Natural enemies such as parasites, pathogens, and predators feed on various arthropod pest species in agricultural fields and provide natural control. Conserving such beneficial organisms is an important component of IPM. Following are examples of beneficials commonly found in cotton fields.
Lady beetles are generalist predators. They feed primarily on aphids, caterpillars, insect eggs, mealy bugs, scale insects, spider mites, and whiteflies. Some species are plant feeders. Photo by Salvador Vitanza
Collops beetle adults feed on aphids, stink bug eggs, moth eggs, small caterpil- lars, spider mites, and whiteflies. Photo by Pat Porter
Minute pirate bugs are generalist predator and feed on aphids, insect eggs, leafhopper nymphs, scale insects, small caterpillars, spider mites, thrips, and whiteflies. Top photo by Suhas Vyavhare. Bottom photo by Winfield Sterling
Damsel bugs are generalist predators. They feeds primarily on aphids, caterpillars, insect eggs, leafhoppers, spider mites, and thrips. Photo by Winfield Sterling
Green Lacewing larvae are generalist predators. They feed on primarily aphids, insect eggs, leafhoppers, mealybugs, psyllids, small caterpillars, spider mites, thrips, and whiteflies. Depending on the species, adults are also predaceous. Photo by Suhas Vyavhare
Spined soldier bugs are generalist predators where they feed on beetle larvae, caterpillars, and truebug nymphs. Photo by Winfield Sterling
Brown lacewings are generalist predator They feed primarily on aphids, insect eggs, leafhoppers, mealybugs, mites, psyllids, small caterpillars, thrips, and whiteflies. Photo by Winfield Sterling
Big-eyed bugs are generalist predators. They feed primarily on flea beetles, insect eggs, mites, small caterpillars, thrips, whiteflies, and other true bugs. Photo by Winfield Sterling
Assassin bugs are generalist predators and primarily feed on aphids, caterpillars, insect eggs, leafhoppers, true bugs, and various small beetles. Photo by Winfield Sterling
Ground beetles are generalist predators feed primarily on small insects, spiders, and various other ground-dwelling arthropods. Some species feed on seeds. Photo by Winfield Sterling
Syrphid flies or flower flies are generalist predators. They feed on aphids, mealybugs, scale insects, spider mites, and thrips. Photo by Suhas Vyavhare
Braconid wasp larvae are parasitoids of aphids, beetle larvae, caterpillars, and other insects. Photo by Winfield Sterling
Ichneumonid wasp larvae are parasitoids of beetle larvae, caterpillars, and other insects. Photo by Pat Porter
Tachinid fly larvae are internal parasitoids of beetle larvae, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and other insects. Photo by Suhas Vyavhare
Lynx spiders are beneficial predators and serve a significant role in keeping populations of many insect pests in check. Photo by Suhas Vyavhare
Crab spiders are beneficial predators and serve a significant role in keeping populations of many insect pests in check. Photo by Pat Porter
