and slender bodies, are valuable beneficial insects in Middle Tennessee lawns and g...

Ground Beetles

These beetles are

These dark, fast-moving beetles are valuable predators in Middle Tennessee lawns and gardens, including areas like Franklin and Brentwood. Ground beet...

Lady Beetles

Lady beetle adults and larvae

These beneficial insects, commonly known as lady beetles, have distinctive round, red or orange bodies with black spots and voracious larvae that are ...

Minute Pirate Bug

These bugs attack thrips, spider mites,

Minute pirate bugs are tiny, black-and-white insects known for their voracious appetite for pests like thrips and spider mites, making them valuable a...

Praying Mantids

Mantids have a good

Recognizable by their triangular heads and folded forelegs, praying mantids are beneficial predators that help control garden pests like caterpillars ...

Predaceous Stink Bugs

Many stink bugs are pests, but predaceous

Predaceous stink bugs, unlike their plant-feeding relatives, are beneficial insects that help control pest populations by feeding on harmful insects l...

Predatory Mites

Predatory mites move rapidly to catch

These tiny, fast-moving predators are invaluable allies in managing pest populations like spider mites and thrips on lawns and gardens. Predatory mite...

Soldier Beetles

Adults resemble fireflies

These slender, soft-bodied beetles are often mistaken for fireflies but are beneficial insects that help control aphids and other garden pests. Found ...

Spider

These eight-legged predators play a vital role in controlling lawn and garden pests by feeding on insects like aphids and caterpillars. Common in Midd...

Spider Mite

Tiny and often hard to see, spider mites are tiny arachnids that feed on the undersides of plant leaves, causing stippling, yellowing, and even leaf d...

Syrphid Flies

The harmless adults resemble bees,

These beneficial insects are often mistaken for bees due to their yellow and black striped bodies, but syrphid flies are harmless to people. Their lar...

Tachinid Flies

Heavily bristled tachinid flies lay eggs on

Heavily bristled tachinid flies are beneficial insects known for their role in natural pest control, as they lay eggs on various garden pests like cat...

Tiny Parasitic Wasps

Micro- and mini-wasps can sting

These tiny parasitic wasps, often less than a few millimeters long, play a vital role in controlling garden pests by laying their eggs inside or on ha...

Wasps & Hornets

Though often considered pests, these insects

Though often considered pests, wasps and hornets play a vital role in controlling garden insects by preying on caterpillars, flies, and other pests th...