BeneficialsintheGardenSOLITARYWASPS
ByGeorgeGiltner,Adv.MG
PaperWaspsaresocialwaspsthatdefendthenestagainstvertebrates.
Swarming/SGngingChemicalsarereleasedtodefendtheNest
SolitaryWasps
MasonWasponPlumrosa Characteris4cs Normally-donotsGng Donotliveinsocial
aggregaGons-solitary Beneficialbybeing
pollinators Beneficialbyconsuming
pestinsects Keytoecologicalbalancein
predator/preyrelaGon
4-toothedMasonWasporCarpenterWasporPoOerWasporMonobiaquadridens
Preysmallcaterpillarslikeleafrollers,webworms,etc.fromatleast6familiesofLepidopteraPollenfeederforadultswhilelarvaefeedonparalyzedcaterpillarsAdultfemaleiscapableofabaldhornet-likesGng,butnotaggressiveMaleshavewhitedotonface,butfemaleshaveasolidblackface
MasonWaspnestinunoccupiedmuddaubernests,Carpenterbeeholenests,vegetaGonholes,andwooddrillings
WorkbenchholeusedfornesGng,thenparalyzedcaterpillarsareinsertedalongwithanegg
AmonthlatertheWaspemergesfromthesealednest
Nonurse-feedingrequired
PoOerWasps,EumenesfraternusEileenLinton,MG-GalvestonCounty(aggie-horGculture.tamu.edu)
Numerouscaterpillarsareusedasalarvaefoodsource.Adultsfeedon
flowernectarCaterpillars(1-12)insidepot Femalesusesamemudsource
RedandBlackMasonWaspPachodyneruserynnis
EileenLinton,GalvestonMG
RedorYellowpentagonspotonhead
Typicalpreyincludecutworms,cabbageloopers,armyworms,andcornearworms
RefurbisholdmuddaubernestsParalyzedbeetleorcaterpillarlarvae
BraconidWasps CabbageAphid,Brevicoryne
brassicae,aOackedbyaparasitoidwasp,Aphidiusspp.bybuglogicalcontrol
1700+speciesinN.America Sizelessthatinch ThisfamilyofwaspparasiGzes
cabbageworms,cutworms,cornearworms,gypsymothsandmanyothercaterpillars
DavidCappaert(www.forestryimages.org)
ChalcidWasps Trichogrammaspeciesofwasps
arespecialistparasitesthattargetinsecteggs
Sizerange(0.020.31inch) ParasiGzewiderangeofinsects
andinsecteggs(200) OtherMembersofChalcidoidea
parasiGzecaterpillarstofliestotruebugstowebworms
Amazonsellsthismostpopularbeneficial12,000for$7
IchneumonWasps Hostsarecaterpillars,wood-
boringgrubsofbeetles,andotherinsects.
ManyfemaleshavelongnoGceableovipositors
Sizeverysmallto1.5inches Megarhyssamacrurusis~2
incheslongbutovipositoris4incheslong.Foundondeadoaktreesinfectedwiththesiricidwoodwasplarvae
SphecidWasps
AstataoccidentaliswithcapturedpreysGnkbug
GenuspreysonsGnkbugsandleaffootedbugs,adultsandnymphs
Groundnestersinsandyandhardpackedsoils
Alsoknownasdiggerwasps
HowardEvans(www.insecGmages.org)
CercerisWasps
NaGvewaspthatisusedtomonitorpresenceofmetallicbeetlesinLouisiana(EmeraldAshBorer)
Capturebeetlesfromwaspsaroundopenfields,ballparks,etc.tomonitorEAB.
Cercerisfumipennis
TomMurray(bugguide.net)
Thread-WaistedWasp
Preyonavarietyofbeetlesthatdestroytreesandflowers
TheyareparasiGzedbyvelvetantswhicheatthread-waistedlarvae
www.toledo-bend.us SandWaspsorThread-waistedWasps
WhitneyCranshaw Ammophiliaspp.
HowtoAOrackandKeepSolitaryWaspsinGardensandFarms
DesignforSolitaryWasps Plantnectaryandpollen
sourcesFlowersPower! Toleratealowlevelof
pests Havefullseasonblooms
fromspringtofall IdenGfyfavoriteflowers
forsolitarywasps FarmingwithNaGve
BeneficialInsectsbyXercesSociety
Farmscapingwillnoteliminatepestsfromthefarm,norshouldit.Itkeepspestnumbersatatolerablelevelandpreventsoutbreaks.JessicaWalliser,AOracGngBeneficialBugstoyourGarden,p.174
Thecloserinsectaryplantsaretothecroptheyareintendedtoprotect,thebeOer.RexDufour,NaGonalSustainableAgricultureInformaGonService.
FarmsBeetleBanks
DAVIDREDHAGE,ProgramManagerfortheUSDAsSustainableAgricultureResearchandEducaGonProgram,SouthernRegionattheKerrCenter,Poteau,Ok.
FarmsBordersandRiparianZones
NaGvePerennialsprovidelesslabor
Awidevarietyofflowersprovidediversebeneficialinsects
Undisturbedriparianzonesprovidehabitatandoverwinteringareasforbeneficials
XercesSociety,FarmingwithNaGveBeneficialInsects
Gardens
Designtotargetspecificpests
AlyssumbringsinhoverfliesandparasiGcwasps
ThereforeplantAlyssumnexttoleOucethatissuscepGbletoaphids
DesignanInsectaryBedforBeneficialInsects
ParasiGcwasps
Piratebugs
Trichogrammawasps
Paperwasps
BraconidwaspsHoverflies,Lacewings
Ladybugs,Big-eyedbugs
ParasiGcwasps,Syrphidflies
Parasoidwasps
ParasiGcwasps
Ladybugs
TachinidFlies,TrichogrammaW.
Soldierbeetles,parasiGcwasps
Hoverflies
DesignaVegetableInsectaryGarden
UseNaGveWeedsforPollinatorsandBeneficialswhenPossible
PartridgePeaExtraFloralNectariesonthepeGoles
SunflowersEFNontheedgesofbractsbeneaththeflowerheads
WideRangeInsecGcidescanDestroyaBalancedEcosystem
SolitaryWaspsandOtherBeneficialsmayreduceoreliminatetheneedforInsecGcides
WildflowerEcologyBeneficialInsectsonTickseedSunflowers
Insecteggs
mites
aphids
thrips
borerscaterpillarsleaqoppers
MinutePirateBug
GreenLynxSpiderawaitsopportunitytocapturewebworms
SGckremovalofthewebandBtbacteriaarebeOerthanbroadrangeinsecGcides
Wearedone!
NaturalEnemiesHandbook,theIllustratedGuidetoBiologicalPestControl1998.MaryLouiseFlintandSteveH.Dreistadt
AOracGngBeneficialBugstoYourGarden,anaturalapproachtopestcontrol2014.JessicaWalliser
FarmingwithNaGveBeneficialInsects,EcologicalPestControlSoluGons2014.XercesSocietyGuide
SolitaryWasps,BehaviorandNaturalHistory2001.KevinM.ONeill