Identify and Manage Outdoor Insects

Predatory bugs are in the insect order Hymenoptera and use piercing-sucking mouthparts to kill their prey.

Spiders are general predators, feeding on a wide range of prey (insects, other spiders, etc.). They are beneficial to people because they feed on harmful insects.

Lacewings are delicate green or brown insects, excellent predators of aphids and other small insects.

Oleander aphids, (Aphis nerii) are little orange insects that commonly infest milkweed plants.

Bumble bees are important pollinators that feed on nectar and pollen. They very rarely sting.

Carpenter bees are the largest native bees in the United States and they are effective pollinators.

Cellophane bees are important pollinators of plants and they are not aggressive/defensive.

Giant resin bees are an introduced species and are native to parts of Asia.

All spiders are predators and aid us by eating many garden pests.

Predatory wasps are beneficial insects in a garden and landscape.