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A green lacewing
(Chrysoperla rufilabris)
laying her trademark eggs on stalks.
I
n nature, just about every pest insect has a predator. Pests
will generally be kept in check by their predator counter-
parts. This is one reason why pest insect infestations are not
as common in outdoor gardens as they are in indoor gardens
or greenhouses. In many cases the plants themselves, once
under attack by a pest insect, will emit a chemical compound
known as a pheromone that attracts beneficial predatory
insects to come and dine on the pest insects. The balance
between pests and beneficial predatory insects is generally
kept in check in the natural world without intervention from
the cultivator. However, in some cases, it is beneficial for the
horticulturist to attract, feed, or release beneficial predatory
insects into the garden.
For indoor horticulturists or greenhouse growers who cannot
rely on nature’s balance, a release of beneficial predatory
insects may be the best option for dealing with a pest insect
problem. One big challenge facing horticulturists who favor
beneficial predatory insects as a control method is making sure
they become properly established so they can complete their
tasks. In many cases, an initial release of beneficial predatory
insects may help the problem, but it is only when those benefi-
cial predatory insects start to live and breed that the horticul-
turist will reap the rewards of nature’s balance between pest
insect and predator. As with most aspects of horticulture, there
are some tricks of the trade that can increase the effectiveness
of establishing a beneficial predatory insect population.
Maximum Yield
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