Important natural enemies of insect and mite pests include predators, parasitoids (parasites), and pathogens.
Insect parasites, also called parasitoids, are some of the most effective natural enemies, however, they are tiny and easily overlooked. Many of these are non-stinging wasps. Parasitic wasps are free-living in the adult stage. They lay their eggs in the target pest.
Predators capture and eat other organisms such as insects or mites. Predators include ladybird beetles, ground beetles, lacewings, syrphid (hover) flies, aphid midges (Aphidoletes) and yellowjacket wasps. Parasitoids are insects that parasitize other insects.
Even large mammals are recorded as eating insects; the sloth bear is perhaps the largest insectivore. Insects also can be insectivores; examples are dragonflies, hornets, ladybugs, robber flies, and praying mantises.
The hardest pests to eliminate are: termites, cockroaches, rodents, carpenter ants, and bed bugs.
Important natural enemies of insect and mite pests include predators, parasitoids (parasites), and pathogens.
1. Mosquito (Anopheles genus) The title of deadliest insect in the world goes to the mosquito - which probably is no surprise. It may be a small animal but it has a gigantic impact.
Dragonflies have been recognized as the apex predators of the insect world [9] , which have millions of years of adaptation [10], and almost 6000 species with wingspans ranging from 18 mm to 190 mm [11].
(often capitalised as “King of Insects”, as is the convention for monarchic titles) The bee.
Some oxpeckers' hosts are intolerant of their presence. Elephants and some antelope will actively dislodge the oxpeckers when they land. However there have been noted instances of elephants allowing oxpeckers to eat parasites off of them.
Mosquitoes
It's no surprise that mosquitoes were voted the most hated insect by 12.2% of participants.
Ladybugs are known to be highly efficient predators, capable of consuming a significant number of aphids in a short period. Aphidalia, featuring the ladybug species Adalia bipunctata, is a good solution aphid control. Another notable species is the predatory beetle Cryptolaemus montrouzieri.
Windex – Windex is one of the most common and most effective DIY household products for pest control. Windex is toxic to most pests, especially spiders. Spraying window cleaner directly onto small insects like ants or mosquitoes will kill them within a few moments.
Still, anecdotally, many people suffer from katsaridaphobia, or cockroach phobia. Lockwood guesses that the number reaches well into the tens of millions, and Richard Kaae, an entomologist at California State University, thinks that cockroaches are the number one insects feared by humans.
Natural control refers to the maintenance of insect populations within certain bounds by environmental conditions, or factors. Both non-biological and biological factors contribute to the natural control of insects. These include: Physical factors such as weather (e.g. cold winters can reduce some insect populations).
If you're trying to get rid of these pests, the good news is that cockroaches are easier to control than bedbugs. Here's why: Cockroaches are omnivores, and they will eat anything. This makes them very susceptible to poisoning baits or traps that have food in them like glucose.
Brown marmorated stink bug - Wikipedia.
The stomachs of anteaters do not secrete hydrochloric acid. Instead, they depend on the formic acid content of their ant-dominated diet to aid in digestion. They can eat up to 30,000 insects a day.
Many birds will eat mosquitoes. The more important among these are purple martins, swallows, waterfowl (geese, terns, ducks) and migratory songbirds. Bird predators usually eat both the adult and aquatic stages of mosquitoes.
While cats reign supreme over indoor pest control, your dog can do a great job protecting your garden.