Beneficial Insects for Pecan - Predators
From Bugwoodwiki
- Damsel bug
Damsel bugs are slender, cigar-shaped insects, tan to brown in color and about one-half inch (25 mm) long. The wings are light smokey-colored. The front legs are thick and made for grasping and holding prey. Damsel bug nymphs resemble the adults except they have no wings and appear very fragile. Both adults and nymphs feed on small, soft-bodied insects, worms and eggs.
Bigeyed bug adults are black with clear, silvery appearing wings. They have large conspicuous eyes on the sides of their head. Adults are less than one-fourth inch (6mm) in length. Nymphs also have enlarged eyes, are silvery or gray in color with small, black specks on their body. Both adults and nymphs feed on small, soft-bodied insects, worms, and eggs.
Minute pirate bug adults are about 1/16 inch (1.5 - 2 mm) long, mostly black in color with white markings on their wings. Adults have an “X” pattern on their backs. Nymphs are small, orange-colored insects with the same general body shape as the adult, but are wingless. Both adults and nymphs are important predators of small, soft-bodied insects, eggs and worms.
- Lady beetle (Convergent, Multicolored Asian, Sevenspotted, and Twospotted)
Lady beetle adults are oval-shaped insects that vary in color but usually have black or orange-red spots on their wing covers. Lady beetle larvae are elongate, spindle-shaped, with spiny backs. They are black, blue and orange in color with thick stubby legs. Both adults and larvae are very active and feed on small, soft-bodied insects and insect eggs. They are very effective aphid predators. Lady beetle eggs are yellow to orange in color and are laid in clusters of five to twenty eggs. Lady beetles are the most important insect predators on pecan
- Lacewing
Lacewing adults have many veins in their wings, giving them a net-like appearance. The wings are held roof-like over the back. Adults are green or brown in color and some have characteristic golden eyes. Adults are not predaceous. Larvae are about one-half inch (25 mm) long, spindle-shaped, and have long, sharply-pointed, mandibles protruding from the front of their head. Larvae are tan and white in color with a warty or spiny appearance. Lacewing larvae eat small, soft-bodied insects, eggs and worms. The eggs of lacewings are small, green to whitish in color and are laid on a slender, thread-like stalk. Lacewings are very important predators on pecan in late season.
- Syrphid fly
Syrphid fly adults are flies which are generally banded or spotted with bright yellow markings on a black body. They are often confused with wasp or bees and have a characteristic hovering flight. Adults are not predaceous. Syrphid fly larvae are elongate, legless, slug-like maggots which are tan to greenish in color and about three-eighths of an inch (10 mm) long. They are important predators of aphids and other small, soft-bodied insects.
- Assassin bug
Assassin bug adults are flattened, oval bugs with narrow heads and a slender neck. They are brown or black in color with some species having red-colored markings. They range in length from one-half to one and one-half inches (12-36 mm). Nymphs are similar in shape, form, color and habits but have no wings. Both adults and nymphs feed on small soft-bodied insects, worms and eggs.
- Spiders and Mites
Spiders and mites are nor insects, but these arthropods are very important predators in the orchard. Many types of spiders are found in pecans. They vary greatly in size and color. Spiders prey on almost any insect that comes within their range. One group of mites, Phytoseilus spp., are particularly helpful in controlling plant feeding mites in pecans.
--See also the archived article Beneficial Insects.
