Plants that Attract Beneficial Insects

Insects require nectar and undisturbed soil habitat. The adults of many predatory insects must sip nectar or feed on pollen to have the energy to lay eggs. The larvae (in the case of ladybugs, the adults also) feed on aphids, caterpillars, thrips, mites, scales, mealybugs and other insects.

Bronny, Grade 6

Equally important is an ample supply of water for the insects. Research showed that aphid midges (Aphidoletes aphidimyza) laid considerably more eggs with a constant source of water than without. Shallow dishes filled with water or birdbaths and a couple rocks protruding from the water surface work really well. Of course good mulching practices provide habitat for all kinds of predacious beetles and other small animals.

A B C D E F H I L M N O P R S T V Z

Botanical name	Common name	Insects attracted (common name)
Achillea spp.	Yarrow	Ladybugs, parasitic wasps, lacewings, syrphid flies
Ailanthus altissima	Tree of heaven	Syrphid flies, chloropid flies, braconid wasps, ichneumon wasps, lacewings
Ajuga reptans	Carpet bugleweed	Syrphid flies, ladybugs
Allium spp.	Allium	Parasitic wasps
Allium tanguticum	Vender globe lily	Syrphid flies
Alyssum spp.	Perennial alyssum	Lots
Amaranthus spp.	Love-Lies-Waiting	Ground beetles
Ammi majus	Queen Anne's lace	Parasitic wasps, pirate bugs, syrphid flies
Anethum spp.	Dill	Aphid midge, lacewings, ladybugs, syrphid flies, parasitic wasps, and many others
Angelica gigas	Angelica	Lacewings, lady beetles, sand wasps
Anthemis spp.	Golden marguerite	Parasitic wasps, tachinid flies, lacewings, ladybugs, syrphid flies
Agrostemma spp.	Corn cockle	Ladybugs, parasitic wasps
Asclepias spp.	Butterfly weed	Ladybugs
Aster spp.	Aster	Syrphid flies
Astrantia major	Masterwort	Syrphid flies, parasitic wasps
Atriplex canescens	Four-wing Saltbush	Lacewings, ladybugs, syrphid flies, sand wasps
Aurinia saxatilis	Basket-of-gold	Syrphid flies
Buddleia spp.	Butterfly bush	Lots
Calendula spp.	Calendula	Lots
Callirhoe involucrata	Purple poppy mallow	Lacewings, syrphid flies, parasitic wasps
Carum carvi	Caraway	Tachinid flies, lacewings, syrphid flies, parasitic wasps, damsel bugs
Ceanothus spp.	California lilac	Lots
Cheiranthus spp.	Wallflower	Lots
Chrysanthemum maximum	Shasta daisy	Lots
Chrysanthemum parthenium	Feverfew	Syrphid flies
Convulvulus tricolor	Morning glory	Syrphid flies
Coriandrum sativum	Coriander	Lacewings, ladybugs, syrphid flies, parasitic wasps
Cosmos bipinnatus	Cosmos	Big-eyed bugs, lacewings, ladybugs, damsel bugs, minute pirate bugs, tachinid flies, syrphid flies, parasitic wasps
Cosmos 'Diablo'	Cosmos Diablo	Lacewings
Cosmos 'Sunny Red'	Cosmos Sunny Red	Parasitic wasps
Coriandrum sativum	Coriander	Syrphid flies, parasitic wasps, pirate bugs, tachinid flies
Coreopsis spp.	Tickweed	Syrphid flies, lacewings, ladybugs, parasitic wasps
Crocus spp.	Crocus	Braconid wasps
Daucus carota Queen	Anne's lace (Wild carrot)	Lacewings, predatory wasps, minute pirate bugs, tachinid flies, ladybugs, syrphid flies, parasitic wasps, big-eyed bugs
Echinacea spp.	Coneflower	Lots
Eriogonum spp.	Wild buckweed	Syrphid flies, minute pirate bugs, big-eyed bugs, parasitic wasps, sand wasps, tachinid flies, chloropid flies
Erysimum spp.	Perennial wallflower	Lots
Euonymus japonica	Evergreen euonymus	Lacewings, chloropid flies, tachinid flies, syrphid flies, chalcidic wasps, braconid wasps, ichneumon wasps, ladybugs
Foeniculum vulgare	Fennel	Syrphid flies, lacewings, ladybugs, paper wasps, soldier bugs, parasitic wasps, big-eyed bugs, damsel bugs, minute pirate bugs, predatory wasps, tachinid flies, brachonid wasps, sand wasps
Hedera spp.	Ivy	Syrphid flies, tachinid flies, braconid wasps, sand wasps
Helianthus maximilianii	Prairie sunflower	Lacewings, ladybugs
Heliotropium arborescens	Heliotrope	Lots
Iberis spp.	Candytuft	Lots
Lavandula spp.	Lavender	Syrphid flies
Layia platyglossa	Tidytips	Parasitic wasps, pirate bugs
Limnanthes douglasii	Meadowfoam / poached egg plant	Syrphid flies
Limonium latifolium	Statice	Syrphid flies, parasitic wasps
Linaria vulgaris	Butter and eggs	Syrphid flies, parasitic wasps
Lobelia erinus	Lobelia	Syrphid flies, parasitic wasps
Lobularia maritima	Annual (Sweet) alyssum	Syrphid flies, lacewings, parasitic wasps, pirate bugs, chalcidic wasps, tachinid flies
Lychnis coronaria	Crown pink	Syrphid flies, parasitic wasps
Medicago sativa	Alfalfa	Minute pirate bugs, big-eyes bugs, damsel bugs, assassin bugs, lady bugs, parasitic wasps
Melissa officinalis	Lemon Balm	Tachinid flies, syrphid flies, parasitic wasps
Mentha pulegium	Pennyroyal	Tachinid flies, syrphid flies, parasitic wasp, damsel bugs
Mentha spicata	Spearmint	Syrphid flies, tachinid flies, damsel bugs
Monarda spp.	Beebalm	Syrphid flies
Nemophilia menziesii	Baby blue eyes	Parasitic wasps, pirate bugs, syrphid flies
Oenothera laciniata, O. biennis	Evening primrose	Ground beetles
Penstemon strictus	Rocky Mt. Penstemon	Ladybugs, syrphid flies
Petroselium crispum	Parsley	Tachinid flies, parasitic wasps, syrphid flies
Phacelia tanacetifolia	Phacelia	Tachinid wasps
Pieris spp.	Pieris	Ichneumon wasps
Polygonum aubertii	Silver lace vine	Tachinid flies, syrphid flies
Potentilla spp.	Potentilla	Syrphid flies, parasitic wasps, ladybugs, parasitic wasps
Reseda odorata	Mignonette	Lots
Robinia pseudoacacia	Black locust	Ladybugs
Rosmarinus officinalis	Rosemary	Syrphid flies
Rudbeckia 'Double Gold'	Gloriosa daisy	Syrphid flies
Ruta graveolens	Rue	Mud wasps, potter wasps, ichneumon wasps
Salvia spp.	Sage	Lots
Schizanthus spp.	Schizanthus	Lots
Sedum kamtschaticum	Orange stonecrop	Syrphid flies, parasitic wasps
S. spurium, S. album	Stonecrop	Syrphid flies
Solidago spp.	Goldenrod	Syrphid flies, tachinid flies, damsel bugs, predacious beetles, big-eyes bugs, ladybugs, spiders, parasitic wasps, long-legged flies, assassin bugs
Stachys spp	Stachys	Syrphid flies
Symphoricarpos spp.	Snowberry	Syrphid flies, tachinid flies
Tagetes tenuifolia	Marigold	Tachinid flies, ladybugs, parasitic wasps
Tagetes 'Lemon Gem'	Marigold	Ladybugs
Tagetes 'Golden Gem'	Marigold	Syrphid flies
Tanacetum vulgare	Tansy	Lacewings, ladybugs, parasitic wasps, pirate bugs, tachinid flies, insidious flower bugs, lacewings
Taraxacum officinale	Dandelion	Lacewings, ladybugs
Thymus spp.	Thyme	Lots
Trifolium incarnatum	Crimson clover	Minute pirate bugs, big-eyed bugs, ladybugs
Trifolium repens	White clover	Parasitic wasps
Verbena spp.	Verbena	Lots
Veronica spicata	Speedwell	Syrphid flies, ladybugs
Vicia villosa	Hairy vetch	Ladybugs
Zinnia elegans	Zinnia	Parasitic wasps, syrphid flies

Reprinted & adapted with permission of the Society for Organic Urban Land Care

Learn more about the insect world by exploring resources at the Stratford Public Library
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