Lady Beetle

Lady beetles are perhaps the best known beneficial insect. Lady beetles are often better known as Ladybugs in Minnesota. It has long been known that sighting the first ladybug in spring brings good luck! They are also called Ladybirds. The adult is generally orange with black spots on the wing covers.

Benefit
Ladybugs are voracious feeders of damaging insects. Both the adult beetle and the larva destroy aphids, mites, mealybugs, scale, small worms, and a variety of insect eggs.
Ladybugs can be purchased at area nurseries. You need to call ahead to make sure they are available. Typically you receive a container with a dozen ladybugs. It is best to release and distribute them early morning or late evenings when they are calm and slow moving. Ladybugs will stay as long as they have nourishment. If they leave it might indicate you do not have an aphid problem. You can also purchase ladybug lures to attract them to your garden.

Life Cycle
In spring, the adult emerges from hibernation or hatches from a pupa. In 5 to 13 days the female lays eggs in yellow clusters under leaves and stems. In 4.5 days the eggs hatch into tiny orange and black larvae. After 17 days to 3 weeks the larvae enters the pupae stage and after one more week, the young adults emerge. Thus many generations appear over the growing season.

Assassin bug
Centipedes
Green lacewing
Tachinid flies
Dragonflies
Damselflies
Honeybees
Praying Mantis - also goes after the good bugs if encouraged
Trichogramma wasps
Yellowjackets

Parasitic nematodes are microscopic and feed on insect pests.

All these beneficial insects are available from mail-order gardening companies.

Plants which attract beneficials are: coriander, dill, fennel, white sweet alyssum, Queen Anne's lace, evening primrose, yarrow, daisies, and goldenrod.